A couple of new faces could feature for the first time on Saturday as Gills go in search of back-to-back wins.
Colchester United v Gillingham
Sky Bet League Two
JobServe Community Stadium
Saturday January 21st
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Elkan Baggott will not be available, having been recalled by Ipswich and then joining Cheltenham Town on loan for the rest of the season. Callum Harriott will likely miss the game due to a hamstring issue that kept him out of the win against Hartlepool.
George Lapslie could make his Gillingham debut after joining the club from Mansfield last Saturday. Jayden Clarke will be available to play, having signed from Dulwich Hamlet on Thursday afternoon. Ethan Coleman signed from Leyton Orient on Thursday, but it remains to be seen if he will be involved in the matchday squad.
Alex MacDonald could keep his place in midfield alongside Dom Jefferies and Shaun Williams.
Former Gills striker John Akinde is likely to lead the line for Colchester, having started in the win over Rochdale. Matt Jay could come into the starting XI, while Al-Amin Kazeem could return to the Colchester matchday squad after Matt Bloomfield rested him. Connor Wood, who started in his place, could drop to the bench in place of Kazeem.
Manager Comments:
Matt Bloomfield - “We have to be flexible; I hate the thought of having a fixed mindset and just thinking that you’ve found something that works, you have to always be thinking, trying to think ahead and trying to be open for new ideas and new availabilities so we’ve got to make sure that we are very open minded in what we’re trying to do.”
Neil Harris - "We have to start well on Saturday, force the issue.
"We have to keep moving forwards as a Football Club. Performances have to keep rolling following Saturday."
Previous Meetings:
The two clubs met on Boxing Day earlier this season, where Colchester came out on top thanks to Junior Tchamadeu’s first half goal.
Gillingham’s last league win at the JobServe Community Stadium came during the 2014/15 season. Joe Martin gave the Gills a 25th-minute lead as he thumped a volley into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.
Bradley Dack made it two after 34 minutes. He and Cody McDonald linked up to play a one-two on the edge of the penalty area before McDonald cut the ball back for the midfielder to convert from close range. Sammie Szmodic pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half, but Gills hung on for three important points.
Ticket Information:
The club has been allocated 1400 tickets for the game at the JobServe Community Stadium. Gills fans must purchase tickets via the home club’s website for the game, and they can be purchased up until kick-off.
Please be aware that there is a progressive price increase, and the venue is cashless.
BUY TICKETS | COLCHESTER UNITED V GILLINGHAM
For more information, click here.
Odds:
Colchester United win - 13/10
Draw - 2/1
Gillingham win - 11/5
Special Bet: Gillingham to win 2-1 - 11/1.
Match Officials:
Referee - Alan Young
Assistants - Conor Farrell and Paul Lister-Flynn
Fourth Official - Stephen Brown