Conor Wilkinson in contention for starting place with Josh Parker away on international duty.
BRADFORD CITY V GILLINGHAM
VALLEY PARADE
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
SATURDAY MARCH 24
KICK-OFF, 3PM
Team News:
Gills will be without striker Josh Parker as he is away on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda.
Alex Lacey is edging closer to full fitness after playing in a game midweek whilst Billy Bingham continues to make progress following a long term ankle injury. However this game has come too soon for both.
After suffering with a sickness bug last week, forwards Rhys Murphy and Liam Nash should be in contention to make the match day squad.
The Bantams will be without goalkeeper Colin Doyle as he hopes to start for Republic of Ireland against Turkey meaning Lukas Raeder should start between the sticks.
Bradford will also miss Matty Lund who is injured for a few weeks with a slight tear in his hamstring whilst Ryan McGowan looks set to miss the rest of the season after having a knee operation.
Paul Taylor and Alex Jones will assessed up until the last minute.
Manager Comments:
Steve Lovell - “Our away form has been good this year, it’s nice to play in big stadiums and we’ll try to cause Bradford problems.
“We’ve had a full week of training. The next couple of games will determine where we will be at the end of the season. We will go to Bradford trying to win.”
Simon Grayson - “Players are playing for the short-term future of the next game, which is the most important.
“Those who play more of the games between now and the end of the season will have a far better chance of being here or getting another club than those who don’t.”
Previous Meetings:
The last time both sides met was at Priestfield in August as the Gills were beaten 1-0. Dominic Poleon’s first half goal was the difference between the sides with Conor Wilkinson shown a red card in the second half.
When Gillingham last visited Bradford the match ended in a 2-2 draw as goals from Josh Wright and Deji Oshilaja came either side of goals from Charlie Wyke and Anthony McMahon.
The teams have met 50 times in all competitions with the Gills coming out on top of the head to head with 22 victories. Bradford have been victorious 13 times with 15 games ending in a stalemate.
Odds:
Bradford win - 11/10
Draw - 12/5
Gillingham win - 5/2
Special Bet - Conor Wilkinson to score first; Gillingham to win 3-1- 125/1.
For more odds visit www.skybet.com/fl72
Officials:
Referee - Ross Joyce
Assistant Referee 1 - Craig Taylor
Assistant Referee 2 - Barry Godwin
Fourth Official - Andy Haines