Gillingham v Leeds-Fans preview

By Andy Baggott
September 28 2007

Thanks to MidlandsLUFC for this preview of tomorrows game at Gillingham. Leeds hunt the Scallywag! The long trip down to Kent for Dennis Wise & his troops presents an interesting opportunity. Wise is looking to break a record set by seven different United sides. The current United side equalled a club record last set by David O’Leary in the 1999/2000 season.

The record in question is 8 wins in succession. However, it is apparent records are not on Assistant, Poyet’s mind. “We are just trying to take it game by game,” Said Poyet.

Revelations from Gillingham Chairman Paul Scally have not come as a shock to many United fans. Comments made in the press by Scally shortly after the Football League meeting back in August have made him a prime target of hatred from United’s faithful.

Scally openly insists the punishment fitted the crime & maintains League One Chairman were not self-interested. “I know most of the chairmen in the Football League and I think they voted in good faith. A few might have had the wrong reasons, but not the majority,” proclaimed Scally.

Scally’s comments should only spur Leeds on to record the eighth successive League win & with results going there way could reach the dizzy heights of 11th come 5pm Saturday.

The decision by the F.A. not support an inquiry into the larceny of United’s 15 points deduction have come as a blow to Chairman Ken Bates. Bates was hoping for some support from the English footballing hierarchy. The decision however, will only galvanize the team further.

Leeds will enter there eighth game of the season unbeaten & giving manager, Dennis Wise a selection headache. Alan Thompson is back in contention & will more than likely replace the impressive stand- in skipper Andrew Hughes. Hughes has been a revelation since signing from Norwich before the Transfer Deadline at the end of August. Hughes put in a big display against Swansea & was accepted by the diehard Leeds fans, after embracing the Kop at the end of the game.

The rest of the team should remain unchanged & the bench will be fought over between Flo, Howson, Lucas, Martin, Bayly, Parker, Huntingdon & Hughes or Douglas. After much critiquing by many Leeds fans at the start of the season that our team was not strong enough, the subs bench shows real quality which many Championship clubs will desire.

Manageress Gillingham have been linked with Brian Little in the week, go into the back on the back of a 4-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest last week. A team low on confidence will not be relishing the opportunity of facing the real league leaders. Many Gills fans predict a heavy loss, however, this may not be the case as a poor pitch will limit the ability to be able to pass the ball around & a direct style of football will need to be applied. This will present the lighting paced Beckford an opportunity to increase his 6 goal haul so far.

Stand in management team Iffy Onoura & Mick Docherty will be looking to the experienced Simon Royce to organise the team from goal. Royce has just recovered with a back injury.

PNE loan pair Adam Nowland & Chris Dickson should make their home debuts while former Fulham & Wimbledon full back, Duncan Jupp is still recovering from a groin injury.

Leeds’ first game against lower placed opposition should result in an away victory, however, Leeds have not been too successful at Priestfield in recent history. The last time United won at Gillingham was in the season 1984/85. Dennis Wise will be looking to put this right in the 2007/08 season