Meadow Lane hosts Notts County and Gillingham this Friday in League Two. Notts County need the win to get themselves back in the Play-off places, however, due to how tight the mid table is, Gillingham aren’t far off Play-off football either.
Notts County currently sit seventh in League Two after 29 games. The Magpies have 13 wins, five draws and 11 losses, leaving them on 44 points, just four points from MK Dons in the last Play-off spot.
In their last five games in all competitions, Notts County have one win, two draws and two losses.
Macaulay Langstaff picked up a hat-trick in the first 36 minutes against Morecambe, with Daniel Crowley and Jodi Jones also joining him on the scoresheet in a dominant 5 - 0 win over Morecambe. However, the trip to Tranmere next time out was one to forget for Notts County. Kieron Morris opened the scoring for Tranmere but goals from Aaron Nemane and Langstaff gave Notts County the 2 - 1 lead before the 30 minute mark. But a brace from Connor Jennings and a goal from Harvey Read Saunders gave Tranmere a 4 - 2 win.
The visit to Grimsby Town saw a ten goal thriller for Notts County. Braces from David McGoldrick and Nemane along with a goal from Langstaff put Notts County 5 - 4 up in the 92nd minute. However, Harry Wood scored in the 95th minute to rescue a 5 - 5 draw for Grimsby. It was another draw for Notts County, this time against Barrow. Kian Spence opened the scoring early on but Nemane equalised in the added time of the first half. Notts County only had one shot on target with 80% of the possession but had to settle for the 1 - 1 draw.
The last time out for Notts County was against Mansfield Town. KD Davis scored the only goal of the game in the eighth minute for the 1 - 0 win for Mansfield.
Gillingham, on the other hand, sit just below in tenth in League Two. In 29 games, Gillingham have 13 wins, four draws and 12 losses which leaves them on 43 points, just one point from Notts County and five points from the Play-offs.
In their last five games in all competitions, Gillingham have one win, two draws and two losses.
In the Third Round of the FA Cup, Gillingham hosted Premier League Sheffield United. Braces from William Osula and James McAtee gave Sheffield United the dominant 4 - 0 win, with Gillingham only managing one shot on target. Back in League Two, Alex Henderson opened the scoring for Accrington Stanley early in the second half. However, goals from Conor Masterson and Macauley Bonne gave Gillingham the 2 - 1 win.
After a goalless first half, Oliver Hawkins gave Gillingham the lead over Forest Green Rovers. However, with 15 minutes to go, Callum Graham Jones grabbed a goal to give Forest Green the 1 - 1 draw. It was a game of late goals against MK Dons. MJ Williams and Alex Gilbey scored to give The Dons a 2 - 0 lead going into the final minutes of normal time. Josh Walker did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 90th minute, but MK Dons held on for the 2 - 1 win.
The most recent outing for Gillingham was against Walsall. A penalty from Isaac Hutchinson gave Walsall the lead in the second half, but a late goal from Masterson grabbed a 1 - 1 draw for Gillingham.
Notts County and Gillingham have met 32 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1930. Gillingham have a marginally better record in the fixture with 16 wins in comparison to Notts County’s 11 wins, the other six games ending in a draw.