Gills playing at home for the first time in 2018.
GILLINGHAM V ROCHDALE
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Sky Bet League One
Saturday 13th January
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Steve Lovell confirmed that Scott Wagstaff will be fit after a recent hamstring issue.
After playing 70 minutes at Charlton Bradley Garmston has trained all week and will be available for selection.
The only absentee, aside from Aaron Morris, is Billy Bingham who is recovering from a long term leg injury, apart from that the Gills head into the game with a fully fit squad to choose from.
Rochdale will have defender Joe Rafferty and striker Steve Davis back in their squad after both missed last Saturday’s FA Cup win at Doncaster through injury. Saturday may also see the return of ex-Gills midfielder Billy Knott who has joined the Dale on loan from Lincoln.
Knott’s chances of featuring will depend on whether the EFL approve the transfer in time. However, forward Jordan Slew will not feature with the club choosing not to extend his deal.
Manager Comments:
Steve Lovell- "We have got to make sure that we’re focussed and ready for Rochdale coming down here. They’ll be fighting for their lives and they’ll be well organised and fit. It’ll be a tough battle but we’ve got to make sure that we’re ready and giving it our best shot, that’s all we can ask.
“I’m not worried about us creating anything because we will always create. We have a lot of set plays; a lot of corners, free kicks perhaps we’re not making the best of so far, so that’s something in our game that we’ve been working on to get it right.”
Keith Hill- “We’ve had a difficult week, from Doncaster onwards.
“We’ve had injuries and illness - reoccurring injuries and long-term injuries are sprouting up.
“We had a great training session yesterday [Thursday]. It was superb and there was a good appetite from the players. It is what it is, and we’ve just got to go and fight.”
Previous meetings:
The last time the two teams met was at Spotland earlier in the season where the Gills were beaten 3-0. Goals from Joe Rafferty and Ian Henderson gave the home side the advantage and just before half-time Tom Eaves was sent off for violent conduct. Matt Done added Rochdale’s third which came minutes after a Tomas Holy penalty save.
In total the teams have met on 45 occasions, with Gillingham winning 14 times, Rochdale have been victorious 15 timeS and the draw has been the most common result, occurring 16 times.
Odds:
Gills win- 9/5
Draw- 23/10
Rochdale win- 6/4
Special: Josh Parker to score first in a Gillingham 2-0 win- 45/1
For more oods and markets visit www.skybet.com/fl72
Match Officials:
Referee- Lee Swaby
Assistant Referee 1- Kevin Howick
Assistant Referee 2- Stewart Butler
Fourth Official- Leigh Crowhurst