[Archived] Gillingham away 17.3.18

[BlackburnEnd75]

With Nyambe out I'd definitely have gone with Travis at right back. But since his red card Tony seems doesn't seem to think he's ready.

I don't rate Caddis, Bennett is untested at right back but would be a good option if we are looking to play on the front foot. If he starts there you might need Conway to play in front of him for the first hour but i've previously written Conway off, could put Lenihan there I think he'd do a  good job but I'd rather have him at centre half. so i'd go to 3 at the back.

                                       Raya

            Lenihan            Mulgrew       Williams

Bennett             Smallwood       Evans         Bell

                                          Dack

                          Graham              Armstrong

 

Subs: Leitwiler, Downing, Whittingham, Conway, Payne, Antonsson, Samuel

If Graham isn't fit then I'd start Samuel or Nuttall up top with Armstrong.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

So looks like Caddis or Bennett will play right back. 

Is it worth risking Graham not fit? Undecide

This would be my team judging by Mowbray pre match comments

                       Raya

Bennett Lenihan Mulgrew Williams

              Evans Smallwood

 Antonsson    Dack     Armstrong

                     Graham(Samuel if Graham not fit)

Subs:- Caddis Downing Bell Whittingham Payne Samuel or Nuttall

I could live with most of that team. I don't think you can play both of Armstrong and Antonnson out wide away from home. You need one sort of holding wide player, probably Payne  or Conway or even Bell instead of Antonsson.

[had.e.nuff]

25 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

So looks like Caddis or Bennett will play right back. 

Is it worth risking Graham not fit? Undecide

This would be my team judging by Mowbray pre match comments

                       Raya

Bennett Lenihan Mulgrew Williams

              Evans Smallwood

 Antonsson    Dack     Armstrong

                     Graham(Samuel if Graham not fit)

Subs:- Caddis Downing Bell Whittingham Payne Samuel or Nuttall

with not having a game for 12 days it should be ok to risk Graham

[only2garners]

41 minutes ago, JHRover said:

We just need to be coming home tomorrow night knowing we have done our job. Wigan did theirs on Wednesday, now its our turn and Shrewsbury's turn. As long as come 5pm we can say we've done our side of the bargain we can be happy.

What I don't want to happen is for us to drop 2 or 3 points but be 'saved' by virtue of Wigan not playing or Shrewsbury not winning at Scunthorpe and then all the talk be about us having a decent weekend because we haven't lost ground etc.

With Wigan's last gasp win on Wednesday we need to win to re-open that gap if we intend to finish above them and with Shrewsbury facing probably their toughest game remaining we have to be ready to take advantage of any slip up to put it mathematically into our hands.

Not really interested in Gillingham. My only experience of them has been at Ewood earlier this season when we limped to a win but there's a reason we're top and they're mid-table and 27 points behind us.

Sounds like a couple of injury concerns including Graham which worries me but I'd like to think Armstrong, Samuel or Antonsson could between them do a job up front in this division.

Anyone who thinks Gillingham are mid-table plodders might like to look at their form in their last 11 games - won 7, drawn 3 and lost 1. Exactly the same as Rovers.

[Bigdoggsteel]

Graham will need a last minute fitness check. Worrying 

[JHRover]

Just now, only2garners said:

Anyone who thinks Gillingham are mid-table plodders might like to look at their form in their last 11 games - won 7, drawn 3 and lost 1. Exactly the same as Rovers.

Like I say, there's a reason they're 27 points behind us. Our job to put that good run to an end.

We have nothing to fear but ourselves.

[Admiral Nelsen]

Just now, Bigdoggsteel said:

Graham will need a last minute fitness check. Worrying 

It is worrying, after Mowbray's interview I assumed it was panic over.

Might be tempted to go with Armstrong up front for this one, but looks like the international brea may have come at a good time for us.

[AllRoverAsia]

Rib injury?

Graham's game is based on using his body strenghth against opponents. 

If he is still feeling discomfort it will affect him. Only play if fully fit.

[only2garners]

2 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Like I say, there's a reason they're 27 points behind us. Our job to put that good run to an end.

We have nothing to fear but ourselves.

The reason is they had a lousy start and were still near the bottom before Christmas. I don't really see what relevance their early season form has on tomorrow's game though.

[arbitro]

42 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

I am not so sure about that , if you don't score you don't win !!

But I did say us and Wigan can undoubtedly score. We need clean sheets.

[Bigdoggsteel]

15 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

It is worrying, after Mowbray's interview I assumed it was panic over.

Might be tempted to go with Armstrong up front for this one, but looks like the international brea may have come at a good time for us.

That would probably mean Conway would start. Pity Chapman didn't get a  run out midweek 

[J*B]

I reckon he will go 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2..

                       Raya

      Lenihan Mulgrew Williams

Bennett                                   Bell

             Evans Smallwood

                      Dack

        Armstrong    Graham             

[chaddyrovers]

36 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I could live with most of that team. I don't think you can play both of Armstrong and Antonnson out wide away from home. You need one sort of holding wide player, probably Payne  or Conway or even Bell instead of Antonsson.

