We look ahead to Gillingham's opening fixture of the 2014/15 Sky Bet League One Season away at MK Dons
MK DONS V GILLINGHAMSKY BET LEAGUE ONE
Saturday August 9
Stadium:mk
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Peter Taylor will be without right back Matt Fish for the trip to MK Dons. The defender suffered a knee injury in the opening stages of the Ipswich friendly, and at the moment could miss the games against Yeovil too.
Josh Pritchard won’t travel either as he looks to recover from an ankle problem but Amine Linganzi definitely will be part of the squad after shaking off a hamstring injury.
John Egan is available after overcoming illness.
As for MK Dons, Striker Will Grigg (ankle) is a doubt to make his first debut, while fellow new recruit Samir Carruthers (thigh) will definitely miss out.
Karl Robinson’s only other injury concern is youngster Giorgio Rasulo (ankle), who picked up his injury during the club’s friendly with Leighton Town on Tuesday evening.
Manager Comments:
Peter Taylor says he and the squad are ready to get going ahead of the new season, and is more than aware of the threat MK Dons will pose having watched them play Leicester earlier in the week.
Speaking to the club website he said: “We’ve had a very good week, they’ve trained at a better tempo and there is a lot of competition.
“MK Dons are not too different from last season in the respect they are a very good Football team. We’ve got to make sure we go out, respect them but start believing we can be a handful for teams aswell.”
Karl Robinson told the MK Dons Website: “Everyone is looking forward to it – we feel we are ready.
“There is a buoyance and togetherness about the group and we are in a very positive performance, but Gillingham will be in exactly the same position as us.
“I do see them as slightly better than last year, and we didn’t beat them so that’s how difficult the challenge will be.”
Previous Meetings:
The last time the clubs met was in April of this year when Craig Fagan’s second half goal secured a 1-0 win for Peter Taylor’s side at stadium:mk.
The former Premier League player was first to react to a Myles Weston shot which was palmed away by David Martin, and the experienced striker made no mistake from an acute angle.
In total the teams have clashed on seven occasions – of those the Gills have won four times, MK Dons have secured victory just once while the other two games were draws.
Betting Odds:
Sky Bet, the title sponsor of the Football League, are offering odds of 18/5 for a Gills win at stadium:mk, with the hosts odds on at 4/6 to gain all three points.
A draw is priced at 11/4, while Danny Kedwell to be the opening scorer has odds of 15/2.
Special Bet: Antonio German to score first in a 2-1 Gills win – 85/1.
A full Sky Bet preview can be seen here.
Officials:
Referee – Tim Robinson
Assistants – Ken Haycock & Nick Hobbis
Fourth Official – Rob Smith