We look ahead to Monday night's live Sky game...
GILLINGHAM v WYCOMBE WANDERERSnpower League Two
Monday February 4 2013
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Team News:
Manager Martin Allen has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of Monday night’s live TV fixture with two further players available for selection against Wycombe.
Anton Robinson could make his debut after joining on loan from Huddersfield, while Bradley Dack may make an appearance after completing his one month stint at Conference Premier side Braintree.
As for Wanderers they should welcome back danger man Matt McClure who missed the club’s last game against Dagenham as he awaited the birth of his daughter. Michael Harriman and Bruno Andrade have both extended their loan stays at Adams Park from Queens Park Rangers and are both available if required.
Gary Doherty (back), Danny Foster (recent operation) and former Gills defender Leon Johnson (knee) are all ruled out.
Management Comments:
John Schofield handled the pre-match press conference earlier in the week and says the fact that Sky are filming the game should have no influence on the overall performance for the home side. He said: “Every game we play is never taken lightly.
We look at their strengths and weaknesses and put together a game plan which we think will get us maximum points every time we go on to the pitch.
“For other people to see us play, we get a lot of coverage from Sky and the Football League Show etc but League Two is a decent league and a lot of teams try to play football.
“There will probably be another six cameras but we need to look at them as another six supporters, we can’t control the fact they are broadcasting.”
Wycombe Player/Manager Gareth Ainsworth said:
“This week there has been a serious plan with Saturday and Sunday becoming our Thursday and Friday - that’s where we will do our main planning for Gillingham.
“During the week is all about training and keeping spirits high. We’ll be in this weekend training and getting some serious work in.”
Wycombe - the season so far:
Wycombe come to Priestfield tomorrow evening lying 18th in the table having picked up 36 points (10 wins and six draws) from their 28 league games this season. Due to postponements this is their first outing since a 1-0 home victory over Dagenham & Redbridge back on January 19.
Those three points ensured that the Buckinghamshire outfit extended their recent good run to six wins and two draws in their last 10 games.
Previously on their travels Wycombe have won five times, which came at Accrington Stanley (2-0), Fleetwood Town (1-0), Plymouth Argyle (1-0), Rotherham United (3-2) and York City (3-1) while picking up further points from draws at AFC Wimbledon and Aldershot Town.
As for their progress in cup competitions the Chairboys were knocked out in the first round of the Capital One Cup by Watford after losing 1-0 after extra time. They advanced further in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, albeit receiving a bye to go straight in to the second round, after reaching the Southern Area Quarter-Finals.
However their progress was halted after a 2-0 defeat to Yeovil Town at Huish Park. Finally in the FA Cup they suffered another first round exit, this time at the hands of Crewe who emerged 4-1 victors at Alexandra Park.
Leading Goalscorers:
Danny Kedwell remains the Gills leading scorer with 12 to his name although Deon Burton is hot on his heels with 10 in all competitions, Myles Weston is three further back on seven.
Northern Ireland Under-21 international Matt McClure is currently top of the Wycombe goal scoring chart with eight goals to his name and he is one ahead of Joel Grant while Dean Morgan is next with five goals.
Then there is a gap to Gareth Ainsworth, Bruno Andrade, Jo Kuffour and Sam Wood who have all netted twice while a whole host of others have scored once.
Current Form:
Gills: WWLDW (10 points)
Wycombe: WLWDW (10 points)
Previous Meetings:
Gillingham and Wycombe Wanderers have met on 22 previous occasions in all competitions with the Gills holding a narrow advantage having won eight and drawn seven of these games.
The most recent encounter took place at Adams Park earlier in the season when Joe Martin’s strike following a Myles Weston free-kick early in the second half was enough to earn the Gills all three points in just the second game of the league season.
The first league meeting took place at the same venue in September 1993 when Nicky Forster was the scorer in a 1-1 draw. However it was way back on November 26 1932 that the two sides first met which came in an FA Cup First Round tie here at Priestfield which ended 1-1.
It was Roy Bethell that put the Gills ahead but Dick Braisher levelled matters for the Isthmian League side with 15 minutes remaining. Four days later the Gills won 4-2 in the replay at Loakes Park.
Officials:
Referee – Roger East
Assistants – Ryan T Atkin & Dan Robathan
Fourth Official – Graham Scott
You can still buy tickets for the game against Wycombe online by clicking here.