We look ahead to Friday night's live televised fixture
BRENTFORD V GILLINGHAMSky Bet League One
Griffin Park
Friday January 24
Kick-Off, 7.45
Team News:
Chris Whelpdale (ankle), Charlie Lee (knee) and Danny Kedwell (hernia) are all unavailable for the Gills trip to West London for our live televised fixture.
Matt Fish remains an absentee, although he has started training in the past few days.
Elliott Hewitt and Michael Harriman are likely to continue their partnership on the right hand side, while Myles Weston, Leon Legge and Stuart Nelson could all line up against their former employers.
As for Brentford, they will have late fitness checks on Adam Forshaw, Harlee Dean and Sam Saunders.
Forshaw, who has been an integral part of the Brentford side in midfield so far this season, has missed the last two games with a calf strain.
He could make a surprise return, however the fixture may have come too soon for him.
Defender Dean is carrying a groin injury and winger Saunders sat out last weekend's 1-1 draw against Walsall due to a knock.
Should Dean be unavailable then Kevin O’Connor is likely to step in at centre half, with Alan Judge and Will Grigg in line to replace Forshaw and Saunders.
Manager Comments:
With the Bees having gone 15 games unbeaten Peter Taylor knows full well what he is up against on Friday evening.
He was at Stevenage the last time Brentford were defeated, but despite their recent run of good form, Taylor says his players are up for the challenge.
He said: “We won’t be scared, we will be going there in a good mood and be organised. If we let them play their Football and admire them we will have a tough night.
“We didn’t let Swindon play their Football and we need to have the same attitude.
“I watched their game the last time they lost. They got beat at Stevenage about 15 matches ago and that’s an incredible record. The new Manager has gone in there and done ever so well, he knows the level and the players and I’m sure he signed a lot of them.
“It’s a big test but it’s one we are really up for.”
Watch Peter’s exclusive video interview here.
Bees Manager Mark Warburton said: "There are no easy games. The teams at the top are fighting and the teams at the bottom are scrapping.
"We show respect to all our opponents, but we know that if we do what we do well then we will be in good shape.
“If we take liberties we will pay the price so it’s up to us to apply ourselves appropriately.”
Brentford
The Gaffer – Mark Warburton
Following Uwe Rosler’s decision to take the vacant managerial position at Wigan last year, Mark was promoted from within to help maintain the club’s promotion aspirations.
In the seven league games he has taken charge Brentford have won six and drawn one, extending an incredible unbeaten run in the league which goes back to October.
Mark’s playing career saw him feature for Enfield for four years before deciding to take up a career in coaching. He started in Watford’s academy system before joining Brentford as Assistant Manager to Nicky Forster in February 2011.
When Rosler took the hot seat later that year Warburton moved in to a newly created Sporting Director position, but is now looking to challenge for promotion and has a contract until the end of the 2013-14 season.
The Skipper – Kevin O’Connor
Kevin is currently Brentford’s longest serving player having signed his first professional contract with the club in 1999.
He is a versatile performer who can play in a number of positions, although recently he has been a permanent presence at right-back.
However, due to injuries, he could play in central defence for Gillingham’s visit. To date he has made 494 appearances in all competitions for the club.
One to Watch – Clayton Donaldson
Donaldson is the club’s top goal scorer with 14 to his name in all competitions so far this season, including four in his last five outings.
After leaving Crewe in the summer of 2011, having scored 49 goals in 130 matches, he agreed a three-year deal at Griffin Park.
He provides a strong aerial presence up front and possesses good strength and power which will cause any defence problems.
Brentford – the season so far
After losing the League one play-off final to Yeovil last season, Brentford have once again set about trying to challenge for automatic promotion, and despite seeing Uwe Rosler leave the club for Championship side Wigan, Mark Warburton has picked up where Rosler left off.
They are unbeaten in 15 league matches and are one point shy of Leyton Orient who occupy top spot in the league table. A victory against the Gills would put them ahead of Russell Slade’s men and the ones to chase as the final third of the season approaches.
The Bees have only been defeated four times in Sky Bet League One all season, two of which at Griffin Park.
As for their progress in cup competitions, Derby County eliminated Brentford in the second round of the League Cup after a thumping 5-0 victory at Pride Park.
In the JPT Peterborough came out on top in the second round of the southern draw following a 2-1 win, while in the FA Cup they again lost in the second round – this time to Carlisle in a 3-2 scoreline.
Previous Meetings:
The clubs last met earlier this season when a late strike from substitute Farid El Alagui stole a point right at the death in a 1-1 draw with Bayo Akinfenwa having put the hosts ahead in the first half.
Gills haven’t recorded a win over the Bees since March 31 2007 when goals from Andrew Crofts and Danny Jackman clinched all three points with former Priestfield loanee Jo Kuffour having put the visitors ahead early in the game.
In total the teams have met on 86 separate occasions – of those the Gills have won 32, Brentford are two victories ahead on 34 with the other 20 fixtures ending in a draw.
Current Form (last six league games):
Brentford: WWWWWD (16 points)
Gills: WLDWLW (10 points)
Officials:
Referee - KEITH STROUD
Assistants - Simon Barrow and Adam Nunn
Fourth Official - Keith Hill