GILLINGHAM V HEREFORD
MEMS Priestfield Stadium, npower League Two
Saturday February 4 2012
Kick-off: 3pm
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Team News:
Andy Hessenthaler has a few injury concerns ahead of this weekend's game and may be forced into making a few changes to the team that lost 4-3 to Accrington.
A number of playes are struggling with injury and illness, including Charlie Lee and midfielder Jack Payne, who is rated as 'very doubtful' with the ankle injury which forced him off at half-time against Accrington.
Defender Simon King is a definite absentee after having two injections in his ankle, while Matt Fish is facing another month on the sidelines with an ankle injury of his own.
Hessenthaler also has a decision to make in goal, having replaced Ross Flitney with Paulo Gazzaniga at half-time last weekend.
Midfielder Chris Whelpdale should be fit after missing out last weekend with a knee injury, while Matt Lawrence will also be back in the squad after being rested against Stanley.
Hereford manager Jamie Pitman has no new injury or suspension concerns ahead of the trip to Priestfield.
Stefan Stam, Simon Clist (groin) and Joe Heath (groin) may all miss the game though after sitting out last weekend's defeat to Shrewsbury.
Benoit Dalibard is available after serving a three-match ban following his sending off against Bristol Rovers in early January.
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Hess says:
"We've had a tough month but we can't dwell on things. We'll keep working hard and we have everything to play for but so have they, it won't be an easy game at all.
"The longer you go without a win the more pressure you bring to yourselves and we need to get back on track.
"We need to put together an unbeaten run with 19 games to go and the focus is getting back into the top seven and I have every confidence we can do that."
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Hereford- the season so far….
The Bulls currently sit 21st in the npower League Two table, five points ahead of bottom side Northampton.
They lost their first three league games of the season making their campaign difficult from the outset, but they have recovered well and have enjoyed a good start to the New Year.
The Bulls have lost once in just five games, that being at home to Shrewsbury last weekend and that leaves them with 26 points to their name (six wins, eight draws and 14 defeats).
They are unbeaten away from home since the November 26 - their away record is much better than the results at Edgar Street, having earned five more points on the road than they have at home.
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We've met before…
The last time the two sides met was at Edgar Street in September when the Gills ran out emphatic 6-1 winners after an impressive away display.
Frank Nouble, Garry Richards, Stefan Payne, Danny Jackman and Chris Whelpdale were all on target with a Joe Heath own goal adding to the score line.
Both games last season ended in 0-0 draws, and the Gills last tasted defeat against the Whites in October 1994.
In total the sides have met 27 times. Both have nine victories to their name, with the remaining nine fixtures resulting in draws.
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Colours:
Gillingham will wear their home kit of blue shirts, blue shorts and white socks. Hereford will wear their away kit of black shirts, black shorts with black and red socks.
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Officials:
Referee: David Phillips
Assistants: David Rock and Oleksandr Saliy
Fourth Official: Nicholas Kinseley
