Neil Harris takes his Gills side to promotion chasing Northampton on Easter Monday, with Conor Masterson hoping to be fit for the game at Sixfields.
Northampton Town v Gillingham
Sky Bet League Two
Sixfields Stadium
Monday April 10th
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Conor Masterson is a doubt to play on Easter Monday after suffering a head injury in the win against Doncaster. He will need to pass the concussion protocols to be eligible. Neil Harris could rotate his starting XI with the quick turnaround. Dom Jefferies, Ethan Coleman and George Lapslie are all available if called upon.
Northampton’s Aaron McGowan will likely miss the game on Easter Monday due to an ankle injury he picked up in The Cobblers’ 3-0 defeat at Newport. Akin Odimayo and Jack Sowerby both picked up knocks during the game on Good Friday and are doubts too.
Former Gills academy graduate Harvey Lintott will likely start for Northampton, while Danny Hylton could return to the starting XI.
Manager Comments:
Jon Brady - “We are looking forward to the game on Monday and we really need the fans right behind us again.
“Hopefully we can put a team together that isn’t too disjointed but that depends on the injuries and who is available.
“We want to give ourselves the best opportunity and we’d like to put round pegs in round holes.”
Neil Harris - “A hardworking unit that’s well organised, and the majority of the time, they play a 4-5-1 shape. What they’ve got in their team is a lot of League Two knowhow, and they’ve got goals.
“We have to make sure, as always, that we concentrate on stopping their threats.”
Previous Meetings:
When the two sides met at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium earlier in the season, it was The Cobblers that came out on top with a 2-0 win. Sam Hoskins fired Northampton in front in the 27th minute before setting up Kieron Bowie for the second with a less than 20 minutes to go.
A memorable trip to the Sixfields Stadium came during Gillingham’s 2012/13 title-winning season. Deon Burton put the Gills in front shortly before half-time. He latched onto a long ball forward before heading it beyond the oncoming Lee Nicholls and slotted the ball into the back of an empty net.
Jack Payne doubled the Gillingham advantage ten minutes into the second half, as his first-time shot from over 20 yards out found the bottom corner. Adebayo Akinfenwa pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute, but it only proved to be a consolation, as Martin Allen’s side hung on for all three points.
Ticket Information:
Tickets will be available for purchase on the day at Sixfields. Tickets that are to be collected from the stadium can be found at the portakabin next to the away turnstiles.
Gillingham supporters will be situated in the South Stand with the club being allocated a total of 960 tickets for the fixture. For more information, click here.
Odds:
Northampton Town win - 21/20
Draw - 2/1
Gillingham win - 14/5
Special Bet: Robbie McKenzie to score first and Gillingham to win 2-1 - 300/1.
Match Officials:
Referee - Anthony Backhouse
Assistants - Paul Evans and Declan Ford
Fourth Official - Anthony Moore
iFollow:
Monday’s fixture is available for the one-off fee of just £10 via iFollow! BBC Radio Kent will provide full live coverage of the game. To purchase a video match pass, click here.