Table topping Blackpool set to visit ME7.
GILLINGHAM v BLACKPOOL
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Sky Bet League 1
Tuesday August 20
Kick off, 7:45pm
Team News:
Gillingham are likely to still be without Matty Willock who continues to recover from a muscle strain and will also be without Mikael Ndjoli who serves a one game ban after receiving a red card in the Gills Carabao Cup penelaty shoot-out defeat to Newport County last week.
The hosts are going in search of their first win this season after a draw with Doncaster and defeat to Burton in their opening two league games.
Blackpool make the long trip south in fine form having won all three of their opening league games so far. New owners over the summer ended the Oyston family involvement with the club and the return of former manager Simon Grayson led to a renewed hope for the club's fans. Blackpool have doubts over former Liverpool and Bolton midfielder Jay Spearing, who suffered a shoulder injury 10 days ago.
Manager Comments:
Steve Evans - “We know it will be difficult tomorrow but we are at Priestfield and we are looking forward to it.
"League One is tough but when all of our players are available, and we'll try to get or two before the deadline shuts, we'll be fine."
Ryan Edwards – “We know we’ve got to be better, and we know we will be. Oxford are a good side and credit to them. They’ll feel they should have had something from the game, and probably should have.
“But you’ve got to find different ways to win football matches, and we did that. We’ve now got to forget about it, take the three points and move on to Tuesday at Gillingham now.”
Previous Meetings:
These two sides last met just three months ago at the end of last season’s League One campaign with the Gills running out convincing 3-0 winners thanks to first half goals from Brandon Hanlan and a double from Tom Eaves.
This fixture at Priestfield last season saw the reverse result with the Seasiders taking all three points as a second half goal from Nathan Delfouneso secured a 1-0 win. This will be the 40th occasion that these two sides have met competitively with Gillingham only winning 11 times so far. The first ever clash between the two sides on record was a 1914 FA Cup tie which was won 1-0 by Blackpool.
Odds:
Gills win – 7/4
Draw – 11/5
Blackpool win – 6/4
Special Bet: Brandon Hanlan to score first and Gillingham win 1-0 – 30/1.
Officials:
Referee - Neil Hair
Assistant Referee 1 - Nicholas Cooper
Assistant Referee 2 - Aaron Farmer
Fourth Official - Anthony Da Costa