Steve Lovell previews the visit of Hartlepool in the FA Cup.
Gills boss Steve Lovell says there is no room for complacency ahead of Saturday’s visit of Hartlepool in the first round of the FA Cup.
Lovell’s men may be two divisions above the visitors, but the boss has warned his side that if they are not in form then the visitors could spring a surprise.
He said: “We will give them the utmost respect; it’s an FA Cup tie and they are coming down here as the underdogs so there is no pressure on them. We are the favourites and will approach it in the same way we do any other. There will be no complacency from any one of us because we know what can happen.
“It will be a tough game, they’re a hardworking side and we need to put on a very good performance if we are to get through. We will give it everything because it’s a tie we want to win.
“The FA Cup is something special. It would be nice to have a bit of a run but the priority is Saturday’s game and playing as well as we can.”
Tom Eaves missed out on the Sky Bet League 1 `Player of the Month` award but Lovell was keen to praise the striker after such a strong few weeks for the Gills.
He added: “He has scored a lot of goals, but a lot of them are very good finishes. If he keeps on scoring spectacular ones then fine…as long as he keeps scoring!
“He’s really come on; he scored 18 goals last season and had a really good year. He took time to get his fitness and form back, but since then he’s been excellent. His hold up play and work rate is second to none anyway. His general play with the rest of the boys around him has been very good and it’s no coincidence our form has picked up a bit when he has. Long may that continue.”
Lovell revealed that Billy Bingham, Bradley Garmston and Josh Rees have all returned to training and could make the squad on Saturday.