Gillingham face Northampton Town this weekend needing to find their first goal of the League Two campaign. The BBC's live data page previews a clash between two sides struggling for offensive form early in the 2026-27 season.
How have Gillingham started the season?
Gillingham's current league standing is 21st in League Two, with just one point from their opening two matches. Their record reads zero wins, one draw, and one loss. The Gills have failed to score in either game, conceding three times for a goal difference of minus three. This leaves them five points behind early leaders Barnet. You can track their progress on our standings page. Their recent form, marked as DL, highlights the immediate need for improvement.
What is the historical head-to-head record?
Northampton Town have had the better of recent league meetings. They won both encounters in the 2022-23 season, securing a 2-1 home victory in April 2023 and a 2-0 win at Priestfield the previous November. Gillingham have not beaten Northampton at home in the Football League in their last three attempts, drawing one and losing two. Their longest such winless run at home against the Cobblers stretched four games between 1955 and 1958. Northampton will be aiming for three consecutive league wins over Gillingham for the first time since October 2010.
Why is scoring the key issue for both teams?
The most pressing concern for Gillingham is their lack of goals. They are one of only two teams in the entire division yet to find the net this season. The last time the Gills failed to score in their opening three league games was back in the 2017-18 campaign. Interestingly, their opponents share the same problem. Northampton Town have also failed to score in League Two so far in 2026-27. They last began a season with a three-match goalless streak in 2001-02. This sets up a match where the first goal could be decisive.
What does recent form tell us?
Looking beyond the league table, both teams' results across all competitions show mixed fortunes. Gillingham's last outing was a 0-0 draw with Fleetwood Town in League Two. Before that, they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Walsall. Their pre-season included friendly wins over Ebbsfleet United and Millwall. Northampton lost 1-0 to Crewe Alexandra last time out in the league. They also fell 3-0 to Brighton's U21 side in the EFL Trophy but managed a 0-0 draw with Swindon Town earlier in August. Check the full schedule on our fixtures list.
What comes next for Gillingham?
The immediate focus is squarely on breaking their scoring duck and climbing the table. With a minus three goal difference and sitting five points off the top, early points are vital. The data shows a team searching for rhythm and a cutting edge. Managerial decisions on team selection and attacking strategy will be under scrutiny as they look to turn possession into points. Building from a solid defensive base, evidenced in the draw with Fleetwood, will be the first step before they can target the upper reaches of the standings. The work starts now to ensure this slow start does not define their season.
