Gillingham v Accrington preview
Last Updated: September 9, 2011 10:46am
Kedwell: Could return for Gills
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Gillingham and Accrington Stanley at the Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham are without Jack Payne but manager Andy Hessenthaler has received plenty of positives elsewhere among his squad.
Midfielder Payne has been ruled out for a month having sustained knee ligament damage during last Saturday's late 1-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury.
However, striker Danny Kedwell returned to training on Thursday following a knock he picked up against the Shrews and should be okay to face Stanley.
Chris Whelpdale took a blow to his ankle upon his return from a calf injury but has trained all week, while fellow midfielder Danny Spiller is also back in contention after a virus ruled him out completely last weekend.
Second-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has been ruled out with mumps and, with Daren Hawkes unable to be recalled from his loan spell at Ramsgate and youth-team stopper Ashley Bourne injured, defender Matt Fish will be named on the bench as back-up to Ross Flitney.
Meanwhile Accrington boss John Coleman is boosted by the return of on-loan Burnley defender Kevin Long.
Long and midfielder Charlie Barnett were sent off during last weekend's goalless draw at Barnet.
The former served a one-match ban in midweek when Stanley beat Carlisle in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy but Barnett now serves the second game of a three-match suspension.
Nat Taylor is still suspended, while Alan Burton has been suffering from a virus all week and will be assessed, although he is rated doubtful for the weekend.
Coleman was left in buoyant mood after his side's 3-2 win over Carlisle, saying: "We've been working on our finishing in training so it's pleasing when it comes off."
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
