The Gills travel to North London on Wednesday night in the third round of the EFL Cup
EFL Cup
White Hart Lane
Wednesday, September 21
8pm kick-off
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: David Coote
Assistants: Nigel Lugg and Michael George
Fourth Official: Trevor Kettle
The Gills have already knocked out Premier League opposition in Watford in the EFL Cup this season, and now travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hostpur in the third round on Wednesday evening.
Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh spent 10 years at Spurs from 1990 to 2000, and now leads his team out to face his former side, in what is a ‘dream tie’ for the 46-year-old.
However, the manager isn’t the only Gills connection with the North London Club. Assistant Manager David Kerslake, Paul Konchesky, Jamie O’Hara and Emmanuel Osadebe all have ties with Spurs earlier in their football careers.
TEAM NEWS
Bradley Dack was substituted in the 79th minute at the weekend against Port Vale after missing training last week, however the manager has confirmed that the playmaker came out of the game unscathed and should feature in Wednesday’s squad.
Jamie O’Hara will miss the game with a heel injury, but Rory Donnelly should travel to White Hart Lane despite picking up a knock in training before Saturday’s game.
Edinburgh believes his side can cause an upset, but said that each of his players must be at their peak on the night if they are to overcome Spurs.
“This group have beaten a Premier League side this season, so we know upsets can happen,” said Edinburgh. “In a one-off game against another Premier League team, we could cause another one.
“Watford shows it’s possible. If they can find the level of performance, run the distances they covered without the ball and use it well going forward, the belief will be there, as we know we’ve achieved it before.”
THE OPPOSITION
Mauricio Pochettino’s side sit comfortably in third position in the top flight, having won three and drawn one of their opening five matches.
Like the Gills, Tottenham’s matches have come thick and fast in the opening stages of the season. Spurs lost at home in their opening Champions League fixture against Monaco at Wembley last Wednesday, but dominated against Sunderland on Sunday, despite only scoring once.
Pochettino is likely to field a changed XI when his team host Gillingham on Wednesday, after Moussa Dembele, Harry Kane and Eric Dier all picked up knocks in the encounter with the Black Cats on Sunday.
There could be a potential debut for summer signing Pau Lopez in goal, and the Spurs manager has hinted that Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Josh Onomah could be given a chance to impress against the Gills.
LAST TIME WE MET
The teams have only met once before in a competitive fixture, when a Spurs side featuring Ray Clemence, Chris Hughton and Glenn Hoddle beat the Gills 4-2 at Priestfield in 1982. The fixture was also a third round League Cup tie.
More recently, Tottenham visited the MEMS Priestfield Stadium for a friendly fixture back in 2002. They won the match 2-1 with two goals from Gus Poyet. Kevin James scored the Gills’ only goal of the match.
Could Wednesday, September 21 be third time lucky for the Gills against Spurs?
FANCY A FLUTTER?
Tottenham win – 1/5
Draw – 6/1
Gillingham win– 11/1
For all the latest match odds visit Sky Bet.
MATCH COVERAGE
GillsPlayer will have live match commentary from 7.50pm with Ronan Sully and Peter Lloyd. To subscribe, click here.
The GillsWall will have interactive text commentary of the match, and the club’s social media channels will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.
EFL CUP ROUND THREE TIES
TUESDAY:
Bournemouth v Preston
Brighton v Reading
Derby v Liverpool
Everton v Norwich
Leeds v Blackburn
Leicester v Chelsea
Newcastle v Wolves
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
WEDNESDAY:
Fulham v Bristol City
Northampton v Man Utd
QPR v Sunderland
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Swansea v Man City
West Ham v Accrington
Stoke v Hull
Tottenham v Gillingham