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League 1 match preview: Gillingham vs Sunderland

A bumper crowd is expected at Priestfield as Gillingham entertain Sunderland for the first time in 14 years.

Sunderland are bringing over 2,000 fans down to Kent for Wednesday night’s League 1 clash.

The visitors, who suffered a second successive relegation after finishing bottom of the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, are unbeaten in their first three games in League 1.

Gillingham manager Steve Lovell Picture: Ady Kerry
Gillingham manager Steve Lovell Picture: Ady Kerry

They are favourites to win the title this season in the third-tier.

It’s clearly a big challenge for the Gills but manager Steve Lovell is focusing on his own team, who have made a positive start to the season.

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Walsall at the weekend, Lovell said: “It’s a big game and we are all looking forward to it but it’s just another game, there are the same three points on offer, like any other, but will enjoy it.”

More on the Gills;

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Lovell will be demanding improvements from the weekend after getting out of blocks slowly.

“I concentrate on us,” he said. ”We will analyse (the Walsall game) and show the boys a few clips of the first 10-15 minutes, show them what they did and tell them it wasn’t good enough.

“You couldn’t fault their effort and work rate and football at times because I thought they played some excellent stuff at times.

“We will learn from that game and hopefully on Wednesday we will start bright, like we have in the first three games of the season. I think we started alright but not like we can do.”

Andy Hessenthaler in action the last time Sunderland played at Gillingham
Andy Hessenthaler in action the last time Sunderland played at Gillingham

Gillingham lost 4-0 the last time they faced Sunderland at home, in the Championship, back in 2004. The Black Cats won the league title that season while the Gills were relegated.

Sunderland have a big following making the 600-mile round-trip, selling out their away allocation for the game.

They drew 1-1 with Luton last time on their travels and manager Jack Ross is expecting a similar challenge.

Sunderland won 4-0 on their last visit to Priestfield in 2004
Sunderland won 4-0 on their last visit to Priestfield in 2004

He said: “Gillingham play in a system similar and we’ve had to deal with that, so that helps us in some degree.

“But like every away game this season there’s an added edge to it, simply because of the status of this club and the fans we will take to every game.

“We’re going to have to deal with that when we go away from home and it will be no different again on Wednesday evening.”

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