A look ahead to tomorrow's encounter
NORTHAMPTON TOWN v GILLINGHAMnpower League Two
Sixfields Stadium
Tuesday October 2 2012
Kick-off: 7.45pm
TEAM NEWS…
Bradley Dack and Danny Jackman are both suspended for Tuesday’s trip to Sixfields.
Ben Harding, Clive Platt and Lewis Wilson all missed Saturday’s trip to Burton through injury although the latter two are likely to feature against the Gills.
New signing, midfielder Kemar Roofe on loan from West Brom, was on the bench for the weekend’s fixture while after that game right-back Danny East was due to return to parent club Hull City following his loan spell.
AT THE WEEKEND…
On Saturday Northampton twice came from behind to gain a point from a 3-3 draw at Burton Albion which leaves them 13th in the table having picked up 13 points (three wins and four draws) from their nine games.
Following the game at the Pirelli Stadium Town manager Aidy Boothroyd said "That's the worst half of football we've played since I've been here. This sometimes happens because on Friday in training, it was the best I've ever seen us.
"They've got character and they do fight back. My irritation is that you shouldn't need to be punched before you start punching. We gave them a 2-0 start.
"The two goals against us are five-a-side goals. They shouldn't be anywhere near our goal and should've been defended much better.
"We came back. The goal to get the draw is as good a goal as I've ever seen."
LEADING SCORERS…
Striker Alex Nicholls, a summer signing from Walsall, leads the Cobblers goalscoring chart with six goals with experienced defender David Artell next with four goals to his name.
Ex-Gill Adebayo Akinfenwa and Chris Hackett have two goals apiece while Kelvin Langmead, Clive Platt and Jake Robinson have all netted one.
THE LAST TIME…
The last trip to Sixfields came back in April, the penultimate game of the 2011-12 season, where despite picking up a point it wasn’t enough and the Gills play-off hopes were finally quashed.
Both sides were in attacking mode and it came as something of a surprise that it took until the 40th minute before the deadlock was broken when Lewis Wilson fired the Cobblers in front.
Nine minutes after the break the 620 travelling fans were celebrating the equaliser, Charlie Lee’s long throw somehow finding Jo Kuffour at the far post who scrambled the ball home.
Danny Jackman, Andy Frampton and Dennis Oli all went close as the Gills threw everything at their hosts in the closing stages.
The teams that afternoon were -
Town: Kitson, Charles, Tozer, Akinfenwa (Langmead 83), Johnson, Jacobs, Guttridge, Wilson (Williams 67), Silva, Carlisle, Adams Unused subs: Webster, Robinson, Snedker
Gills: Gazzaniga, Fish, Martin, Essam, Frampton, Lee (Weston 78), Whelpdale, Jackman, Montrose, Kedwell (Oli 86), Kuffour (Vine 72) Unused subs: King, Spiller.
COLOURS...
Northampton will wear their home kit of claret shirts, white shorts and white socks.
Gills are expected to wear an altered away kit of blue shirts with red sleeves, blue shorts and white socks.
OFFICIALS…
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistant Referee’s: Nigel Murphy & Mark Mellor
Fourth Official: Christopher O’Donnell
The Wiltshire-based official has previously taken charge of three Gillingham games which have ended in one win, one draw and one defeat.
On Saturday he was the man in the middle for Wolves 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux and in his previous eight games this season he has issued 17 yellow cards.
NOTE FOR TRAVELLING SUPPORTERS
Supporters travelling to Sixfields by car tomorrow night should be aware that from around 10.00 pm until 5.00 am, there will be various lane closures on the southbound M1 between junctions 13 (Milton Keynes) and 11 (Luton).