Two minute guide to: Gillingham (A)
It’s time for another brief guide – this time it’s Gillingham and their former Port Vale captain Doug Loft.
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 0-1 vs Milton Keynes
Form guide: L-W-L-W-W
Gillingham
Manager: Peter Taylor
Last match: 1-1 vs Bradford
Form guide: D-W-W-L-L
Team news
Chris Lines: suspended midfielder will miss the match
Vale will be missing the suspended Chris Lines with veteran Michael Brown expected to partner Michael O’Connor. Rob Page could continue his 4-5-1 formation, which would mean Mark Marshall and Colin Daniel as the wide players and possibly Louis Dodds playing behind a lone striker. Achille Campion continues to press for a start but he may have to be content with a place on the bench. Gillingham are set to hand a debut to Max Ehmer who has signed on loan from Fulham.
Possible Vale starting XI:
Neal
Yates – Veseli – Robertson – Dickinson
Marshall – Brown – O’Connor – Daniel
Dodds
N’Guessan
Pre-match quote
“He was a fantastic captain and you never want to see your best players leave. He had his reasons for leaving the club and he has moved on with his career. That is what we have had to do as a club, we have had to move on. He is a great professional as well and I wish him all the best, but not for Saturday…
– Rob Page on Doug Loft
Last time we met
Chris Robertson: on target for Vale
Gillingham won 3-2 back in February, but it could have been very different if it hadn’t been for a late Vale comeback. The Gills were cruising at 3-0 up after an hour but late goals from Chris Robertson and Jordan Hugill saw the Valiants almost pull off a valuable draw.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 15
- Gillingham wins: 15
- Draws: 15
Trivia
As the stats show, the two teams are absolutely dead level after 45 meetings. It stands at 15 Vale wins, 15 Gills wins and 15 draws.
Priestfield can be a happy hunting ground for the Valiants. In the last ten visits, Vale have won two and drawn two.
Vale’s biggest away win over the Gills is a 4-2 FA Cup win back in February 1963. Stan Steele, Stan Edwards, Peter Ford and Colin Grainger were on target for the Valiants that day.
Louis Dodds and Ben Williamson are neck-and-neck in the chase for an unwanted record. The pair are the club’s joint-record holders for the most amount of substitute appearances with 88 apiece. If it’s just league sub appearances then Dodds edges ahead with 76 to Williamson’s 75.
They played for both…
Doug Loft: set for a decent reception
Vale fans are expected to give former club captain Doug Loft a decent reception. Loft was a popular figure at Vale Park and helped captain the side to promotion in 2013.
Other players to appear for both sides include:
- Striker Gary Mulligan (right)
- Defender Gary West
- Midfielder Jeff Johnson
- Half-back Bert Carberry
- Midfielder Craig Rocastle
- Defender Tony Butler
- Full-back Brian McGlinchey