The Gills host Brackley Town in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, November 5, 3pm kick-off
Emirates FA Cup
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Saturday, November 5
3pm kick-off
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Brendan Malone
Assistants: Gavin Muge and Nigel Lugg
Fourth Official: Neil Davies
Justin Edinburgh’s team face Brackley Town of the National League North on Saturday in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Tickets are still available for the cup tie, and you can buy yours buy clicking here.
TEAM NEWS
In his midweek pre-match press conference, Gills manager Edinburgh confirmed that Chris Herd, Ryan Jackson, Scott Wagstaff and Bradley Dack are all doubtful for the Brackley tie on Saturday.
The Saints beat the Gills last time the sides met in 2013, but Edinburgh believes his side will be able to prevent another cup upset when the teams face each other at the weekend.
“We’re expected to win, I won’t hide behind that,” said Edinburgh. “It’s not always that easy, however we understand we’re in a results business and we need to start getting some [results].”
Edinburgh downplayed suggestions that his side are unfit, and believes that once his side picks up a win, they will be able to go on a run of picking up the right results.
He added: “The stats say that we’re fitter than last year and we’re covering more miles. We have invested into the research and the equipment we have here this season. We are a fit side, but what you do, and rightly so, is over-analyse and dissect [when you are in] the situation we are in at the minute, but when you are winning you just move on and look forward to the next game.
“We’re looking at everything. We’re trying things, creating an atmosphere and a scenario in training to replicate things that may occur [in the match], and if we continue to do what we’re doing [on the pitch], they [the results] have to change.”
THE OPPOSITION
With 60 league positions between the two teams, Gillingham are the clear favourites to advance to the second round of the world’s oldest cup competition. However, Kevin Wilkin’s team have lost only once in five games, and come into the Emirates FA Cup first round on the back of three consecutive wins.
Brackley, sitting in seventh place in the National League North, won the three FA Cup qualifying rounds convincingly, with score lines of 6-0, 3-0 and 5-0 against Rugby Town, Worcester and Beaconsfield SYCOB.
The Saints beat Halifax Town, tipped by many to win promotion, 3-1 at the weekend, with in-form strikers Steve Diggin and Lee Ndlovu (two) scoring the goals.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting between the two clubs came at the same stage of the competition back in 2013.
The teams drew 1-1 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, with Brackley Town managing to take the Gills to a replay at St James Park a week later. Bradley Dack scored a 90th minute equaliser after Joe Martin’s own goal gave the visitors a shock lead.
The Saints won the replay 1-0 thanks to Glenn Walker’s 21st-minute strike, ending the Gills’ FA cup run at the first hurdle.
FANCY A FLUTTER?
Gills win – 4/11
Draw – 15/4
Brackley win–7/1
For all the latest match odds visit LADBROKES.
MATCH COVERAGE
GillsPlayer will have live match commentary from 3pm with Ben Watts and Peter Lloyd. To subscribe, click here.
The GillsWall will have interactive text commentary of the match, and the club’s social media channels will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.