Gillingham v Southend

SOUTHEND visit Priestfield on Saturday looking to record their seventh straight win and break an 81-year-old record in the process.

The visitors, this season's surprise package in League 1, are second in the table, trailing leaders Swansea on goal difference, but they are only 10 points ahead of Gillingham, who ocupy 20th spot.

Gills boss Neale Cooper is aware of the threat posed by Southend, but believes his team will have been boosted by the midweek 1-0 win over Chesterfield, their first in seven league games.

Cooper said: "Southend are a good side and have been scoring goals for fun.

"Hopefully we can end their run, especially if we get the support we did the other night, they gave us great backing and we've got to try and repay that support.

"The win has given us all a lift. We'd been playing well before and not got anything for it but it's all about winning."

Scottish striker Steven Hislop could be set for only his second start for the club if top scorer Darren Byfield fails to recover from an injury picked up in midweek.

Cooper added: "It’s going to be disappointing if we don’t have Darren Byfield for the game as we’ve been relying on him lately but that burden has to be shared.

"Steven’s got a lot of strengths and he’s been working hard. Harris has also improved and if we need to go with them up-front, then we will."

* KENT ONLINE WILL BRING YOU ALL THE TEAM NEWS AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S MATCH, A HALF-TIME UPDATE AND A FULL-TIME MATCH REPORT.

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