Burton Albion v Gillingham, 30th April 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

This result of this game, although not directly connected with us, will probably have a significant bearing on our chances of attaining automatic promotion rather than the play-off scenario which is already in the back pocket. As we are not playing on Saturday some of our supporters are aiming to see this game at first hand, so this preview is primarily for their benefit.

There is a very important statistic to take into account before considering the match itself though ... supporters of both Burton Albion and Gillingham will be fully aware of the importance of this game and an all-ticket bumper crowd has been predicted, and when you consider that the capacity of Burton's Pirelli Stadium is only 6,912 you have to wonder whether there might not be a number of disappointed supporters unable to gain entry. However........

Burton Albion have surprised most people (probably even themselves) with their form this season, having only come up from League 2 last year. Not many clubs have gone from the 4th to the 2nd tier in successive seasons, in fact Walsall springs to mind as the other known success at that when we finished runners-up to Bury in 1961 having been champions of Division IV the previous season. What we would give for our home form to match that of 1961 - I've posted it before and I make no apologies for posting it again, it was.....

Played 23
Won 19
Drew 4
Lost 0
Goals for 62
Goals against 20

(The fact that we were put out of the F.A. Cup at home in the first round by non-league Yeovil Town is beside the point) :mrgreen:

Burton Albion's recent form isn't really that impressive:

28 Mar Millwall (A) Lost 2-0
2 Apr Bury (H) Drew 1-1
9 Apr Scunthorpe United (A) Lost 1-0
16 Apr Barnsley (H) Drew 0-0
19 Apr Wigan Athletic (H) Drew 1-1
23 Apr Colchester United (A) Won 0-3

Gillingham's recent form is, if anything, worse:

2 Apr Coventry City (H) Drew 0-0
9 Apr Sheffield United (A) Drew 0-0
12 Apr Walsall (H) Lost 1-2
16 Apr Port Vale (H) Lost 0-2
19 Apr Rochdale (A) Drew 1-1
23 Apr Shrewsbury Town (H) Lost 2-3

In terms of "who do we want to win", the answer has to be Gillingham, and preferably by a resounding margin - the more goals they can put in Burton Albion's net the better our goal difference will look by comparison. Gillingham's goalscoring this season has certainly been better than Burton's, scoring 69 (that's 6 more than we have) against the Brewers' 55, but Burton's defence has performed far better, conceding only 36 whereas Gillingham have shipped 52.

In the reverse fixture earlier in the season down in deepest Kent, Burton Albion won 0-3 largely by virtue of the fact that Gillingham played for the majority of the game with 10 men, Loft having been sent off in the first half (which is just what happened last week to Colchester United, who went on to lose to Burton by the same score).

Justin Edinburgh is on record as saying that his team (Gillingham) are going to Burton to win, and in a way Gillingham's need for 3 points is greater than Burton's. The Gills are only 1 point below the play-offs despite their atrocious recent form, and the team they are chasing (Barnsley) do have a tricky last fixture of the season away at Wigan Athletic. So, all to play for......

No predictions for this one, just a hope that Gillingham can reverse the result of their earlier encounter, and come away with a 0-3 win.

[Leatherman]

Cheers Welshy. I'm starting to get excited again... No good will come of it I'm sure. :D

[Guest]

It may well be 1-0 to Burton, which would be their 14th 1-0 of the season.

Hope not.

[Optimistic]

Well it appears that Burton have got quite a few injury problems but the Gillingham manager has a couple of players returning from injury and has stated that they are going there to get a result.

Fingers crossed!

[Guest]

Well it appears that Burton have got quite a few injury problems but the Gillingham manager has a couple of players returning from injury and has stated that they are going there to get a result.

Fingers crossed!

Yes, let's hope the ref doesn't send any of them off.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Events elsewhere have already pushed us down to 4th place - Millwall 1 Oldham Athletic 0 (4 min)

Sheffield United players already on the beach...... Coventry City 2 Blades 0 (7 min)

[hullsaddler]

Burton seem on top. Gills had to make 2 substitutions in first 15 minutes due to injuries!

