Elkan Baggott away on international duty but Scott Kashket could return to the Gills squad.
Hartlepool United v Gillingham
Sky Bet League Two
Suit Direct Stadium
Saturday September 24th
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Olly Lee remains unavailable with a foot injury while Dom Jefferies could make the matchday squad as he continues to work through a quad issue. Elkan Baggott will miss the game because he is on international duty with Indonesia.
Neil Harris is hopeful that Scott Kashket will be fit in time for the game after he missed the defeat to Mansfield.
As for Hartlepool, they have a few knocks and bruises although new manager Keith Curle didn't disclose player names in his pre-match news conference.
Manager Comments:
Neil Harris - "We have to start winning games, that's the bottom line.
"With Keith coming in at Hartlepool you usually get that new manager bounce. I do expect a different Hartlepool. It's a chance for us to respond."
Keith Curle - "If you have a look at where we are as a team, it’s a case of very quickly simplifying the message, we need to win games.
"It’s not a case of going in and reinventing the wheel. We concede goals and we don’t score enough so we need to change both of those.”
Previous Meetings:
The last time Gillingham travelled to Hartlepool came in the FA Cup, where Steve Lovell’s side won what proved to be a memorable first round replay. Carl Magnay headed Hartlepool in front as he headed into an empty net from inside the six-yard box. In the 32nd minute, Patrick McLaughlin doubled the Pools’ advantage as he was first to meet a rebound.
Max Ehmer pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half as he did well to find the bottom corner from a tight angle. Gills were awarded a penalty in the final seconds of the game. Luke O’Neill’s ball into the box was handled, and Ehmer put the ball in the net off the second ball, but the referee had pointed to the spot. Tom Eaves stepped up and calmly drilled the spot kick into the bottom corner.
The game went into extra time, where Gillingham took control as O’Neill completed the turnaround in the 102nd minute. He managed to direct his free-kick up and over the wall as it found the bottom corner, leaving Scott Loach with little chance of getting to it. In the second period of extra time, Elliott List put the game to bed. He latched onto a through ball, and as he got into the penalty area, he fired his shot across the goal and into the bottom corner.
Tyrone O’Neill pulled a goal back for Hartlepool, but they could not score another as Gillingham went into the second round of the FA Cup.
Ticket Information:
The club has been allocated 500 tickets for Saturday’s game, and Gillingham supporters will be situated in the Simpson Millar Stand.
There are no cash turnstiles at the Suit Direct Stadium. Tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game (subject to availability) from the ticket office, but it is recommended that Gills fans buy in advance.
Adult and concession prices will increase by £1 on matchday.
For more information, Click here.
Odds:
Hartlepool United win - 13/8
Draw - 21/10
Gillingham win - 13/8
Special Bet: Mikael Mandron to score and Gillingham to win 1-0 - 30/1.
Match Officials:
Referee - Neil Hair
Assistants - Declan Ford and Hristo Karaivanov
Fourth Official - Bradley Hall