We look ahead to Friday night's live televised Sky Bet League One clash between Coventry and Gillingham
COVENTRY CITY V GILLINGHAMSky Bet League One
Friday September 5
The Ricoh Arena
Kick-Off, 745pm
Team News:
Peter Taylor has revealed that Captain Doug Loft (Achilles) has not recovered in time to take on Coventry City – he could however feature against Oldham next weekend.
Amine Linganzi (hamstring) has begun training and has an outside chance of making the squad, but Gavin Hoyte will serve the first of a three match ban for his dismissal against Stevenage.
Stephen Bywater is expected to return in goal, while Joe Martin should be fine after recovering from a slight back problem.
Shaun Miller (calf) is the only absentee for Coventry after suffering an injury in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Swindon.
Deadline-day signings Seb Hines and former Gills striker Frank Nouble are in line for their debuts after joining on loan from Middlesbrough and Ipswich respectively.
Simeon Jackson, another former Gills man, will be missing due to the fact he is on International duty with Canada.
Manager Comments:
Peter Taylor says he is delighted to see that Coventry have moved back to the Ricoh Arena, and says it provides a terrific platform for his players to show what they can do.
He said: “It’s going to be a terrific experience for the players because there will be over 20,000 people watching us so that will be magnificent.
“I am absolutely delighted for their club and for their supporters because they can now watch their team play at their home which is very important.”
Steven Pressley added: "Everything surrounding the club at the moment typifies how important the club is to the city.
"We've had two or three thousand camping out to get tickets.
"It will be a fantastic atmosphere and we can show everyone the potential of this football club."
Previous Meetings:
The club’s last met in March of this year when Gills ran out 4-2 winners in a thoroughly entertaining fixture at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
In a game which saw four penalties awarded, Bayo Akinfenwa netted twice and Myles Weston once to put the Gills in a good position.
However the goal of the game came from Jake Hessenthaler who, in stoppage time, shot from just inside the Coventry half to net a spectacular goal to seal all three points.
In total the two clubs have met on 47 occasions - of those Coventry have won 23, Gills have 14 victories and the remaining 10 games have been drawn.
Betting:
Sky Bet have made Coventry the favourites to clinch victory with the Sky Blues priced at 10/11 to claim maximum points. Gills have odds of 14/5 to win the match, while a draw is 13/5.
Danny Kedwell could return to the starting 11 and the odds on him to find the net first are 11/2. Cody McDonald is priced at 7/1 to score first against his former club, and 12/5 to score at any time.
Special Bet: Jermaine McGlashan to score first in a 2-1 Gillingham win – 105/1.
Officials:
Referee – Keith Stroud
Assistants – David Avent & Timothy Wood
Fourth Official – James Adcock