NORWICH CITY V GILLINGHAM
Carling Cup Round One
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Kick-Off 7.45pm
Officials.....
Referee: A D'Urso
Assistants: W G Norcott and G R Russell
4th Official: M George
Colours…..
Norwich will be wearing their usual home kit of canary yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks. The Gills will be in their blue and black striped shirts, black shorts and socks.
Team News…..
Andy Hessenthaler may be able to include Stanley Aborah in the travelling party if the midfielder's international clearance has gone through in time. Other than that the squad will be much the same as Saturday as the game comes too soon for any of the injured players.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert has no new injury worries ahead of the game, definitely out for the Canaries though are ex-Gills Simeon Jackson and Andrew Crofts. There is an agreement between the manager's that neither Jackson or Cody McDonald, would feature while Crofts is away with the Welsh squad for Wednesday's international against Luxembourg. Central defender Zak Whitbread will also be missing through injury. Another doubt is former Rangersleft-back Steven Smith who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
Looking ahead to Tuesday…..
Speaking after Saturday's game Andy Hessenthaler hopes his side can enjoy the game. He said "Ian went to their game on Friday and had a look. They looked a bit like us at times, very nervy. They were at home and expected to win and in the end Watford were fantastic. There's no pressure on us but there is extra pressure on them, they've played one game and lost."
Hess continued "It's a game that we should enjoy, it's a fantastic pitch and I believe we went there last season and did quite well for a spell. Then Norwich scored and they fell apart. We are capable and the boys should be looking forward to it. I've had a chat with Paul Lambert and he's not going to play Simeon and Cody is obviously not fit anyway. That's the agreement but they've got a quality replacement in Grant Holt who will definitely start so it doesn't get any easier. I'd love to go there and put a good show on. Try and pass the ball and who knows?"
Bayo Akinfenwa feels the Gills won't be under any pressure at Carrow Road. He said "It is going to be a toughie but we've got no pressure. I think we're the favourites in League Two so every week there will be pressure on us in League games but, for this game, Norwich must be the favourites so we've just got to go out there, enjoy the occasion and play the way we know we can play."
Paul Lambert, the Norwich boss, said that his squad would be looking for a positive response when the Gills travel to Carrow Road. He said "There's no point feeling sorry for yourselves though - you have to pick yourselves up and go again on Tuesday. The fans got right behind us and they will again on Tuesday I'm sure."
At the weekend…..
The Gills had to come from behind here at Priestfield to gain a well-deserved point against Cheltenham Town. After a fairly even first-half it wasWesley Thomas that put the Robins ahead in the 53rd minute. However the introduction of Adebayo Akinfenwa and Luke Rooney up front saw the visitors rearguard become nervy and it was no surprise when the former Northampton netted the equalizer, back-heading a Jack Payne long throw past Scott Brown with the aid of a slight deflection.
Gillingham: Julian, Gowling, Nutter, Sinclair, Palmer (Akinfenwa 54), Weston, Bentley, J Payne, Spiller, Barcham, S Payne (Rooney 69). Unused Subs: McCammon, Cronin, Jackman, Maher, Essam.
Norwich were the firm favourites going into their Friday night fixture with Watford at Carrow Road which was shown on Sky Sports. However the Hornets obviously hadn't read the script as they won by the odd-goal in five.
Former Gillingham duo Simeon Jackson and Andrew Crofts made their City debuts and the pair combined, Jackson's back-heel, Crofts cracking right-foot drive, for the Canaries first goal which brought the score back to 2-1. Skipper Michael Nelson scored the home sides other goal in the 90th minute.
Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Nelson, Ward, Drury, Surman (McNamee 87), Crofts, Fox, Hoolahan, Jackson (Holt 72), Martin. Unused Subs: Rudd, Smith, Lappin, Johnson, Berthel Askou.
We've met before…..
It was back in the 1979-80 season that the two sides last met in the League Cup. A crowd of 10,594 were here at Priestfield to see the sides draw the Second Round (first leg) 1-1 with John Overton scoring the Gillingham goal.
In the following week's second leg, Norwich, who were sitting top of the old First Division at the time, won 4-2 with Steve Bruce, who of course later signed for the Canaries, scoring both the Gills goals.
Steve Bruce
We played Norwich three times last season, twice in League One and once in the Johnstone Paints Trophy.
At Priestfield in September the Gills were robbed of all three deserved points when Darel Russell scored a 90th minute equalizer. Earlier Simeon Jackson had scored a 36th minute penalty which followed the dismissal of City keeper Fraser Forster (see main picture).
Seven months later at Carrow Road, goals from Russell again and Michael Nelson saw the Canaries to a 2-0 win which saw the home side clinch the League One title.
The Johnstone Paints encounter here at Priestfield in October saw the Norfolk side edge through with a 1-0 victory. Scorer of City's goal that evening was Cody McDonald who of course has this summer joined the Gills on a season-long loan. He scored the only goal of the game just four minutes after replacing Chris Martin in the 62nd minute.
Gillingham: Julian, Palmer, Richards, Bentley, Nutter, Payne (Lewis 64), Rooney, Miller (Erskine 83), Weston, Barcham, McCammon (Yussuff 64). Unused Subs: Maher, Wynter.
Norwich: Forster, Francomb, Doherty (Stephens 70), Berthel Askou, Wiggins, McVeigh (Dawkin 78), Hughes, Adeyemi, Daley, Martin (McDonald 62), Cureton. Unused Subs: Kelly.
All time record against Norwich…..
Gills wins Draws City wins
League 18 11 25
League Cup 0 1 1
Johnstone Paints Trophy 0 0 1
______________________________________________
Total 18 12 27
THE LATEST BETTING ODDS FROM CORAL:
Norwich to win 2/5, Draw 11/4, Gillingham to win 6/1
First Goalscorer (Norwich)
Grant Holt - 7/2
Chris Martin - 9/2
Wes Hoolahan - 15/2
Michael Nelson - 20/1
John Nutter - a 50/1 shot to score at Carrow Road
First Goalscorer (Gillingham)
Adebayo Akinfenwa - 8/1
Andy Barcham - 9/1
Curtis Weston - 18/1
John Nutter - 50/1
