Gillingham v Stockport County preview: Stephen Clemence looks ahead to the visit of the League Two leaders to Priestfield

Gillingham welcome the league leaders to Priestfield tonight with hope of ending a costly run of form on home turf.

The Gills have started 2024 with three successive score draws at Priestfield, a stoppage-time goal denying them maximum points last Tuesday against Swindon Town.

Stockport County remain top of League 2 despite back-to-back defeats. They were thrashed 4-0 at lowly Tranmere on Saturday following on from a 3-1 home loss against promotion rivals Crewe Alexandra.

It sets up a night under the lights at Priestfield between two teams who have plenty of reason to put in a performance.

“It will be a big game,” said the Gills head coach Stephen Clemence. “I am sure there will be a big crowd, they will be right behind us and we hope they bring the same atmosphere they brought for the Swindon game.

“Let’s go and take Stockport on. I honestly believe we can beat anyone in the division on our day, we have nobody to fear.

“The problem is we have drawn our home games which means we have to pick up points away from home. We have done it the wrong way around.

“There are still plenty of games to go this season, there are plenty of points to play for and plenty of games we can still win. We can only look forward to the next one and try and beat Stockport.”

Gillingham kicked off their 2023/24 season at Stockport, winning 1-0. Robbie McKenzie scored the winner that day, late in the game.

The Gills have changed manager since their opening-day meeting with Stockport and are now one of many clubs hoping to make the play-off places this season - the automatics are looking ever-more distant - and with just one win from their last six, form isn’t on their side.

“We don’t want to concede too many more goals like we did (on Saturday),”