Neil Harris will be without Oli Hawkins and Tim Dieng for the game against Mansfield but Dom Jefferies and Jonny Williams could return.
GILLINGHAM V MANSFIELD TOWN
Sky Bet League 2
Priestfield Stadium
Saturday September 30
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Oli Hawkins remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a heel injury. George Lapslie is a doubt to feature but will be assessed up until the last possible moment.
Tim Dieng continues to work on his recovery from a knee injury sustained in our game away to Grimsby Town, but will likely remain out for at least another four weeks.
Dom Jefferies did feature in the midweek game at home to Dartford, so could potentially return to the first-team squad. Lewis Walker also made his comeback, however he has joined Woking on loan until January.
As for Mansfield, defender Callum Johnson could make his return to the first team squad, having missed The Stag’s last two fixtures after suffering a hamstring injury.
Manager Comments:
Neil Harris: “The message to the players has been very clear, take your chances.
"We created a lot of opportunities against Doncaster last weekend, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal. We were disappointed not to get anything from that game, but we’re always looking to improve.
“Every game is different, but something you can’t ignore with Mansfield is that they’re currently unbeaten in the league. They’ve got pedigree and they have quality.
“I think we’re much better equiped to deal with these teams this season. We’re in a much healthier position.”
Nigel Clough said: “We are into the next round [Carabao Cup] for the first time in nearly 50 years which is a hell of an achievement, but so is going 12 games unbeaten.
“It's early still so we just have to keep our feet on the ground, keep doing what we're doing, and quickly get our minds on Gillingham.”
Previous Meeting:
The Gills had not met Mansfield since the 95/96 season before the two clubs met in last year’s Sky Bet League Two campaign.
The Stags came to Priestfield in September for a fixture that the visitors would ultimately control. Mansfield took the lead in the 17th minute following some excellent work from Kellan Gordon who found some space down the Gillingham left, the defender placed a pinpoint cross into the box for striker Lucas Atkins to hook past Glen Morris, manning the Gills goal.
The Stags continued to control the game from the restart and would win themselves a penalty soon after. George Lapslie, then a Mansfield player, was judged to have been brought down after clashing with Glen Morris and Haji Mnoga in the area. The Gills keeper would make up for it however, diving to his left to save the resulting Atkins spot kick.
The visitors doubled their lead with 33 minutes played.
Winning the ball back immediately from a Glen Morris goal kick, Anthony Hartigan showing great awareness to spot Lapslie’s run in behind the Gills back line. The pass found it’s man before Lapslie would round the Gills keeper and pass into the net.
Head-to-Head:
Gillingham – 17
Draw – 15
Mansfield Town – 20
The two sides have met on a total of 52 occasions in the past, all coming in league fixtures. The Gills have never met Mansfield in cup competition.
Winning results have been split relatively evenly across the history of both teams. It’s Mansfield however who come into this weekend with the edge in the Head-to-Head statistics. The Stags have notched up twenty wins against the Gills, two of those wins coming last season, both by a 2-0 score line.
Ticket Information:
Tickets remain online up until kick-off on the day, with matchday in person purchases to be made at the ticket window on Redfern Avenue while our new ticketing area is being constructed. This is open from 9am.
Please note we are a cashless venue.
Odds:
Gillingham Win – 15/8
Draw – 11/5
Mansfield Win – 7/5
Special Bet - Ashley Nadesan to score first & Gillingham to win 2-1 – 45/1
Match Officials:
Referee – Jacob Miles
Assistants – Scott Williams & Shaun Farrer
Fourth Official – Aaron Farmer
Sat Nav: ME7 2PE