The Gills travel to Vale Park in Sky Bet League One on Saturday
Sky Bet League One
Vale Park
Saturday, September 17
3pm kick-off
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Assistants: Matt Eva and Natalie Aspinall
Fourth Official: Scott Oldham
The Gills travel to Vale Park in Sky Bet League One on Saturday, to face the team just one place above them in the league table.
TEAM NEWS
Bradley Garmston is still unavailable after a picking up a knee problem in pre-season, however Gills manager Justin Edinburgh has confirmed that the defender will be back in action in a couple of weeks.
Bradley Dack returned to training this week after missing the match against Bradford, but the manager knows it’s going to take a little while to get him up to speed
“The rest we gave him has worked,” said Edinburgh. “He trained on Tuesday and said it was the best he’s felt, and he’s not had any re-occurrence of the knock. We hope we’re over the worst of that one and that he can get his season up and running now.”
Summer signing Scott Wagstaff made his debut for the Gills last weekend, and is likely to be in the matchday squad for Port Vale.
“Scott played 35 minutes on Saturday and brought real energy onto the pitch. He’s had no repercussions, and he’s trained well this week. It may be three or four weeks before we see him at his best, but he’s on track,” said Edinburgh.
The manager also confirmed that Jamie O’Hara has picked up a knock and won’t be in the travelling squad.
THE OPPOSITION
Vale sit just one place above the Gills on goal difference, with both sides picking up 11 points from the first seven matches in League One.
Bruno Ribeiro’s side will record their best start to a season at Vale Park if they take three points from the Gills on Saturday. The Valiants have won their opening four home matches and go up against a Gillingham side who have won four out of five away matches.
Ribeiro is likely to stick with the same side that drew 2-2 at Peterborough on Saturday, although Rigino Cicilia may come in for Martin Paterson up front after replacing him in the second half at London Road.
LAST TIME WE MET
The last time the teams met was at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium back in April, when Vale claimed a 2-0 victory. The teams drew 1-1 in August 2015’s fixture at Vale Park, with Bradley Dack grabbing the Gills’ only goal.
The teams have met 50 times in total, with the Gills winning 16, drawing 17 and losing 17.
FANCY A FLUTTER?
Port Vale win – 6/4
Draw – 5/2
Gillingham win–17/10
For all the latest match odds visit Sky Bet.
MATCH COVERAGE
GillsPlayer will have live match commentary from 2.50pm 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.
SATURDAY'S SKY BET LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES
Rochdale v Fleetwood
Bradford v Bristol Rovers
Chesterfield v Northampton
Coventry v Oldham
MK Dons v Oxford Utd
Charlton v Wimbledon
Sheffield Utd v Peterborough
Shrewsbury v Scunthorpe
Southend v Millwall
Swindon v Bury
Walsall v Bolton