Preview: Gillingham vs. Charlton Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Two struggling League One sides square off on Tuesday, as Gillingham welcome Charlton Athletic to Priestfield.

Both teams find themselves in the bottom five of the League One table, with the visitors sitting on four points from their opening seven games, and the hosts just two points better off.

Match preview

© Reuters

After a strong end to last season, eventually finishing in 10th spot in League One, Gillingham had a mixed start to the new campaign, collecting five points from their opening four outings.

Steve Evans's side have since had to endure a difficult patch of form, having picked up just one point from their last three outings, as they drew 1-1 away against Burton Albion.

The Gills were unable to build on that commendable result, and now come into Tuesday's game on the back of a 4-1 thrashing at home to MK Dons on Saturday.

Vadaine Oliver put Evans's men ahead, but Scott Twine quickly levelled the game and Peter Kioso gave the visitors the lead inside the first half, before a late Max Ehmer own goal and a Max Watters finish saw the Gills fall to a heavy defeat.

That saw them drop to 20th spot in the third tier, with only Ipswich Town having conceded more than the 11 goals that they have shipped, and they will be keen to bounce back and climb away from the bottom end of the table.

The Gills meet a Charlton side in a similar situation, as the visitors look to kickstart a run to climb the league after a difficult start.

After a commendable opening draw with Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic went on to suffer three straight League One defeats, before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra and a 6-1 thrashing of Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy.

They have been unable to turn their form around in the long term though, with the last two league outings resulting in defeats for Nigel Adkins's men, firstly falling at home to Cheltenham Town.

The Addicks travelled to take on Wycombe Wanderers last time out, and a Garath McCleary brace gave the hosts a two-goal lead heading into the dying minutes, while Sam Lavelle's late consolation goal from Charlton was not enough to stop them succumbing to a fifth defeat of the season in League One.

With their sights arguably set on a spot in the top six heading into the season, Adkins will be desperate for his side to put their difficult start behind them and begin a climb up the table, starting with what would be their first away points of the season on Tuesday.

Team News

© Reuters

Gillingham come into Tuesday's game without important midfielder Stuart O'Keefe, who will serve a suspension after he was sent off in the defeat to MK Dons on Saturday.

Winge Mustapha Carayol should also remain out of action, after he missed out on the squad through injury last time out.

The Gills' line will be led by Vadaine Oliver, who has hit two league goals so far this season, while Charlie Kelman recently arrived on loan from Queens Park Rangers to add firepower and could again be deployed alongside Oliver.

Despite Adkins hinting at a change of system ahead of the Wycombe clash, the Charlton line should again be led by Jayden Stockley, who has netted two league goals so far this season after arriving from Preston North End.

He should again be joined in a threatening front line by Conor Washington and Jonathan Leko, who recently joined on loan from Championship outfit Birmingham City.

Harry Arter offers plenty of experience in the engine room, while Sam Lavelle, Jason Pearce and Akin Famewo should continue to form the back three.

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Cumming; McKenzie, Ehmer, Tucker, Tutonda; Dempsey, Adshead, MacDonald; Reeves; Oliver, Kelman

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Lavelle, Pearce, Famewo; Gunter, Arter, Dobson, Souare; Leko, Stockley, Washington

We say: Gillingham 0-2 Charlton Athletic

While both sides have had difficult starts to the new season, we see it only being a matter of time before this Charlton side clicks and puts a string of results together, and we expect them to come out on top on Tuesday.

The Gills have looked particularly weak defensively, and the threat of Oliver may not be enough to damage Charlton's experienced back line.