Matchday Previews
Will it be 15th time lucky for Gills?
Published by Simon Head on February 3, 2010
Gillingham take their winless away record to Griffin Park this weekend when they take on Brentford in League One action.
We don’t need to dwell on Gillingham’s scandalously poor away record – the stats are there for all to see.
Instead, let’s look at the positives.
Gillingham have acquired four new faces since the teams met at Priestfield back in December. Rene Howe and Darren Dennehy look like nailed-on certs to start the match, while tricky winger Tristan Plummer may find himself on the bench. Brentford’s team, almost all of whom standing over six feet tall, may not be ideal opposition for the slight Bristol City winger.
Deadline Day signing James Walker may be involved, but whether that’s from the bench or from the start will almost certainly depend on whether Mark Stimson opts to rest top scorer Simeon Jackson. The Canadian international has struggled in recent matches and has netted just once since Christmas.
The Gills are currently in a three game winless streak, but have shown defensive improvement in that time, looking solid against playoff contenders Colchester and mid-table Walsall at Priestfield, while only succumbing to a late long-range effort at Hartlepool.
After an uncertain start, Alan Julian is finally beginning to look the part between the sticks, while Dennehy’s introduction at centre half has provided the team with some much-needed height. That height will be well tested this weekend. Brentford’s play at Priestfield was direct and aggressive. Nothing wrong with that, of course, Tony Pulis’ Gills side of the late 90s was similar, if more talented. The onus will be on Dennehy, Josh Gowling and the central midfielders to stand up and meet the physical challenge head on. Gillingham’s success will depend on those battles being won.
Brentford have lost just twice at Griffin Park this season, but are far from prolific on their home patch. They are averaging less than a goal a game over their last five home matches, and are reliant on a strong, well-drilled defensive unit to grind out results. If Gillingham can score at Griffin Park, they stand a better chance of adding to their points tally then they might at other League One grounds.
Once again, Gillingham will need to be physically strong and committed throughout the side – and that will require a strong, experienced lineup. But remembering our encounter with the Bees at Priestfield, Brentford look susceptible to pace and trickery, and Curtis Weston, consigned to the bench in recent matches, must be a serious consideration for Mark Stimson, who knows he needs to start turning draws into wins at this stage of the season.
If Gillingham can meet the physical challenge at the back and attack in numbers when in possession, they stand a decent chance of success at Griffin Park. But it’s almost certainly going to need a moment of magic from the likes of Barcham, Weston or Jackson to breach the Bees’ back line.
The smart money says this has “draw” written all over it, but if Gillingham go into the match with a positive attitude and play to win, rather than not lose, then there’s a chance we could be celebrating a first away win on Saturday night.
But, as anyone who has been to a Gills away game this season will tell you, that’s a pretty big “if”.
Simon Head
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