Payne never keep the wide anyway where Antonsson would. 

You could play Armstrong up front if Graham isnt fit with Conway and Antonsson. 

I wouldnt be surprise if Mowbray does play 3 at the back tomorrow at some point during the game

[Admiral Nelsen]

5 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

That would probably mean Conway would start. Pity Chapman didn't get a  run out midweek 

 

Definitely, although to be fair I thought Evans was pretty good when he came on against Blackpool, so maybe pair him with Smallwood and put Bennett on the wing?

In terms of ability, I wouldn't mind putting Samuel there as a straight swap, but mentally he seems so far off where he needs to be that I wouldn't risk it.

[Oldgregg86]

If Graham isn't fit then Armstrong has to go up top for me. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

8 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Definitely, although to be fair I thought Evans was pretty good when he came on against Blackpool, so maybe pair him with Smallwood and put Bennett on the wing?

In terms of ability, I wouldn't mind putting Samuel there as a straight swap, but mentally he seems so far off where he needs to be that I wouldn't risk it.

I reckon Bennett will be right back. Its like Tetris  

[tomphil]

Keep putting enough pressure on their back line and they'll crack, non of this inviting them on for the first 20 mins stuff just get at them and press them back from the off it suits us so much better that style.

We want to be champions so play every game like we do.

[Parsonblue]

1 hour ago, only2garners said:

Anyone who thinks Gillingham are mid-table plodders might like to look at their form in their last 11 games - won 7, drawn 3 and lost 1. Exactly the same as Rovers.

Agree.  I don't think they've lost at home in the League since October.  They are one of the form teams of the division and it will a very difficult game.  Whilst I'm going hoping for a win I don't think it would be the end of the world if we come away with a point.

[had.e.nuff]

2 minutes ago, Parsonblue said:

Agree.  I don't think they've lost at home in the League since October.  They are one of the form teams of the division and it will a very difficult game.  Whilst I'm going hoping for a win I don't think it would be the end of the world if we come away with a point.

Last 10 home game form table

1 Plymouth Argyle 10   8 0 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 24 2 Blackburn Rovers 10   6 4 0 22 9   0 0 0 0 0   13 22 3 Rotherham United 10   6 2 2 15 9   0 0 0 0 0   6 20 4 Peterborough United 10   5 3 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 18 5 Bristol Rovers 10   5 2 3 17 13   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 6 Shrewsbury Town 10   5 2 3 11 7   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 7 Wigan Athletic 10   4 4 2 12 7   0 0 0 0 0   5 16 8 Doncaster Rovers 10   4 4 2 15 11   0 0 0 0 0   4 16 9 Southend United 10   5 1 4 17 14   0 0 0 0 0   3 16 10 Walsall 10   5 1 4 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 16 11 AFC Wimbledon 10   5 1 4 13 16   0 0 0 0 0   -3 16 12 Oldham Athletic 10   4 3 3 17 12   0 0 0 0 0   5 15 13 Gillingham 10   3 6 1 14 10   0 0 0 0 0   4 15 14 Scunthorpe United 10   4 3 3 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 15 15 Rochdale 10   3 5 2 10 6   0 0 0 0 0   4 14 16 Portsmouth 10   4 2 4 12 13   0 0 0 0 0   -1 14 17 Charlton Athletic 10   3 3 4 13 14   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 18 MK Dons 10   3 3 4 9 10   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 19 Northampton Town 10   3 3 4 9 11   0 0 0 0 0   -2 12 20 Bury 10   3 3 4 8 12   0 0 0 0 0   -4 12 21 Oxford United 10   3 1 6 13 22   0 0 0 0 0   -9 10 22 Blackpool 10   1 5 4 14 18   0 0 0 0 0   -4 8 23 Bradford City 10   2 2 6 13 21   0 0 0 0 0   -8 8 24 Fleetwood Town 10   0 3 7 10 18   0 0 0 0 0   -8 3

[JHRover]

3 minutes ago, had.e.nuff said:

