Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth looks ahead to Boxing Day clash against a Cambridge United side managed by Neil Harris

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is predicting their Boxing Day showdown with old boss Neil Harris could be a great occasion.

Harris brings his in-form Cambridge United side to Priestfield for the festive League Two clash, sitting four points better off than the club who sacked him just over two years ago.

In October 2023, the Gills parted company with Harris as they looked “to go in a different direction.” They were eighth in League 2, one point off the automatic promotion places, when he departed.

Stephen Clemence and Mark Bonner - Cambridge United’s director of football - have both had time in charge of the Gills before Ainsworth’s stint started towards the end of last season.

A reset and a two-year plan, are part of the Ainsworth era, and the current boss knows the importance of beating Cambridge, to lift the mood after a tough run of form, which has seen the Gills drop to 12th in the table, five points off the play-off places.

Opponents Cambridge visit Priestfield without a loss in seven League 2 games. The Gills are chasing their first win in seven.

Ainsworth, speaking after their 2-1 loss at Fleetwood, said: “We've just got to make sure that we don't get too down and we get ourselves up for Boxing Day because it's going to be a great occasion, obviously, with Neil coming back with his Cambridge team.

“They're very well organised. They're going to be a tough ask, but I believe we can win at home.

“If we play like we did against Barrow in the first half, we can blow anyone away, but we've got to do it for 90 minutes.”

League 2 table;

The Gills were 2-0 up against Barrow in the opening half during their last home game - only to concede twice in the second half as the match ended 2-2, with the home players