Cobblers Preview


By Jack Nolan
February 16 2007

Gillingham travel to Northampton Town tonight hoping to build on the defeat of Bradford last week. The Gills have two injury doubts going into the game, one being joint top goalscorer Gary Mulligan who shall have a late fitness test before the game at Sixfields Stadium tonight.

Northampton Town v Gillingham

Sixfield Stadium

Coca-Cola Football League One

16/2/2007

 

versus

Gillingham Team News

Gillingham's joint top goalscorer shall have a late fitness test to determine whether the young Irishman is fit enough to play at Sixfields Stadium tonight. Mulligan took a knock in The Gills' last game against Braford and was substituted at half time.

Clint Easton will also have a late fitness test after he also picked up a knock in the second half of Gillingham one goal to nothing victory over Bradford City.

On loan 'keeper Romain Larrieu will continue in the Gills goal to deputise for Kelvin Jack.

Gills from: Larrieu, Southall, Chorley, Johnson, Jackman, Sancho, Cox, Jupp, Clohessy, Howell, Bentley, Flynn, Crofts, Easton, McDonald, Spiller, Stone, Mulligan, Jarvis, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Collin.

Northampton Town Team News

Cobblers' defender Sean Dyche faces a late fitness test to determine whether he is fit enough to face Gillingham on Friday night. Dyche sustained a hamstring injury in Cobblers' fixture with Port Vale last week.

Pedj Bojic, Brett Johnson, and Joe Burnell will miss the game however.

Northampton from: Bunn, Dunn, Crowe, Hughes, Murray, Doig, Dyche, Pearce, Dolman, May, Holt, Taylor, Aiston, Hunt, Bradley Johnson, Green, Laird, Gilligan,  Kirk, Deuchar, Jess, Quinn, Cross, Robertson.

Views

Ronnie Jepson

"We watched them earlier on in the season against Millwall, just after the new manager took over, and they beat them convincingly three-nil.  They are just a bit up and down but the report we had from their game at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, where they lost one-nil, the goal was from a set-piece and by all accounts, it was worked very well.  They are fighting for their lives, just like we are, so it is going to be a tough encounter but one in which we can hopefully take something from.

 

"We have tried all sorts but I think the emphasis is on the home team.  A lot of teams in this league rely on their home form, and we are one of them.  What you get away from home is a bonus sometimes.  If you can regularly get something away from home, you will find yourself up the top end of the table.  That is what we are trying to do.

"We go to every game in a positive frame of mind.  After the Tranmere game, if I were a betting man, I'd have fancied us at Huddersfield.  Things before were well, the training went well, we had a little loosener and a bit of team play on Saturday morning  and everything felt great.  Then we went out there and we were poor, especially in the first half.  You can never call it but if you prepare well, as professionally as we can, it's just like I have said all season, it is sustaining that.  The teams in the top half of the league, their players sustain it and more consistent, that is why they are up there.  We are not consistent enough and that is why we are where we are."

Officials

Officiating Gillinghams visit to Sixfields will be:
Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear)
Assistant Referees: Simon Barrow (Staffordshire) and Chris Francis (Cambridgeshire)
Fourth Official: Paul Martin (Northamptonshire)


Ticket News

Gillingham fans have been allocated 900 tickets in Sixfields' South Stand behind one of the goals. Prices are:
Adult: £16
Senior Citizen (over 60's): £12
Junior (under 16's): £12
Student: £12 (Must show valid NUS card)
Under 7's: FREE

Stats

Out of 99 previous meetings the Cobblers have the honours with this fixture having won 48 times. The Gills have came out on top 35 times and 16 ties have ended all square.

ENJOY THE GAME!