Gillingham Football Club

GILLS vs BURY: MATCH PREVIEW

Sky Bet League One

MEMS Priestfield Stadium

Saturday, August 13

3pm kick-off

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Brendan Malone

Assistants: Michael Webb and Gary Maskell 

Fourth Official: Andrew Aylott

Gillingham go in to their first home game of the season at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium off the back of two identical results against Southend. 

In both matches at Roots Hall, which took place in the space of four days, the Gills fell behind to a Stephen McLaughlin goal before coming back to win 3-1, with new addition Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scoring in both. 

Tickets for Saturday's match are still available online, by phoning (01634) 300000 or by visiting the ticket office at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium. 

Bradley Garmston and Aaron Morris, plus new signings Lee Martin and Scott Wagstaff remain on the sidelines for Justin Edinburgh’s side.

Bradley Dack and Max Ehmer were substituted on Tuesday night after both coming off injured following challenges. Injury updates on the pair will follow Justin Edinburgh’s press conference on Friday. 

The manager believes that he has a strong enough squad to rotate positions, especially with games coming thick and fast.

“I made changes because the boys that didn’t play Saturday were very close. With the quality we have in the squad I don’t think we are weakening it by starting with these players,” he said. “We feel that we have great competition for places and that is certainly paying dividends at the minute.”

The manager said he thinks the home faithful will have a massive influence on the field of play throughout the year. 

“The crowd were excellent throughout last season. We want to get back there [to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium] and make it a fortress, as we did for real long periods of the last campaign. Hopefully we will get a few through the gate on Saturday.”

Bury travel to Kent off the back of a win and a loss in their opening games of the season. The Shakers beat League One new boys Charlton Athletic at Gigg Lane on the opening day of the EFL season, but were beaten in extra time when they met Championship side Burton Albion in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. 

Bury have made plenty of changes in the summer, and will make the 500-mile round trip looking to take maximum points and leapfrog the Gills in the league table. 

Last season they lost 13 times on the road, including a 3-1 defeat here at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, but manager David Flitcroft believes his side will improve their away form for the current campaign. 

“We have certainly changed the way things are done,” he said. “We have changed the personnel, that's going to be key.

“We have got some real men in the team. We have got Ben Williams, Neil Danns, Antony Kay, Tom Pope, there's real men in the spine of that team, believe me."

Luke Norris’ first-half strike separated the teams last time the teams met at Gigg Lane on Easter Monday. 

The victory in the North West made it four games unbeaten for the Gills back in March, who sat in fourth place, two points behind Walsall in third, at the time.

In total the teams have met 52 times, with the Gills winning 21, drawing 10 and losing 21.

Gillingham win – 11/10

Draw – 12/5

Bury win– 5/2

For all the latest match odds visit Sky Bet.

GillsPlayer will have live match commentary from 2.50pm with Ronan Sully and Peter Lloyd.

The GillsWall will have interactive text commentary of the match, and the club’s social media channels will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.

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Charlton vs Northampton Town

Chesterfield vs Swindon

Coventry vs Shrewsbury

Fleetwood vs Scunthorpe

MK Dons vs Millwall 

Oldham vs Walsall

Peterborough vs Bradford

Port Vale vs Southend 

Sheffield Utd vs Rochdale

*Matches are 3pm kick-offs unless stated