Vadaine Oliver is set to be available for selection against his former side on Saturday.
Gillingham v Northampton Town
Sky Bet League One
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Saturday April 24
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Steve Evans confirmed that Vadaine Oliver will be available for selection this weekend. There are no new injury worries heading into the game, so Gills could remain unchanged for the second successive fixture.
After scoring twice in midweek, Northampton loanee Peter Kioso is a doubt for Saturday’s visit to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium as his groin injury continues to cause him problems.
Caleb Chukwuemeka could make his third start for the Cobblers as he continues to impress Jon Brady. Saturday’s opponents are expected to make minimal changes after their big midweek win over Ipswich Town.
Manager Comments:
Steve Evans - “We’re going to have to produce another big performance because Northampton Town are fighting for their lives.
“They gave us a drubbing earlier in the season, and I watched them be very unlucky last Friday at Peterborough. We will have to be at our best on Saturday.”
Ryan Jackson - “Saturday will be another tough one. They’ve just come off a good result, so we need to be at it on Saturday.”
Jon Brady - “A win for us at Gillingham and favourable results elsewhere and we are a point off safety and then the pressure really goes on the other teams. That is all we can try and do.
“We showed on Tuesday night that there is a lot of fight left in this camp and if we can turn this around it will be one of the biggest achievements in the careers of these players.
“Everyone has written us off but we are not going to relent and we are not going to give in.”
Previous Meetings:
29/12/2020 - Northampton Town 3-1 Gillingham - Sky Bet League One
13/02/2018 - Northampton Town 1-2 Gillingham - Sky Bet League One
21/10/2017 - Gillingham 1-2 Northampton Town - Sky Bet League One
30/04/2017 - Northampton Town 0-0 Gillingham - Sky Bet League One
12/11/2016 - Gillingham 2-1 Northampton Town - Sky Bet League One
Gillingham’s last win over Northampton Town came in February 2018. Goals in the opening 18 minutes from Josh Parker and Tom Eaves put the Gills 2-0 up. Ash Taylor scored in the second half, but Northampton were unable to find an equaliser.
The last home win against the Cobblers was in November 2016 under the late Justin Edinburgh. John-Joe O’Toole had given Northampton the lead, but Max Ehmer equalised shortly after half-time. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored a 90th minute winner to earn a huge three points.
Northampton lead the head-to-head with 53 wins to Gillingham’s 41, and there have also been 19 draws in the fixture.
Odds:
Gillingham win - Evens
Draw - 9/4
Northampton Town win - 13/5
Special Bet: John Akinde to score first and Gillingham to win 3-1 - 60/1.
Match Officials:
Referee: Carl Brook
Assistants: Dean Treleaven and Joseph Stokes
Fourth Official: Stephen Finch
iFollow:
Gills season ticket holders can watch the game completely free of charge provided the email address used to access the iFollow platform matches the one on the club database. If you are not sure which email is registered, then please contact us on ticketoffice@priestfield.com.
Once logged in, access the match centre approximately half an hour before kick-off and you should be able to click a "Watch Now" icon which will give you the feed to the live pictures. Just before kick-off you should also receive audio from BBC Radio Kent.
If you are not a season ticket holder then you can watch the game for a one off fee of £10! Click here to purchase your match pass, or via the below graphic.