[SaddlerCraig]

Gills with 2 subs already from injury, certainly limits their options :?

[Welsh_Saddler]

Back to the thread game....... Two early substitutions for Gillingham (14 and 16 mins) both because of injury. :?

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers.....kick-off put back to 3.30pm - excessive crowds??? :?

[otherbournemouthsaddler]

Back to the thread game....... Two early substitutions for Gillingham (14 and 16 mins) both because of injury. :?

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers.....kick-off put back to 3.30pm - excessive crowds??? :?

Apparently its due to a waterlogged side of the pitch.

I'm hating this at the minute - staring at BBC Text.....

[hullsaddler]

Gills just missed great chance,

[saddla]

shots in now for the Gills!
Come on Gillingham!

[boringteacher]

Back to the thread game....... Two early substitutions for Gillingham (14 and 16 mins) both because of injury. :?

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers.....kick-off put back to 3.30pm - excessive crowds??? :?

Apparently its due to a waterlogged side of the pitch.

I'm hating this at the minute - staring at BBC Text.....

Know the feeling - have tried every avenue to get a stream, been to the top of the house to try to get a FM signal (live in Four Oaks and their poxy travel reports always cut in when I dont want them in the car) and am forced to conclude from the beeb text that things aren't looking too favourable. Horrid - if Burton win today, that'll be enough I reckon

[hullsaddler]

Back to the thread game....... Two early substitutions for Gillingham (14 and 16 mins) both because of injury. :?

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers.....kick-off put back to 3.30pm - excessive crowds??? :?

Apparently its due to a waterlogged side of the pitch.

I'm hating this at the minute - staring at BBC Text.....

Know the feeling - have tried every avenue to get a stream, been to the top of the house to try to get a FM signal (live in Four Oaks and their poxy travel reports always cut in when I dont want them in the car) and am forced to conclude from the beeb text that things aren't looking too favourable. Horrid - if Burton win today, that'll be enough I reckon

am listening on Gills player. Burton started the brighter but Gillingham coming right back into it. The commentators are encouraged!

[SuperDon]

From the stats it looks like the gills might be settling into tbe game a bit more now.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Oh dear........... 1-0 Burton

[hullsaddler]

Damn Burton 1 -0!

[saddla]

Burton lead 1-0

[boringteacher]

Round hairy ones :twisted:

[kshammer]

Come on Dack you prick. :evil:

[SuperDon]

Should have kept quiet!

[Welsh_Saddler]

Gillingham might take comfort from the score now at Oakwell..... Barnsley 0 Colchester Utd 1

[saddlersjse]

Only half time but I feel pretty deflated. On current record I can't see a way back for Gillingham now.

If it stays this way, we just need to focus on winning the next two to get some momentum for the playoffs. I think it's going to be tough. :(

[JonnyOwen]

Listening to it on Burton player and following it on the William Hill pitch map. Not a fun way to follow football whatsoever, every time I see "Dangerous attack by Burton" I cack myself.

Come on Gills, grab an equaliser!

[Welsh_Saddler]

The last play-off place is now between Barnsley, Gillingham and Scunthorpe - Bradford City have pulled away from that group now.

Burton's goal difference is 5 better than ours as things stand, so even if we win against Fleetwood and Vale, we might have to rely on Doncaster Rovers to give Burton a right going-over next weekend!!

[saddla]

1-1 :D

[hullsaddler]

1.1!!!!!!!!!

[PT]

Donny one up. If that remains the case they will be right up for it next week.
Shrews 2-0 to keep them down there and even more hope for Donny.

So even if Burton win today by one goal we are still alive.

We beat Fleetwood 2-0

Burton lose 2-0 at Donny.
We beat Vale 2-0.

And we're up. No silly scores or daft hairbrained stuff needed on Monday.

[BathSaddler]

Gillingham level :D

Come on you Gills (never said that before :wink: )

[kshammer]

Sweet