Desperately looking for revenge – Swindon Town take on Gillingham who humiliated the Robins on the opening day of this season with a 5-0 win. This fixture is subject to whether the Town ground staff can beat the freeze.
Vital Quotes:
The Swindon Town website have announced that the push to keep this game on has begun.
SWINDON TOWN Team News:
Charlie Austin hasn’t been training this week so is unlikely to start. That given new signing Vincent Pericard the opportunity to impress the Town faithful. Danny Ward or Ben Hutchinson could also start.
Craig Easton and Alan O’Brien are injured.
Town side that lost 1-0 to Fulham in the F.A. Cup
David Lucas
Scott Cuthbert
Alan Sheehan
Kevin Amankwaah
Gordon Greer (cpt)
Jonathan Douglas
Jon-Paul McGovern
Simon Ferry
Danny Ward (Michael Timlin 86′)
Billy Paynter
Ben Hutchinson (Lloyd Macklin 65′)
Subs Not Used
Lee Peacock
Lescinel Jean-Francois
Nathan Thompson
Phil Smith (GK)
Alex Henshall
Also Available:
Charlie Austin, Craig Easton, Sean Morrison, Hasney Aljofree, Callum Kennedy, Mark Marshall, Jakub Jesionkowski, Mark Scott, Matty Barnes.
Player to watch: BILLY PAYTNER
With Charlie Austin apparently struggling for fitness it’s important that Paynter is on top form on Saturday.
GILLINGHAM Team News:
On loan forward Fabian Brandy could feature for the final time as his loan spell comes to an end this weekend.
Josh Gowling and former Town midfielder Curtis Weston return from suspension.
Simon King, Danny Jackman, Andy Barcham, Simon Royce and Garry Richards are all out.
Gillingham side that drew 1-1 with Exeter City
Alan Julian
John Nutter
Matthew Fry (Tom Wynter 82′)
Chris Palmer
Mark Bentley
Barry Fuller
Kevin Maher
Stuart Lewis
Rashid Yussuff
Dennis Oli
Simeon Jackson (Mark McCammon 85′)
Subs not used
Jacob Erskine
Jack Payne
Luke Rooney
Simon Locke
Matthew Fry has returned to West Ham United following the conclusion of his loan deal.
Also available:
Curtis Weston
Josh Gowling
Player to watch: SIMEON JACKSON
A hat-trick on the opening day of the season says it all really.
The Canadian international has ten goals in the league this season. When he’s on form he’s one of the divisions best forwards.
In December he was named Canadian Players of the Year for 2009.
Match Facts & Stats
Historically Swindon have a slight edge over Gillingham results wise.
In 132 competitive fixtures between the two clubs Swindon have
W: 53
D: 33
L: 47
After events in the 1970’s and 1980’s many of the two clubs supporters (mostly those who remember these fixtures) have had a somewhat nasty rivalry that intensifies when the clus meet. So much so that these fixtures have to kick-off at midday!
The first of these infamous games occurred at Priestfield in 1979 with Town recovering to earn a 2-2 draw.
However, the most significant fixture the two clubs played was the 1987 Third Division Play-Offs. Gillingham won the 1st Leg 1-0 but Swindon secured promotion thanks to a 2-0 2nd leg with with goals from Steve White.
Last Meeting
08/08/09: Gillingham 5-0 Swindon Town
G: Bentley 12′
G: Jackson 51′
G: Miller 72′
G: Jackson 85′
G: Jackson 87′
G: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Garry Richards, Josh Gowling, Mark Bentley (Jacob Erskine 90′), Adam Miller, Curtis Weston, Jack Payne (Rashid Yussuff 87′), Simeon Jackson (Mark McCammon 90′), Andy Barcham.
SNU: Chris Palmer, Tom Wynter, Luke Rooney, Simon Royce.
S: David Lucas, Lescinel Jean-Francois, Gordon Greer, Sean Morrison, Scott Cuthbert (Lloyd Macklin 55′), Alan O’Brien (Mark Marshall 65′), Michael Timlin, Jonathan Douglas, Kevin Amankwaah, Anthony McNamee, Billy Paynter.
SNU: Jerel Ifil, Jon-Paul McGovern, Craig Easton, Callum Kennedy, Phil Smith.
Recent Meetings
26/04/08: Gillingham 1-1 Swindon Town
06/10/07: Swindon Town 5-0 Gillingham
14/02/06: Swindon Town 1-0 Gillingham
14/01/06: Gillingham 3-0 Swindon Town
29/05/87: Swindon Town 3-1 Gillingham
Played for Both Clubs
Howard Pritchard played two seasons for Swindon (81-83) sandwiched between two spells with Bristol City. Pritchard played 65
Ref Watch:
Steve Tanner (Somerset)
Games
6 Championship Fixtures
15 Yellow Cards
2 Red Cards – Robert Kozluk (Coventry), Shane Lowry (Plymouth)
3 League One Games
12 Yellow Cards
0 Red Cards
3 League Two Games
8 Yellow Cards
0 Red Cards
1 League Cup Game
5 Yellow Cards
0 Red Cards
1 F.A. Cup Game
0 Yellow Cards
0 Red Cards
Last Fixture Officiated
CCC: Ipswich Town 3-0 Queens Park Rangers
Assistant Referees
Wes Linden & Guy Stretton
4th Official
Mark Philpott
Match Prediction:
1-1 draw.
Next Fixtures:
Town venture to Stockport County for a midweek fixture on January 19th.
I think Vital Swindon need a history lesson about the 1987 play-offs. 1-0 Gills at Priestfield, 2-1 Swindon at the County Ground. Replay – heartbreaking – held at Selhurst Park.
I don’t how I got that important 2nd leg wrong! When you’re looking at stats your brain plays tricks 🙂 The 3-1 occurred at Priestfield in December 86.