Stephen Clemence hopes that Oli Hawkins will be in contention to start at Meadow Lane, however Dom Jefferies will be out for a number of weeks.
Meadow Lane is the setting this Friday evening as the Gills look to leapfrog Notts County, and move back into the League Two Play-Off positions.
After battling back to earn a point versus Walsall at Priestfield last weekend, Stephen Clemence’s Gills find themselves just one point behind this weekend’s opponents, who currently occupy seventh spot.
Notts County v Gillingham
Meadow Lane
Sky Bet League Two
Friday 9th February
Kick-Off, 7.45pm
Team News:
Dom Jefferies remains side-lined for Gillingham as the midfielder continues to recover from a thigh injury sustained in training. Head Coach Stephen Clemence confirmed during his pre-match press conference that it could be several weeks before Dom is available for selection.
Newly acquired forward Josh Andrews will also be unavailable for selection this weekend. The player continues to recover from a hip injury but will likely become available to make his Gills debut for the month is out.
Oli Hawkins should be fine to start if required, with Jorge Hurtado also pushing for a place in the starting XI.
As for Notts County, they are expected to be without Geraldo Bajrami, Cedwyn Scott, Matt Palmer, Adam Chicksen and Junior Morias.
Jaden Warner, on loan from Norwich, made his debut against Mansfield last weekend and is likely to keep his place.
Charlie Colkett is expected to be in the squad having joined on loan from Crewe.
Manager Comments:
Stephen Clemence: “They’ve obviously got some very good attacking players which we’ll have to be aware of, but I think we’ve got those as well. We need to take our game to them.
“If we can play in the way we have, in the last few away games, then I think we’ll give them a very good game.
“Yes, we’ve had a couple of results at home where we haven’t played well enough. I think I’ve been pretty fair in my press conferences there, but we still didn’t get beat. There’s plenty to be positive about.
“Of course, it’s a challenge (playing at Meadow Lane), but it’ll also be a challenge for them playing us. If we bring our A game on Friday, we’ll be right in it.”
Stuart Maynard: “We’re looking forward to Friday, under the lights.
I think there’s a different energy under the lights, it brings that little bit of extra zip on the pitch.
“I think over the last three or four weeks, Gillingham have tactically changed a bit. They have a very good defensive low block. They’re very aggressive in the first phase, they come and get after you man for man from restarts and goal kicks.
“They are very good defensively and you can see it in their recent performances, but they also have a lot of athleticism out in those wide areas so they’re also a threat.”
Previous Meeting:
It was a dominant performance overall from this weekend’s opponents, when they travelled to Priestfield back in October for the reverse fixture of the 23/24 League Two campaign.
A deserved opening goal from Macauley Langstaff put the visitors ahead just before HT, the Magpies having dominated possession throughout the first half.
The Gills fought back in the opening stages of the second period, Scott Malone displaying some brilliant footwork to work himself into space inside the box, before tucking a leveller nicely into the bottom corner.
It was a much more even affair as the second half played out and the game looked to be heading towards a draw, before Lewis Macari produced a stunning strike in the 78th minute, beating Jake Turner and putting the visitors back in front.
Notts County ultimately the better team on the day, securing a 1-2 win and taking three points back to Nottingham.
Head-to-Head:
Notts County – 11
Draw – 6
Gillingham – 15
The Gills first met Notts County back in the 1930/31 Division 3 (South), the men from Kent travelling to Nottingham for what was a 2-1 win to the hosts on the day.
The two clubs have since met on 31 occasions, with the Gills picking up 15 wins in all competitions to Notts County’s 11 in total.
The only cup meeting came in 1972, when the Gills beat this weekend’s hosts away at Meadow Lane, securing progression to the next round of the League Cup.
Ticket Information:
Tickets for Away supporters will be available to purchase from the Away Booth (Next to the Away Turnstile) at the ground on the day.
** Please note that the Away Booth at Meadow Lane is Card Only **
Odds:
Notts County Win – 17/20
Draw – 13/5
Gillingham Win – 14/5
Special Bet: Scott Malone to score anytime – 8/1
Match Officials:
Referee – Adam Herczeg
Assistants – Steve Durnall & Joe Simpson
Fourth Official - Aaron Jackson
Sat Nav: NG2 3HJ