Steve Evans and his team head for Oxford looking to clinch first away win of the season.
OXFORD UNITED v GILLINGHAM
Kassam Stadium
Sky Bet League 1
Saturday September 28
Kick off, 3pm
Team News:
Gillingham are still without Matty Willock who continues to recover from a bruised knee, otherwise manager Steve Evans will have a fully fit squad to choose from as his side face Oxford United who have found some good form of late, including Wednesday night’s 4-0 hammering of West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.
Oxford themselves will have to monitor the progress of striker Matty Taylor who returned on Wednesday night after a groin problem, however he should be fit to face the Gills. Oxford have won their last two games by an aggregate of 10-0 after a 6-0 thumping of Lincoln last weekend.
Preview Comments:
Steve Evans - “We respect them but we don’t fear them. Our performances recently deserve a lot more than we have been getting but that happens in football."
“They have a big budget this year and they have a focus on having a good campaign."
Oxford United Manager Karl Robinson – “If I was Steve Evans I would be looking at it with a bit of a wry smile thinking the opposition might get carried away with themselves and that my team is fresh because they have had a free week.
“Now we have to press the normal button and go and perform professionally."
Previous Meetings:
Gillingham head into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich in League One, however against Saturday's opposition the Gills have won 18 of the previous 45 meetings and only lost 13 times with the other 14 occasions ending in a draw.
The last meeting between these two last season saw the Gills claim three points at Priestfield thanks to a Brandon Hanlan strike in the 89th minute to hand the Gills the 1-0 win. This fixture last season at the Kassam Stadium saw the Gills slip to a 1-0 defeat.
Odds:
Gills win – 3/1
Draw – 5/2
Oxford United win – 17/20
Special Bet: Gillingham to win 1-0 – 12/1
Officials:
Referee - Andy Woolmer
Assistant Referee 1 - Nik Barnard
Assistant Referee 2 - Philip Dermott
Fourth Official - Ian Cooper
SAT NAV: OX4 4XP