Last 10 home game form table

1 Plymouth Argyle 10   8 0 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 24 2 Blackburn Rovers 10   6 4 0 22 9   0 0 0 0 0   13 22 3 Rotherham United 10   6 2 2 15 9   0 0 0 0 0   6 20 4 Peterborough United 10   5 3 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 18 5 Bristol Rovers 10   5 2 3 17 13   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 6 Shrewsbury Town 10   5 2 3 11 7   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 7 Wigan Athletic 10   4 4 2 12 7   0 0 0 0 0   5 16 8 Doncaster Rovers 10   4 4 2 15 11   0 0 0 0 0   4 16 9 Southend United 10   5 1 4 17 14   0 0 0 0 0   3 16 10 Walsall 10   5 1 4 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 16 11 AFC Wimbledon 10   5 1 4 13 16   0 0 0 0 0   -3 16 12 Oldham Athletic 10   4 3 3 17 12   0 0 0 0 0   5 15 13 Gillingham 10   3 6 1 14 10   0 0 0 0 0   4 15 14 Scunthorpe United 10   4 3 3 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 15 15 Rochdale 10   3 5 2 10 6   0 0 0 0 0   4 14 16 Portsmouth 10   4 2 4 12 13   0 0 0 0 0   -1 14 17 Charlton Athletic 10   3 3 4 13 14   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 18 MK Dons 10   3 3 4 9 10   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 19 Northampton Town 10   3 3 4 9 11   0 0 0 0 0   -2 12 20 Bury 10   3 3 4 8 12   0 0 0 0 0   -4 12 21 Oxford United 10   3 1 6 13 22   0 0 0 0 0   -9 10 22 Blackpool 10   1 5 4 14 18   0 0 0 0 0   -4 8 23 Bradford City 10   2 2 6 13 21   0 0 0 0 0   -8 8 24 Fleetwood Town 10   0 3 7 10 18   0 0 0 0 0   -8 3

Interesting. So whilst Gillingham have only lost 1 of their last 10 home games they have picked up less home points than our recent away conquests Walsall and Wimbledon during that period. Draw specialists.

Play to our capabilities and we are better than them.

 

[Bigdoggsteel]

9 minutes ago, had.e.nuff said:

Last 10 home game form table

1 Plymouth Argyle 10   8 0 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 24 2 Blackburn Rovers 10   6 4 0 22 9   0 0 0 0 0   13 22 3 Rotherham United 10   6 2 2 15 9   0 0 0 0 0   6 20 4 Peterborough United 10   5 3 2 20 11   0 0 0 0 0   9 18 5 Bristol Rovers 10   5 2 3 17 13   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 6 Shrewsbury Town 10   5 2 3 11 7   0 0 0 0 0   4 17 7 Wigan Athletic 10   4 4 2 12 7   0 0 0 0 0   5 16 8 Doncaster Rovers 10   4 4 2 15 11   0 0 0 0 0   4 16 9 Southend United 10   5 1 4 17 14   0 0 0 0 0   3 16 10 Walsall 10   5 1 4 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 16 11 AFC Wimbledon 10   5 1 4 13 16   0 0 0 0 0   -3 16 12 Oldham Athletic 10   4 3 3 17 12   0 0 0 0 0   5 15 13 Gillingham 10   3 6 1 14 10   0 0 0 0 0   4 15 14 Scunthorpe United 10   4 3 3 14 13   0 0 0 0 0   1 15 15 Rochdale 10   3 5 2 10 6   0 0 0 0 0   4 14 16 Portsmouth 10   4 2 4 12 13   0 0 0 0 0   -1 14 17 Charlton Athletic 10   3 3 4 13 14   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 18 MK Dons 10   3 3 4 9 10   0 0 0 0 0   -1 12 19 Northampton Town 10   3 3 4 9 11   0 0 0 0 0   -2 12 20 Bury 10   3 3 4 8 12   0 0 0 0 0   -4 12 21 Oxford United 10   3 1 6 13 22   0 0 0 0 0   -9 10 22 Blackpool 10   1 5 4 14 18   0 0 0 0 0   -4 8 23 Bradford City 10   2 2 6 13 21   0 0 0 0 0   -8 8 24 Fleetwood Town 10   0 3 7 10 18   0 0 0 0 0   -8 3

Look at Bradford. Could Wigans struggles the other night suggest a wobble? Cook was trying put a positive spin on it ,but I think thats all it was, spin 

[had.e.nuff]

interesting site with the form table on

https://www.twtd.co.uk/league-tables/competition:league-one/form/matches:34/type:home-and-away/

[JHRover]

Some more meat on the bones of Gillingham's home form.

Their last home league defeat was in October when they lost 1-0 to Northampton.

Since then:

0-0 vs Oldham, 1-1 vs Bury, 2-2 vs Wimbledon, 1-1 vs Oxford, 4-1 vs Bristol Rovers, 2-1 vs Fleetwood, 2-1 vs Rochdale, 0-0 vs Walsall, 1-1 vs Posh

So 3 wins from their last 9 home games, only 2 of which have been against top half sides, the remainder against bottom 3rd sides.

Hard to beat it seems but not an unrelenting juggernaut.

[darrenrover]

Looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow, Rovers better put on a performance to warm the hearts of us hardy souls sat in the open end, braving a bitter east wind and snow showers.

Wrap up well lads and lasses.

Brrrrrrr! COYB!!

[DE.]

33 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Look at Bradford. Could Wigans struggles the other night suggest a wobble? Cook was trying put a positive spin on it ,but I think thats all it was, spin 

Wigan have been wobbling since the beginning of February. They scraped through against Bradford but that aura of invincibility they had has gone.