Gills boss could name an unchanged line-up for the visit of relegation threatened Rochdale.
GILLINGHAM V ROCHDALE
The Medway Priestfield Stadium
Sky Bet League 1
Saturday March 30
Kick-off, 3pm
Team News:
Gills boss Steve Lovell is likely to have to wait until next week before Ricky Holmes can be selected. The winger is back in full training but his back problem requires constant supervision. Gabriel Zakuani (ankle) is out for the rest of the season while Billy Bingham (calf) could be available for next week’s game at Peterborough.
As for Rochdale, they remain in the bottom four but have taken seven points from nine under new caretaker manager Brian Barry-Murphy. Striker Aaron Wilbraham is set to start again after scoring his first brace in over three years in the 3-1 win over Scunthorpe.
Wilbraham is expected to be joined by Matt Done and Ian Henderson in a three-man attack. Dale will check on Josh Lillis, Rekeil Pyke and Zach Clough after respective injury concerns.
Manager Comments:
Steve Lovell - "It’s not a case of owing them one. We lost up there because we weren’t very good and they were good. The same thing could happen down here on Saturday.
“If we’re not very good and they’re good, they’ll beat us. So we’ve got to make sure we’re as good as we have been the last seven or eight games.
“If we do that we’ll give them a game and if we perform like we have done recently, we should get a result."
Brian Barry-Murphy: “The unbeaten run is rewarding, but we haven’t been fixated on that or on points. We’re just trying to convince the players that playing football this way can be successful.”
Previous Meetings:
The Gills lost 3-0 at Spotland earlier in the season having lost their two previous games at the venue, losing 3-0 last season and 4-1 in March 2017. At home, Gills have won their last four against Dale, including last season’s fixture when Bradley Garmston and Lee Martin scored in a 2-1 win.
In total, the two teams have met on 47 occasions. Rochdale edge the head-to-head statistics with 16 wins to 15.
Odds:
Gills win – 13/10
Draw – 23/10
Rochdale win – 19/10
Special Bet: Gillingham to win 3-1 and Tom Eaves to score first – 50/1.
For more odds and markets visit www.skybet.com/fl72.
iFollow:
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Officials:
Referee - Alan Young
Assistant Referee 1 – Adrian Tranter
Assistant Referee 2 - Gregory Read
Fourth Official - Nicholas Cooper
For more information on matchdays at The Medway Priestfield Stadium, please download our fan guide here.