We look ahead to Saturday's league fixture
GILLINGHAM v PLYMOUTH ARGYLEnpower League Two
Saturday March 9 2013
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm
TEAM NEWS
Charlie Allen (hand) and Andy Frampton (concussion) will both miss Saturday’s game against Plymouth.
Allen is yet to recover from the injury he sustained during the 1-1 draw against York City, while Frampton has only just started jogging again having received the all clear after medical checks and scans.
However Martin did say once he is fit he is ready to come back whenever he feels ready.
Myles Weston is rated 50/50 due to the injury that forced him off against Oxford last Tuesday evening, so Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale are both available to start on the left side of midfield if needed.
Martin said he would be making changes for the game so the likes of Adam Birchall and Bradley Dack could be pushing for a starting position.
As for Argyle right-back Durrell Berry (knee), who has missed the last three games, may be available for the game but on-loan Reading striker Gozie Ugwu suffered an abdominal muscle injury in a midweek reserve friendly and midfielder Jamie Lowry picked up an ankle injury in training.
Definitely missing are goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin (hamstring), who has just returned to training, defender Curtis Nelson (groin) and striker Warren Feeney (ankle).
THE SEASON SO FAR
Last weekend Plymouth recorded a 2-1 victory over Barnet in front of 8,210 at Home Park, the three points moving them off the bottom of the League Two table.
Skipper Conor Hourihane and Ronan Murray netting the goals in a come-from-behind win which leaves them lying 23rd having picked up 36 points (eight wins, 12 draws and 15 defeats) from their 35 games.
On their travels the Pilgrims have won three and drawn six of their 17 games, the wins coming at Aldershot (2-1), Barnet (4-1) and Morecambe (3-2) while points were also taken back to Devon from draws at Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Torquay United and Wycombe Wanderers.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Danny Kedwell (12) and Deon Burton (11) still lead the way as the Gills leading goal scorers. Leon Legge doubled his tally for the season after his equaliser against Aldershot last weekend.
Myles Weston (7) and Chris Whelpdale (6) are caught in their own tussle for third spot on the goal scoring list with a range of players joining Legge with two.
Paris Cowan-Hall and skipper Conor Hourihane are currently joint top of the Pilgrims goal scoring chart having netted five apiece.
On loan Crystal Palace winger Jason Banton has struck three times as has the injured Warren Feeney and these are followed by Nick Chadwick, Andres Gurrieri, Curtis Nelson and Luke Young who are all on two.
Rhys Griffiths, Guy Madjo and Robbie Williams who have now all departed Home Park had all scored three times while another former loanee Alex MacDonald had netted twice.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
Down at Home Park in November the Gills twice had to come from behind to earn a point from a 2-2 draw.
Curtis Nelson had opened the scoring for Plymouth in the 33rd minute but just five minutes later Ben Strevens equalised with a precise finish from six yards out.
Luke Young put the Pilgrims ahead once more with a great strike with 11 minutes remaining before a late bullet header from Adam Barrett, after Myles Weston had nodded Jack Payne’s cross back across goal, saw the Gills return from Devon with a point.
Argyle: Gilmartin, Berry, Purse, Hourihane, Cowan-Hall, Young, R. Griffiths (Chadwick 68), Feeney (Gurrieiri 60), Bhasera, Lowry, Nelson.
Unused subs: Cole, Blanchard, Madjo, Lennox, S. Griffiths.
Gills: Nelson, Fish, Barrett, Flanagan, Jackman, Payne, Whelpdale (Kedwell 69), Lee (Weston 46), Vincelot, Burton (Birchall 85), Strevens.
Unused subs: Forecast, Frampton, Davies, Montrose.
CURRENT FORM:
Gills: DWWLD (8 points)
Plymouth: WLLDW (7 points)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
There have been 73 previous meetings between Gillingham and Argyle in all competitions of which the Gills have won 26 and drawn 16.
The Gills recorded their biggest win on November 26 1969 when goals from Mike Green, Ray Bailey, Ken Pound and Andy Smillie earned a 4-0 home victory.
Last season the Gills recorded a double over the Green Army with a 3-0 win at Priestfield on August 30 2011 thanks to a brace from Danny Kedwell and a solitary strike from Luke Rooney.
In the return fixture the Gills clinched a 1-0 win at Home Park with Joe Martin grabbing the winner with a stunning 35-yard strike.
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Nicholas Cooper and Christopher Powell
Fourth Official: Lee Venamore
The South Yorkshire referee took charge of his first Premier League game last weekend when officiating the Swansea City v Newcastle United game.
This is his second trip to Priestfield this season having previously been the man in the middle for the 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Town.