The Gills host Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One on Saturday, October 22, 3pm kick-off
Sky Bet League One
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Saturday, October 22
3pm kick-off
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Haywood
Assistants: Adrian Water and Michael D’Aguilar
Fourth Official: Dean Treleaven
Justin Edinburgh’s team face Charlton on Saturday in Sky Bet League One.
It is the first time the Addicks have travelled to Gillingham in a competitive fixture since 2009. Tickets are still available for this eagerly-anticipated match, and you can buy yours buy clicking here.
TEAM NEWS
Captain Josh Wright and defender Deji Oshilaja will miss the match on Saturday through suspension, having both picked up their fifth booking of the season in Tuesday’s draw with Walsall.
Scott Wagstaff will also miss the game against his former club, after limping off with a groin strain in midweek.
Gillingham manager Edinburgh praised the work rate of Cody McDonald in Tuesday night’s game, and says that the striker is an example for his team-mates.
“It [McDonald’s energy] is a catalyst for everything we do well here,” said Edinburgh. “With what we want to achieve on Saturday, we have to have 11 Codys out there on the pitch.”
Like the Gills, Charlton have had a challenging start to the season, and Edinburgh knows what a big occasion it will be for both teams.
He added: “We all want to be in a better position and winning more football matches. The right result on Saturday could change the outlook, and I suppose they [Charlton] are looking at it in that way themselves.
“I believe in the players. If we continue to work hard on the training ground, then I have no doubt that the frustrating times we are having at the moment will soon be a thing of the past.”
THE OPPOSITION
Russel Slade’s Charlton sit in 15th place, level on points with the Gills but with a goal difference of three and a game in hand.
The Addicks come into the game off the back of a well-earned point away at a Port Vale side challenging at the summit of the table during the week.
Algerian defender Ahmed Kashi and full-back Kevin Foley will miss the game through injury, and Slade will check the fitness of Ademola Lookman after the striker was substituted with a tight hamstring on Tuesday.
Jason Pearce also faces a late fitness test, after the defender missed the draw at Port Vale in midweek through injury.
Charlton scored three at home to Coventry last weekend, and have hit the woodwork twice in each of the past two games. Slade wants his team to be more ruthless in front of goal at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, and turn possession into goals.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last meeting between the two clubs came at the Valley back in March 2010 in League One. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Andy Barcham and Dennis Oli scoring for Mark Stimson’s Gillingham side.
On the bench for the Addicks that day was the Gills’ summer signing Scott Wagstaff and ex-loanee Darren Randolph. You can watch highlights of the 2-2 draw below: