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Steve Lovell has no intentions of fielding a weakened line-up for Gillingham's Checkatrade Trophy match against Crawley

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell plans to name a strong team for Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy match at home to Crawley.

Back-to-back 4-0 defeats in their first two games of the competition, against Tottenham’s youngsters and Portsmouth, has left the Gills bottom of their group and unable to progress to round two ahead of their final group game.

Asked if he was likely to use the game to experiment, Lovell said: “I don’t think so, I need people to play.

Steve Lovell will call upon the majority of players who were in action on Saturday for Tuesday's visit of Crawley Picture: Ady Kerry
Steve Lovell will call upon the majority of players who were in action on Saturday for Tuesday's visit of Crawley Picture: Ady Kerry

"I think the majority of the boys who played Saturday will play Tuesday because I feel they need to keep playing and we need to start getting back on track, regarding creating more.

“In the last two games we haven’t created that much.

“Against Blackpool (last Tuesday) we created a lot more than Saturday (against Hartlepool). We had 10 chances (on Saturday) and only two on target, it is not enough.

“That is down to the opposition sometimes. You have to credit them, they stopped us, well done to them.”

Lovell has already hinted that striker Brandon Hanlan may be rested.

“There might be a couple of others as well,” said Lovell, aware the likes of Elliott List, Dean Parrett and Billy Bingham need more action.

“There might be a couple but I don’t think I will change it too much,” Lovell added. “I think the players will want to keep playing.”

Bingham returned from another ankle injury to make a second-half appearance against Hartlepool.

Visitors Crawley sit third in Southern Area Group A, needing to beat the Gills to stand any chance of progressing to the next stage.

Portsmouth and Tottenham currently occupy the top two positions.

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