Team news

Teenager Finn O’Mara has been named in the starting XI for Gillingham’s home match with Portsmouth.

It’s O’Mara’s first league start for the Gills.

Interim boss Peter Taylor is without a number of defenders, with Bradley Garmston, Alex Lacey and Luke O’Neill all injured.

Gabriel Zakuani has been on international duty with DR Congo but was an unused substitute on Saturday.

The Gills are expected to play 3-5-2 which could mean Josh Parker starting as right wing-back again.

Sean Clare and Conor Wilkinson have been given the task of leading the Gills attack, one which has failed to hit the net in their last three league outings.

A young Gills bench does include Scott Wagstaff, who is back from a calf strain. Youth player Jack Tucker, a central defender, is named among the substitutes.

Gillingham: Holy, Parker, Ogilvie, O’Mara, Ehmer, Nugent, Hessenthaler, Bingham, Martin, Clare, Wilkinson. Subs: Arnold, Simpson, Tucker, List, Oldaker, Wagstaff, Nash.

Preview

Gillingham need a win but even goals have been hard to come by of late.

The Gills, still under the management of interim boss Peter Taylor, have gone three league games without a goal.

They’re live on Sky this Sunday and are hoping to end a miserable run infront of the TV cameras.

The Gills have lost their last four on TV, including a 4-0 defeat at Bolton and an embarrassing FA Cup defeat at Brackley.

Portsmouth are consistently inconsistent, coming into the weekend on a run where each defeat throughout September was followed by a victory,

They lost their last league match, 2-1 at home to Oldham but enjoyed a 3-1 win over Crawley in the Checkatrade Trophy in the week.

Head to head;

Gills wins 6, draws 7, Portsmouth wins 17

League form;

Gillingham (23) : Blackburn L 0-1 (A), Scunthorpe D 0-0 (H), Rochdale L 0-3 (A), Charlton W 1-0 (H), AFC Wimbledon D 1-1 (A), Oxford L 0-3 (A).

Portsmouth (15): Oldham L 1-2 (H), Bristol Rovers W (3-0), Scunthorpe L 0-2 (A), Fleetwood W 4-1 (H), Northampton L 1-3 (A), AFC Wimbledon W 2-0 (A).

Stat Attack

Click here for appearances, goals, discipline, ratings and profiles

The last meeting at Priestfield;

Gillingham 3 Portsmouth 2

It’s 12 years since the last two teams met and the Gills prevailed that day, in the Carling Cup.

The Gills, then under the management of Neale Copper, won it was an extra-time goal from Andrew Crofts.

Portsmouth were a Premier League team at the time and went infront through Gary O'Neil.

Darren Byfield levelled before the break but Pompey went ahead again from the penalty spot shortly after the restart, only to score an own goal to level it up again.

Visiting keeper Jamie Ashdown had been at fault for both. Svetoslav Todorov missed a penalty for Pompey and Crofts made them pay with the winning goal.

The win ended a run of three straight defeats for the Gills, struggling to acclimatise to life in League 1 under Cooper following their relegation from the Championship.

Man in the middle – Christopher Sarginson

Games refereed this season: 12 (30 yellows / 2 reds)

The Staffordshire official was last at Priestfield to referee the game against Fleetwood towards the end of last season. The Gills lost 3-2.

Assistants: Ravel Cheosiaua and Kevin Howick. Fourth official: Antony Coggins.

One to watch – Curtis Main

With leading scorer Brett Pitman and home-grown talent Conor Chaplin out injured, the visitors will be reliant on the likes of Curtis Main to deliver infront of goal.

Main was impressive in the week, in a 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy win over Crawley, although he didn't get on the scoresheet.

League 1 player-of-the-month for September, Pitman, misses the game through injury.

With nine goals to his name already, Pitman has scored more time in the league than Gillingham, but he underwent two separate operations this week, on his knee and his nose and is expected to be sidelined for a month.

Assistant boss Joe Gallen said: "We will miss him but there is way enough talent, way enough ability, way enough players in the squad who can take his place."

From the opposition camp;

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett, reflecting on a mixed campaign so far, said: "Would we like some more consistency and to move up the league? Yes, of course. That’s our aim, but you have to earn everything you get.

“Gillingham is a tough place to go, so we’ll have to roll our sleeves up and work hard for any points that we can get.

“Whoever is in charge there on Sunday, we know that they’ll be fighting to improve their position and we have to produce a quality display.”

Last time out in the league – Blackburn 1 Gillingham 0

Bradley Dack was up against his old team-mates last weekend but it was another former Gill who struck the decisive blow.

Striker Dominic Samuel bagged Blackburn the points from last Saturday’s League 1 clash, turning home the ball from close range after the Gills failed to deal with Dack’s corner.

Derrick Williams hit the woodwork for the hosts late on but only a point-blank save from Rovers keeper David Raya denied Elliott List from a late equaliser, as the visitors ended the match strongly.

Reaction: Caretaker boss can't believe the Gills didn't score

Click here for more pictures from Gills' defeat at Blackburn.

Gills‘ results and fixtures – 2017/18

Gills team news;

Mark Byrne misses the match through suspension after picking up five yellow cards.

Scott Wagstaff and Bradley Garmston are both nearing full fitness but Sunday could come too soon for the pair.

Gabriel Zakuani is on international duty with DR Congo while fellow defenders Alex Lacey and Luke O'Neill are both expected to be out again with injury.

Striker Tom Eaves returned briefly from suspension on Tuesday to play in the Checkatrade Trophy but he resumed his suspension this weekend.

Talking point;

The rumours about who will be Gills' next manager have hotted up in the last few days.

Mansfield Town turned down a request to speak with their manager Steve Evans this week.

Former boss Martin Allen remains a possibility but the bookies favourite is still Cambridge boss Shaun Derry.

Derry has twice been quizzed on the speculation and while insisting his focus is on Cambridge, he hasn't ruled anything out.

He said this week: "Rumours are circulating but I don’t deal in rumours, I deal in fact. The facts are we’re really looking forward to Saturday's game."

More on the Gills;

Jamie Day scores on his football return

The Shouting Men with Aaron Simpson

Ehmer goal not in the script

Fancy a punt?

The Gills are 100/30 to get a win on home soil, with bookmakers SkyBet, while it's 5/2 the draw and 10/11 for Pompey to return will all three points.

Lee Martin to score first is 22/1 while they are offering 13/2 for the Gills to keep a clean sheet and win the game.

Follow kentonlinegills on twitter for match updates.