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Gillingham vs Bristol Rovers Predictions

  • 19:45
  • Expired
  • Priestfield Stadium
Gillingham
Bristol Rovers

odds when tipped

odds when tipped

Gillingham vs Bristol Rovers Predictions

They left it late, but Gillingham secured a very important three points on Saturday afternoon, as they got the better of Oxford by a goal to nil, courtesy of an 89th minute striker from youngster Brandon Hanlan. With that win under their belts, the Gills will be looking to take another step in the right direction when facing Bristol Rovers, who also won at the weekend and who’re also fighting to avoid the drop.

Gillingham have now gone three games without tasting defeat, two of which they’ve won, so perhaps there is hope for the Kent club, who’re now sitting four points above the drop-zone. However, it’s important to realise that Steve Lovell’s men have ridden their luck of late. They were massively unlucky to come out on top against Wycombe, who created far more than the Gills, while much of the same can be said for their draw away against Fleetwood. They did perform much better against Oxford last time out, though the fact that they emerged with an expected goal difference of just 0.22 doesn’t exactly suggest that they were deserving winners.

What the Gills have done in recent times is give far less away on home soil. If we exclude their defeat against a very, very strong Barnsley side, Lovell’s men have conceded no goals in their last three home games, while they’ve surrendered expected-goals numbers of just 1.2, 0.47 and 0.76. Such numbers bode well. Having shut out the likes of Oxford, Scunthorpe and Accrington at home of late, Gillingham should fancy themselves to restrict a Bristol Rovers side that has been far from excellent going forward this season.

However, while Rovers haven’t exactly flourished in an attacking sense all season long, their recent efforts on the road have been pleasing. Graham Coughlan’s men, who’re now unbeaten in six on their travels, offered a respectable 1.33 expected goals for when beating Scunthorpe by a goal to nil last time out, while they posted figures of 2.11 and 2.25 away against Portsmouth and Southend prior to that. Given that Gillingham have averaged 0.53 in their last five at home, Rovers’ recent attacking numbers on the road bode well.

From a betting point of view, this fixture is anything but easy to assess. The extra attacking quality shown by the visitors make the hosts relatively easy to oppose, though backing the visitors to simply come out on top may not be the best option. Instead, a chance is taken on ‘Bristol Rovers to Win & Under 3.5 Goals’.

Given Gillingham’s recent lacklustre efforts in the final third, the visitors should be capable of keeping things tight at the back, much as they have done in each of their last six travelling matches, conceding an average of 0.94 expected goals. Furthermore, given their recent attacking efforts, Rovers ought to be capable of profiting offensively, though they’re not the most prolific side, as an average of just 1.06 goals for on the road suggests, so they shouldn’t be expected to run away with proceedings. All in all, a small punt on the visitors to edge it looks the best option at the prices.

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