The Saddlers visit the Gills...
GILLINGHAM VS. WALSALL
Priestfield Stadium
Tuesday, 12th April 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
Priestfield Stadium
Tuesday, 12th April 2016 (Kick-off 7.45pm)
Sky Bet League One
OVERVIEW:
It's fifth versus sixth in League One this evening as Justin Edinburgh's Gillingham entertain Jon Whitney's Walsall at Priestfield Stadium. The Saddlers need a response after back-to-back away defeats, while Gillingham - who are above Walsall only on goal difference - will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games. Whitney's men still boast the best away record in League One, although the Gills have the division’s strongest home form. The winner will move to within five points of second-placed Burton.
LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Gillingham: 5th – P39 W19 D11 L10 F65 A44 PTS68
Walsall: 6th – P39 W19 D11 L9 F57 A41 PTS68
LAST FIVE LEAGUE MATCHES: (Most recent match first)
Gillingham: DDWDW
Walsall: LLWWW
LAST TIME OUT:
9th April – Sheff Utd 0-0 Gillingham – League One
Gillingham played out a dour goalless draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. United’s Che Adams rattled the bar, while Rory Donnelly went closest for the visitors.
Team:Nelson, Ehmer, El-Abd, Oshilaja, Jackson, Hessenthaler (Williams 32’ – Dack 82’), Crofts, Wright, Dickenson, Donnelly (McDonald 62’), Norris.
Subs not used: Garmston, Egan, G Morris, A Morris.
9th April – Oldham 1-0 Walsall – League One
Walsall suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time since February 2015 after losing at relegation-troubled Oldham. Curtis Main scored the game’s only goal on 63 minutes.
Team:Etheridge, Demetriou, Downing, Pennington, Taylor, Chambers, Mantom (Morris 84'), Sawyers, Forde (Lalkovic 66'), Hiwula, Bradshaw (Cook 72').
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Henry, Preston, Kinsella.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
Gillingham wins: 45
Walsall wins: 42
Draws: 22
LAST MEETING:
31st October 2015 – Walsall 3-2 Gillingham – League One
Jason Demetriou's stoppage-time winner sent Walsall top of League One after a thrilling comeback victory over former leaders Gillingham. Cody McDonald's cool finish and Bradley Dack's penalty gave the Gills a commanding two-goal advantage after 32 minutes. But the hosts staged a stirring fightback, with quick-fire strikes from Kieron Morris and Milan Lalkovic making it 2-2 before the break. And Demetriou sealed a dramatic win when he volleyed home his first Saddlers goal in added time.
GILLINGHAM MANAGER:
Justin Edinburgh – The ex-Tottenham defender has won 28 of his 61 matches since being appointed Gillingham manager in February 2015. Edinburgh, who spent ten years at White Hart Lane, masterminded Newport’s promotion to the Football League in 2012/13. The 46-year-old has also managed Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic, Grays Athletic and Rushden & Diamonds.
GILLINGHAM STAR MAN:
Bradley Dack – Widely regarded as one of the best players in League One, the highly-rated midfielder has scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists for Gillingham this season. A former Charlton academy player, Dack joined the Gills at the age of 14 and has made over 100 competitive appearances for the Kent Club. The 22-year-old, who played on loan for non-league side Braintree in 2012/13, made his return from injury against Sheffield United on Saturday.
VIEW FROM THE GILLINGHAM CAMP:
Justin Edinburgh (on the Gills’ goalless draw at Sheffield United) – “It’s a very tough place to go and earn the right to get that point. They have had three consecutive home victories. In the end we could have gone on to win the game. It was a competitive encounter, nothing more than that, it was two teams going at it in the right manner, no qualms from myself. It was a hard-fought point.”
WALSALL TEAM NEWS:
Tom Bradshaw (groin) and James O’Connor (calf) will be assessed. Isaiah Osbourne (knee) is a long-term absentee.
REFEREE:
Stuart Attwell.
STAT OF THE DAY:
We are unbeaten in our last eight matches against Gillingham, winning two and drawing the other six.
TUESDAY’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES: (7.45pm unless stated)
Barnsley vs. Oldham