Match Previews

Preview | Gillingham v Cheltenham Town

5th November

Steve Evans has a few injury concerns to contend with as Cheltenham prepare to visit ME7 for the second time this season.

Gillingham v Cheltenham Town

Emirates FA Cup, Round 1

MEMS Priestfield Stadium

Saturday November 6^th

Kick-Off, 2pm

Team News:

Gills will be without Olly Lee after he suffered a foot fracture that will keep him out for up to six weeks. Stuart O’Keefe will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness as he tries to get over a hamstring strain that forced him to come off in the draw against Accrington Stanley.

Steve Evans is still without Alex MacDonald, David Tutonda and Daniel Phillips, who are all expected to be out until the Christmas period.

Ben Reeves has impressed in training this week and will be pushing for a starting place.

Cheltenham loanee Mattie Pollock will have a late fitness test to decide whether he is fit enough to feature in the game. The defender was forced off through injury in their draw against Portsmouth.

Will Boyle, Charlie Raglan, Callum Wright and Taylor Perry will all miss the game as they continue to recover from their injuries.

Manager Comments:

Steve Evans- “There’s a lot of positivity there in what they’re doing at the moment [Cheltenham]. However, it’s an opportunity for us to make progress. It’s a game I believe that we can win but we need our players to turn up and play their best.”

Michael Duff - "I think it will be two completely different teams to that game. It's probably as difficult a draw as we could have got.

"Everyone knows the way they play but knowing the way they play and stopping it is completely different. When you've got Vadaine Oliver and John Akinde up front why would you play any other way? It's effective.”

Recent Form:

Gillingham- DLDWL

Gills were unable to break a stubborn Accrington Stanley in their last match as they drew 0-0 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium. Vadaine Oliver had the best chance of the game as his shot from close range went just wide of the post. Kyle Dempsey’s speculative effort almost gave Steve Evans’ side a late winner but it rattled the woodwork before bouncing away from danger. Gills are currently 19th in the League One table on 16 points.

In last season’s FA Cup, Gillingham reached the second round before being knocked out by Exeter City. Steve Evans' side produced a second-half comeback in the first round against Woking. Being 2-0 down with a little over 30 minutes remaining, Dominic Samuel scored twice in ten minutes before Vadaine Oliver scored the winner with just ten minutes to go, securing a 3-2 win against the National League outfit.

Cheltenham Town- DDW(on pens)LW

In their last league match, Cheltenham went to Fratton Park and came away with a point. Lewis Freestone scored for the Robins after just six minutes, but Reeco Hackett-Fairchild equalised for Portsmouth just after the half-hour mark. That was Cheltenham’s fifth draw of the season, and they currently sit 15^th in the League One table on 20 points.

Previous Meetings:

The two clubs have previously met in the FA Cup, and it was the first-ever meeting between the two. During the 1999/2000 season, Gills drew to Cheltenham at Whaddon Road. Nicky Southall put Peter Taylor’s side in front, but John Brough equalised with less than 15 minutes remaining to set up a replay.

In the replay, Gills came out on top. Andy Thomson and Adey Pennock put the Gills 2-0 up in the first half, but the Robins came fighting back in the second. Russell Milton and Neil Howarth brought them level after 70 minutes, but just seven minutes later, Gills had their winner. Brian McGlinchey’s cross somehow found its way into the bottom corner as he put Gillingham in the hat for the second round.