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Match preview: Gillingham v Shrewsbury Town - Priestfield Stadium (3pm kick-off)

Scott Wagstaff starts for Gillingham as boss Ady Pennock switches formation for the visit of Shrewsbury.

Max Ehmer drops out of the starting XI for the first time as Pennock goes 4-4-2.

Scott Wagstaff. Picture: Andy Payton
Scott Wagstaff. Picture: Andy Payton

Pennock had previously started with wing-backs for the league games but changed that midway through last weekend’s game against Southend, a move that paid off.

He kept that formation for the midweek Checkatrade Trophy match against Southend, earning a 2-1 win.

Tomas Holy is back in goal, despite an impressive midweek showing from Steve Arnold.

Jake Hessenthaler, Darren Oldaker, Greg Cundle and Josh Parker all return to the bench, following Tuesday night's Trophy win over Southend.

Former Gills striker Stefan Payne, who has three goals in three appearances for Shrewsbury, is named on their bench.

Gillingham (442): Holy; O’Neill, Ogilvie, Lacey, Nugent; Bingham, Byrne, Martin, Wagstaff; Nash, Eaves. Subs: Arnold, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, Oldaker, Parker, Clare, Cundle.

Shrewsbury (451): MacGillivray, Brown, Bolton, Sadler, Nsiala, Ogogo, Godfrey, Whalley, Nolan, Rodman, Morris. Subs: Coyne, Beckles, Adams, Dodds, Payne, Gnahoua, John-Lewis.


Preview

Two draws and two defeats leaves the Gills inside the bottom four after the first month of the season.

Shrewsbury were expected to be scrapping it out with the Gills towards the bottom end this season, after flirting with relegation the last two years, but they’re unbeaten, with three wins from four so far.

Gills head coach Ady Pennock Picture: Andy Payton
Gills head coach Ady Pennock Picture: Andy Payton

Could it be a first Gills win and a first Shrewsbury defeat this Saturday?

Head to head;

Gills wins 19, draws 19, Shrewsbury wins 23

League form;

Gillingham: Southend D 3-3 (H), MK Dons L 0-1 (A), Bradford City L 0-1 (H), Doncaster Rovers D 0-0 (A).

Shrewsbury: Oxford D 1-1 (A), Rochdale W 3-2 (H), Wimbledon W 1-0 (A), Northampton W 1-0 (A).


Stat Attack

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


The last meeting – Gillingham 1 Shrewsbury 1

Shrewsbury were the opposition as Ady Pennock took charge of his first match at Priestfield, a game which finished all-square after Deji Oshilaja’s goal was cancelled out.

Max Ehmer almost won it at the death but was denied by the woodwork.

Deji Oshilaja celebrates scoring against Shrewsbury in the last meeting at Priestfield Picture: Andy Jones
Deji Oshilaja celebrates scoring against Shrewsbury in the last meeting at Priestfield Picture: Andy Jones

Click here for the report

Man in the middle - Kevin Johnson

Games refereed this season: 5 (19 yellows / 2 reds)

Johnson last visited Priestfield in October last year, as the Gills suffered a late defeat to an Oldham side who had started the day bottom of the league. His two dismissals this season came in the opening game, as MK Dons and Wigan ended up playing 10-a-side.

Assistants: Andrew Laver and John Farries, fourth Official: Graham Kane.

One to watch – Stefan Payne

Stefan Payne celebrating a goal for Dover Picture: Roger Charles
Stefan Payne celebrating a goal for Dover Picture: Roger Charles

The striker was in the early years of his professional career when he joined the Gills from Fulham back in 2010. He made 28 league appearances for the Gills but just one start and one goal.

A flurry of moves ended with a successful stint at Dover, earning a move to Championship Barnsley. He never really got a look-in last season, however, and spent time on loan at Shrewsbury, where he returned this summer on a permanent basis. He's made three appearances, scoring in all three, and is pushing for his first league start of the season this weekend.

Another to keep an eye on is Shrewsbury keeper Craig MacGillivray, who is set to make his first league start for the club, replacing Dean Henderson who is on England under-20 international duty.

In the opposition camp;

Shrewsbury assistant boss Chris Doig was on press duties this week and he's expecting a battle.

He said: "(They're) a strong physical team, very direct with big Eaves up front so they’re not scared to go back to front, a lot of long throw-ins, set-pieces. There’s no right or wrong way to play football, it’s just a different task for the lads but one that they’ve got to answer."

Last time out in the league - Gillingham 3 Southend 3

Gills boss Ady Pennock congratulates hat-trick hero Tom Eaves Picture: Andy Jones
Gills boss Ady Pennock congratulates hat-trick hero Tom Eaves Picture: Andy Jones

The Gills scored their first goals of the league season last weekend in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Southend. Ady Pennock's men twice came from behind to win, switching formations before the break under the threat of being seen off before half-time.

Tom Eaves lapped up a couple of super crosses and completed his hat trick by following up his own penalty, that had been saved.

Click here for more pictures from Gills' 3-3 draw with Southend.

Gills team news;

Steve Arnold came a cropper on his debut, after an ugly challenge from former Gill Jermaine McGlashan left the keeper bloodied. But despite the knock, he kept on making saves, to complete a fine debut. He has been declared fit for the weekend and will have given Pennock a selection headache.

Steve Arnold is fit for selection but will he start for Gillingham? Picture: Ady Kerry
Steve Arnold is fit for selection but will he start for Gillingham? Picture: Ady Kerry

Conor Wilkinson returned for the Checkatrade Trophy match in midweek but resumes his domestic suspension on Saturday, sitting out the third and final game of his ban for a red card against Bradford.

Defender Gabriel Zakuani is on international duty with Democratic Republic of Congo, which means Ben Nugent is likely to start. Listen to what he had to say after a midweek man-of-the-match performance in the Checkatrade Trophy;

Talking point;

John Wright is no longer a Gillingham player after his disappointment at being left out of the XI last weekend led to him agreeing to terminate his contract. Read his message to fans after departing this week.

Josh Wright left the Gills on Wednesday Picture: Ady Kerry
Josh Wright left the Gills on Wednesday Picture: Ady Kerry

Pennock has managed to bring in an additional player before the deadline, snapping up Sheffield Wednesday's Sean Clare on loan until January. Clare comes straight into contention for the weekend.


More on the Gills;

Gills clinch Championship signing

Safety first for Big Ben

Former boss gets the sack at Northampton

Former Gills boss Justin Edinburgh was the first Football League manager to be sacked this season, losing his job at the end of August with Northampton bottom of the table Picture: Ady Kerry
Former Gills boss Justin Edinburgh was the first Football League manager to be sacked this season, losing his job at the end of August with Northampton bottom of the table Picture: Ady Kerry

Telly vision for Gills

The Shouting Men with Tom Hadler

Rory Donnelly back playing football


Fancy a punt?

Skybet have Gills at 2/1 to win, 12/5 the draw and 13/10 for a Shrewsbury victory.

Tom Eaves will be up against one of his former clubs and he's 66/1 to bag another hat-trick. Stefan Payne is 9/4 to continue his scoring form and netting against his former team. It's 8/1 for both Eaves and Payne to get on the scoresheet.

Follow kentonlinegills on twitter for match updates at the weekend


Beat the pundit;

Dartford manager Tony Burman thinks the game will finish 2-2. What do you think?

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