We look ahead to Saturday's game
ACCRINGTON STANLEY v GILLINGHAMnpower League Two
Saturday November 24 2012
Crown Ground
Kick-off: 3.00pm
TEAM NEWS…
Gillingham manager Martin Allen stated in his press conference that he had no new injury worries ahead of Saturday’s trip north. Bradley Dack came through Tuesday night’s Kent Senior Cup tie at Bromley unscathed while Joe Martin was due to see a specialist this afternoon to review his hand injury.
Rob Atkinson should return to Leam Richardson’s squad at the weekend having been ineligible to play against his parent club [Fleetwood] in midweek.
THE SEASON SO FAR…
Accrington impressively won their ‘Red Rose’ derby at high-flying Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night with former England international James Beattie, George Miller and Romuald Boco netting in their 3-1 victory.
Following the game Stanley boss Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Lancashire: "To win 3-1 at a place like Fleetwood shows that the lads have conducted themselves fantastically. Not only did we win, but we played some very good football.
"I'm pleased with all aspects of our game because the home team will put you under pressure, and when they did, we coped with it very well.
"We took our chances at the right times and we thoroughly deserved to win."
Following this win they were lying 14th in the League Two table having picked up 25 points (seven wins and three draws) from their 18 games. Of the seven wins, three have come at the Crown Ground, these were against Aldershot Town (1-0), Bristol Rovers (1-0) and Port Vale (2-0).
LEADING GOALSCORERS…
Danny Jackman joined the ever-growing list of goalscorers for the Gills in 2012-13 when netting against Exeter City in midweek, he became number 17.
Still out in front is Danny Kedwell with 11 goals with Deon Burton (seven) while Chris Whelpdale, scorer of the opener on Tuesday, joins Myles Weston on four goals.
Irishman Padraig Amond, formerly of Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira, leads Accrington’s goalscoring chart with nine goals while Romuald Bocu, once on trial at Priestfield, has five.
Midfielder Will Hatfield has netted four times, all of them coming in their FA Cup victory at AFC Fylde, while George Miller and Peter Murphy have three apiece.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS…
There have been 10 previous meetings against Accrington Stanley although a 5-1 home win back in December 1961 was expunged after the Lancashire club resigned from the Football League three months later.
Of the remaining nine games, in all competitions, both sides have won four while there has also been one draw.
OFFICIALS…
Referee – Scott Duncan
Assistant Referee’s – Matthew Parry & Glen Hart
Fourth Official – Darren Handley
The Northumberland official is in his first season on the Football League list he has taken charge of 15 games so far issuing 36 yellow and three red cards.
These 15 fixtures have been in competitions varying from League One and Two, the FA Cup, and the Johnstone Paints Trophy in England plus Division Three of the Scottish League.