We look ahead to Saturday's FA Cup first round fixture
GILLINGHAM V BRACKLEY TOWNFA Cup with Budweiser First Round
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Saturday November 9
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Peter Taylor will be without Amine Linganzi for the first round cup tie, with the midfielder having suffered a hamstring strain which forced him off against Carlisle last weekend.
The Congolese International could be out for up to a month as a result.
Danny Hollands, on loan from Charlton, is also out as he hasn’t been given permission by his parent club to feature while Leon Legge will serve a one match ban after being sent off at Priestfield last Saturday.
However John Mousinho is likely to make his debut after signing on a two-month loan deal from Preston North End.
Brackley could include former Gills striker Gary Mulligan in to their match day squad. The forward missed the 3-2 win over Boston last weekend but came off the bench during the 1-1 draw with Telford during the week.
If fit he could start alongside Stephen Diggin.
Manager Comments:
Peter Taylor said in his midweek press conference that the history of the cup is evidence enough to know that the result is not a foregone conclusion, and has called on his players to treat Brackley just as seriously as any other side.
He said: “Brackley are in good form themselves, they have a lot of players who have played in the league and will be 100% looking forward to the match because it’s the FA Cup and they will fancy their chances of creating a shock.
“We need to make sure we do everything right, totally respect the opposition, play the best side available and try to win the match.”
The Gaffer – Jon Brady
Jon began his career at Brentford in 1991, but it wasn’t until 1994, following spells at Swansea and Wycombe, that he made his first professional appearance.
This came at Norwegian club FK Mjolner, where he would stay for 12 games before returning to England to join Hayes.
This proved to be a rewarding move for the winger as he consistently played in the first team and notched up over 180 games before signing for Rushden & Diamonds.
In 2000-01 he was part of the side that won promotion to the Football League, before losing out in the third division play-off final the next season after defeat to Cheltenham.
Spells at Woking, Chester, Hereford and Cambridge followed before joining Kettering in 2007. He was at Latimer Park for a year before signing for Brackley, and in March 2009 became Manager.
Star Man – Stephen Diggin
The 26-year-old striker joined the club in June 2011 after having a previous spell at Corby Town. Since arriving he has averaged a goal in every two matches.
He is a clinical forward who can make a goal out of nothing and will be one of the threats the Gills will look to stop.
One to Watch – Izak Reid
Reid, also 26, came through the youth ranks at Macclesfield Town and spent five years at Moss Rose before joining Morecambe in the summer of 2011.
After a two-year spell at the Globe Arena he joined Brackley earlier this year and has been in fine form, scoring five times in his first 10 games.
Brackley – the season so far
Jon Brady’s side are in their second season in the Skrill North having won the Evo Stik Southern Premier League in the 2011-12 campaign, and are currently sitting pretty in second place.
The team have lost just once all season, that coming away at Altrincham on October 19. They are unbeaten in their last three games and visit MEMS Priestfield Stadium having drawn 1-1 with Telford on Tuesday night.
Brackley have only been to the FA Cup once before, that being in 2008/09 when they lost 2-1 to Eastwood Town. They have never played a league outfit in any competition.
Current Form (last six games in all competitions):
Gills: WLLWLW (9 points)
Brackley: WWLDWD (9 points)
Betting Odds:
If you fancy an upset then Brackley are priced 13/2 by Sky Bet to advance to the next round. A 1-0 win for the visitors provides odds of 18/1.
Gills are strong favourites to advance, and at the price of 17/2 you can get a 3-0 home win.
Gills to win 5-0 – 40/1
For other markets, and to open an account, check out www.skybet.com/gillingham
Officials:
Referee – Lee Collins
Assistants – Michael Smith and Carl Fitch
Fourth Official: Barry Holderness