In the Brian Moore Stand, we have the Shrewsbury fans whose team is going to be this week’s visitors to Priestfield, on Saturday 3rd September 2011. The Shrews are currently placed eighth in League Two, although eleventh on goal difference, etc. Having currently won two, drawn two and lost one of their opening fixtures this season. Preparation wise, Shrewsbury have a paint pot game away to Walsall on Tuesday 30th August, with additional fixture listings being added to their schedule in the weeks to come, due to a good run in the Carling Cup. The Shrews might have a so called lucrative fixture on their minds, with an away tie to some North London pub team in the third round, although compared to the Gills, the North London side should be a breeze for the Shrews, after the NL side were easily rolled over and conceded eight goals this Sunday just gone in a Rooney and Ashley Young goal bonanza (28th August 2011). It was reported on the Carling Cup website, that Lionel Ainsworth for Shrewsbury was named as one of the best players in the early first round of the Carling Cup, after being named man of the match ahead of Marvin Morgan after supplying a hat trick of assists in their 3-2 win over Derby. Ainsworth and Morgan again combined in the recent home league defeat of visitors Swindon Town, where the Shrews were 2-1 winners. At the Rainham End, we have the Gills fans, who will be hoping their team bounce back from their first defeat of the season, after an away visit to Rotherham, where the home side came out convincing 3-0 winners. Gillingham have so far taken ten points in five games and currently sit fourth in League Two, a much welcome improvement on last season, where the Gills only had ten points after double the number of games. Up until Saturday 27th August 2011, Gillingham looked serious promotion contenders that despite them being without their star striker Adam Birchall, who has yet to kick a ball in the new season due to an injury sustained pre season. Danny Kedwell has been the lone striker up front for the Gills, yet despite his hard working nature, he has still to score a league goal from open play. His finest moments though, surely being when he put two penalties past the Plymouth keeper on Saturday 20th August 2011, in front of an absolutely delighted Rainham End. So what of the Gills and their 4-5-1 formation, with the strength in defence of Lawrence and Captain Framps, whilst in midfield, Hessy’s decision to bring Jack Payne off against Rotherham seemed to be the deciding factor that opened the flood gates for the Millers, after an earlier poor official decision that led to the first Rotherham goal. Many a Gills fan are waiting for that lucrative striker signing before the end of the week to play alongside Kedwell and in this tough fixture between the Gills and the Shrews, is there even any thoughts by Hessy and Scally to make such a signing, we can only wait and see. However, If it were to happen and he goes by the name of Cody McDonald, I would be one very happy season ticket holder, we can all but dream. History, memories will depend on which of the two teams you support, because there will be some very strong memories between these two sides, whether that be the Gills play off final victory in 2008/09, or Shrewsbury’s humiliation of the Gills earlier that same season by seven goals to nil. Let the battle commence... http://www.gillinghamfan.com/match-reviews.html
Ainsworth might be sold by the time we play them, as it was in the papers that Stoke are interested in him. Mind you, I thought we'd beat Rotherham once they had sold Le Fondre.
