Gillingham V Bristol City - Football League Trophy

[fan_of_mulligan]

I think Gillingham will line up as follows.......................

----------------------------------Nelson--------------------------------------
Hoyte----------------Legge------------------Egan---------------------Martin
-------------------------------Hessenthaler------------------------------------
-------------Doughty------------------------------------Loft------------------
-----------------------------------Dack----------------------------------------
--------------------McDonald--------------Dickenson-------------------------

Subs: G.Morris (GK), Ehmer, Pritchard, McGlashan, Norris

I think Gillingham will stick with the diamond midfield formation which came so close to earning Gillingham a valuable point on Saturday as Jake Hessenthaler, Michael Doughty, Doug Loft and especially Bradley Dack played really well in the middle of Gillingham's Midfield, Gavin Hoyte will give us a natural right back having played Aaron Morris, Josh Pritchard and Jake Hessenthaler there in the past few matches.

Max Ehmer extending his loan spell for another month provides Gillingham with cover in the heart of our defence, but with the exception of Gavin Hoyte for Aaron Morris I think the rest of the team picks itself, I thought Jermaine McGlashan might have started tonight but considering how well that four man central midfield played on Saturday away at Port Vale, I would not be surprised if Steve Lovell, Andy Hessenthaler, Mark Patterson and Darren Hare decided to stick with it this evening against Bristol City.

At the very least Gillingham need a draw but a win will give us something to defend in The second Leg Away at Ashton Gate, a defeat means that Gills have a mountain to climb in The Second Leg and our chances of progressing will be very limited, such a shame that we're not at home for The Second Leg because Gills would of sold this game out, but with the first leg at Priestfield Stadium I would be surprised if there is more then 4,000 inside the stadium for tonights game - hopefully Gillingham can get a morale boosting win ahead of our crucial league game against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

Here is the Gills Line Up for Tonight....

Nelson,Hoyte,Egan,Legge,Martin,Loft,Hessenthaler,Doughty,Dack,Dickenson,McDonald

Subs: G Morris,Ehmer,Galbraith,McGlashan,Norris

Lets hope for a good performance,and for us to still be in the tie for the 2nd leg.

[gillsfan1066]

Hope away goals don't count double, or else we won't be in with a shout,and if they don't then were in with a chance, get in to Bristol bang in a couple for the new managers first game in charge and win in a penalty shoot out. Simple as that.

[Kent_UckyFriedGills]

No away goals don`t count luckily,but still we would need to win 0-2 to just take it to penalty`s.A big ask against a quality side.To go 1-0 up was fantastic,but if only Dack could have made it 2-0 we may have shut up shop a bit.Unfortunately City attacked with intent and could have had 6 or 7.Matt Smith scoring 4 goals,and he could have had a double hat-trick.At 1-3 it looked dead but Cody scored his second and it was out of nothing.A great strike and we had a 5+ minute spell where we could have equalised.Their 4th goal killed us and really the second leg looks a bit pointless on paper.Hopefully we can get that important win at Crewe on Saturday.

[fan_of_mulligan]

If there is one thing we have learned from Tuesday Night's Game it is that we must do everything we possibly can to keep Cody McDonald at Gillingham Football Club, Cody McDonald took both of his goals exceptionally well, especially the second goal which was a fantastic finish and only highlighted the quality Cody McDonald has when he is given the support and service.

I also thought that Stuart Nelson could of done a lot better for the second goal because there was only one place Matt Smith could of headered the ball and Stuart Nelson either needed to stay on his line or be fully committed and Stuart Nelson was stuck in no mans land for the second goal, and there were a few occasions where Stuart Nelson looked nervous between the sticks in what was a disappointing display from our normally reliable Number One Goalkeeper.

Matt Smith's fourth goal was a sensational strike and there was nothing Stuart Nelson could of done about that, and Bristol City have probably got the strongest front four in League One with Matt Smith, Luke Freeman, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Scott Wagstaff and this does not include the likes of Aaron Wilbraham and Kieran Agard who did not play against Gillingham on Tuesday Night.

There was a really good spell at 2-3 where I thought Gillingham could of made it 3-3 before Matt Smith scored that incredible fourth goal and had Gillingham scored when we were on top then we could of got something out of the game, although I do think Bristol City could of gone up another level if they needed too.

I thought Jermaine McGlashan was fouled at the death and we should of had a penalty, although maybe those in The Rainham End had a more clearer view of the foul on McGlashan and whether it was a penalty or not ??? - although this does bring me on to my next point that Andy D'Urso is a terrible referee and his decision making was yet again appalling and he should never be allowed to referee a Football League Match, I don't want to disguise our poor defending on Tuesday Night by talking about Andy D'Urso but I do have to talk about the poor refereeing performance because Andy D'Urso is a poor referee.

I also thought that Bradley Dack putting a tenacious and excellent performance in the middle of midfield and had it not been for Cody McDonald's two goals then Bradley Dack would of been my choice for Man Of The Match.

After the game I spoke to Scott Wagstaff who was speaking to a few Bristol City Supporters and Scott Wagstaff said that was the best that Gillingham have played against Bristol City in three attempts and Scott Wagstaff mentioned that Cody McDonald is a quality player - so even The Bristol City Players were speaking about Cody McDonald's quality, we have got to offer Cody McDonald a contract offer as soon as possible.