Southend United v Gillingham

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SHRIMPERS

So who are the players Luggy was referring to wouldn't be turning out for the team for a 'long' while, son Blair?

Possibily not, but it makes picking the starting line-up difficult!

Anyhow, this is a big game for the Blues early in the season or not, and Gillingham haven't started brilliantly but lie one point outside the play-off zone, this is going to be a strange season, Crawley losing 6-0!

Dickinson sits out the last match of his suspension, while no news on a Harris or Sawyer return, not sure Luggs can drop three!

I'm sticking with only JP to take the place of Leonard whatever the Blues boss said, he might have calmed down by now, but what the he really has in mind we will find out on the night, maybe a loan signing now he's got rid of all the kids.

If the team that turns up that went two up against the Cobblers last week a win is very much is on the cards, this is not as strong a Gills side that drew 2-2 at Roots Hall last March but the reliance on Ryan Hall as the main attacking option is dangerous.

If JJ could step up at last that would be a great help but he has been ill, and will Bilel be fully fit?

He faces a late fitness teat along with Neil Harris, fingers crossed on both counts there, and though Big Baz has reumed training, Saturday looks best for the tall striker, and then probably only on the bench.

Another draw wouldn't surprise me with something that resembles a normal first team first team returning for the visit of another old club in the Sturrock family, as well as skipper Chris Barker, Plymouth Argyle next weekend.

Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Prosser, Leonard, Ferdinand, Grant, Hall, Mohsni, Sturrock.

Subs: Bentley, Gilbert, Timlin, Johnson/Crawford/Harris depending on fitness.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!

OPPOSITION

The Gills will be without midfielder Jack Payne who sustained knee ligament damage during a home to Shrewsbury a week ago and has been ruled out for a month, but elsewhere things are looking up for boss Andy Hessenthaler.

Chris Whelpdale took a blow to his ankle upon his return from a calf injury but played in the 1-1 draw with Accrington (report above), while fellow midfielder Danny Spiller came off the bench after a virus ruled him out completely last weekend.

Also on Saturday as second-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was ruled out with mumps and, with Daren Hawkes unable to be recalled from his loan spell at Ramsgate and youth-team stopper Ashley Bourne injured, defender Matt Fish was named on the bench as back-up to Ross Flitney!

A local look at the season's prospects: www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk

Lat Time Out

Gillingham 1 Accrington Stanley 1 (played on Saturday, September 10th): Report: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com

Beeb highlights of last game: (to be posted)

Player to watch

PREVIOUSLY

REF



The man in the middle is David Phillips from East Sussex. 

His assistants are Matt Foley & Phillips Knight; The fourth official is Carl Brook.

FIXTURES

League Two

Tuesday, September 13th; (kick-off 19.45): AFC Wimbledon v Northampton, Accrington Stanley v Rotherham, Barnet v Plymouth, Bristol Rovers v Shrewsbury, Burton Albion v Crewe, Crawley Town v Swindon, Dag & Red v Oxford United, Hereford v Aldershot, Macclesfield v Morecambe, Port Vale v Bradford City, Southend v Gillingham, Torquay v Cheltenham.

Saturday, September 17th; (kick-off's 15.00, unless stated): Port Vale v Shrewsbury, (13:00), AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham, Accrington Stanley v Crewe, Barnet v Oxford Utd, Bristol Rovers v Aldershot, Burton Albion v Swindon, Crawley Town v Bradford, Dag & Red v Morecambe, Hereford v Gillingham, Macclesfield v Northampton, Southend v Plymouth, Torquay v Rotherham.

BET

Southend (to win) - 11/8, Draw - 12/5, Gillingham (to win) - 2.

For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/

HISTORY

The Gillingham team line up before their first ever Football League match in 1920.

Gillingham are the only Kent-based club in the Football League and play their home matches at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium.

The club was founded in 1893 and joined the Football League in 1920. They were voted out of the league in favour of Ipswich Town at the end of the 1937-38 season, but returned to it 12 years later after it was expanded from 88 to 92 clubs.

Twice in the late 1980s they came close to winning promotion to the second tier of English football, but a decline then set in and in 1993 they narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference.

Between 2000 and 2005, Gillingham were in the second tier of the English football league system for the only time in their history, achieving a club record highest league finish of eleventh place in 2002-03.

In the 2008-09 season, the club was promoted to Football League One after victory over Shrewsbury Town in the League Two play-off final.

However, the Gills were relegated back to League Two the very next season on the last weekend,with former Blue Mark Stimson leaving the club by mutual consent two days after the end of the season.

Within two weeks, Andy Hessenthaler returned for a second spell as manager.

(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Gillingham_F.C.)