The Sky Sports cameras are out in force on Sunday as Priestfield prepares to welcome Portsmouth for the first time in 12 years.
GILLINGHAM V PORTSMOUTH
Sky Bet League 1
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Sunday October 8
Kick-off, 2.30pm.
Team News:
Peter Taylor will be without Scott Wagstaff and Bradley Garmston (calf) but both players are progressing well. Luke O’Neill (hamstring) is also missing, while Gabriel Zakuani is away on international duty with Congo.
Tom Eaves serves the third of a four match ban, while Mark Byrne also sits out due to suspension. Alex Lacey (ankle) is a major doubt.
Finn O’Mara could be in line to make his full home league debut while Max Ehmer might be required to move to centre-back with Billy Bingham fit to play in midfield.
As for Portsmouth, Christian Burgess will be assessed on a head injury while Nathan Thompson (calf) will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness. Damien McCrory has undergone surgery on a knee injury so midfielders Dion Donohue and Gareth Evans are likely to fill the full-back roles.
Portsmouth will be without forward Conor Chaplin due to a hamstring problem. Top-scorer Brett Pitman is recovering from keyhole knee surgery, while also having an operation to fix his broken nose.
Management Comments:
Steve Lovell – "Everybody will be a bit nervous but as soon as the whistle goes the players will want to do the things they have been working on all week.
"We are concentrating on Sunday and ensuring we are well prepared. There is no extra pressure, it's another game."
Kenny Jackett – “Gillingham is a tough place to go, so we’ll have to roll our sleeves up and work hard for any points that we can get.
“Whoever is in charge there on Sunday, we know that they’ll be fighting to improve their position and we have to produce a quality display.”
We’ve met before:
The clubs last played each other in September 2005 for, what was then, a Carling Cup tie. Gills prevailed 3-2 after extra-time thanks to goals from Darren Byfield and Andrew Crofts with keeper Jamie Ashdown putting the ball in his own net.
In total the teams have met on 30 occasions with Portsmouth dominating the head-to-head statistics with 17 victories. Gills have won just six times.
Odds:
Gills win – 3/1
Draw – 5/2
Pompey win – 10/11
Special: Sean Clare to score in a 2-1 Gillingham win – 115/1.
For more odds click here.
Officials:
Referee: CHRISTOPHER SARGINSON
Assistants: Ravel Cheosiaua and Kevin Howick
Fourth Official: Charles Breakspear