We look ahead to Saturday's trip to Broadfield Stadium
CRAWLEY TOWN V GILLINGHAM
SkyBET League One
Broadfield Stadium
Saturday September 7
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Martin Allen will be without Michael Harriman for the trip to Sussex.
The on-loan QPR right back is away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland U21 squad, so a defensive shake up will be required to compensate.
Amine Linganzi returned to light training on Thursday following his hamstring strain and is available for selection if required.
As for Crawley, Manager Richie Barker will have to make two enforced changes with Joe Walsh and Michael Jones missing out.
Walsh is on International duty with the Welsh U21 side, while Jones serves a one match ban for his sending off against Peterborough last weekend.
New signing Emile Sinclair could make his debut for the club having been an unused substitute against his former employers on Saturday.
The striker signed from the Posh last Thursday for £100,000 on a two-year contract, but after watching his team-mates secure a fantastic 2-0 win at London Road, he may well have to settle for a place on the bench.
Gills fans could see two former players feature for the home side with Connor Essam and now Luke Rooney on the books at Broadfield Stadium.
having been made available for transfer here at Priestfield, and Rooney has joined on loan until January 1 from fellow League One side Swindon Town.signed in JanuaryEssam
Manager/Player Comments:
Martin is adamant that the Gills will pick up a win sooner or later, but is full of respect for the opposition and what they have achieved.
In his midweek press conference he said: “It will be a great game for us to go and play in – a local derby, underdogs again, three games unbeaten in the league with three points.
“They just won away at Peterborough 2-0 and they signed a new centre forward for £100,000 and made him sub.
“I would say they are an established club and they will have their eyes set on challenging for the play-offs and it shows the intentions of the club to spend £100,000 on a centre forward, it shows they mean business.”
Richie Barker has warned his side that the Gills are capable of taking all three points and agreed there wasn’t much in the game on Tuesday against Leyton Orient.
He said: “We will be very mindful of the fact that despite Gillingham haven’t won yet, they will come in to this one expecting they can win it.
“Gillingham pushed Orient right to the end on Tuesday and there wasn’t much in it.
“If you don’t turn up and do the right things then the result can go either way.”
Essam, who has yet to feature for the team this season, says the Gills forward players will cause problems.
He said: “They have some strong, fit players and recently they have been pretty direct.
“They have two big lads up front who are good technically so they will look to get it in to their feet and play off them.”
Previous Meetings:
. The Gills took the lead through Bradley Dack before Joe Walsh and Billy Clarke responded for the hosts to put them in front.in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint TrophyThe clubs last met on September 4 last year
Lewis Montrose equalized to level the scores up again at 2-2, but the Red Devils eventually prevailed thanks to a Scott Neilson goal in the last few minutes.
In total the sides have only met four times with both Crawley and Gillingham having won two games each.
Current Form (first five league games):
Crawley: WDLLW (7 points)
Gills: LLDDD (3 points)
respectively.
Bristol CityBoth sides were knocked out in the first round of the Capital One Cup by Cheltenham and
Crawley received a bye to progress to the second round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, while the Gills were unlucky to be eliminated 3-1 by Leyton Orient at Priestfield.
Officials:
Referee: Steven Rushton
Assistants: Elliott Kaye and Robert Whitton
Fourth Official: Daniel Cook