Brighton & Hove Albion v Gillingham
Withdean Stadium, 7.45pm kick-off
By David Pritchard
Garry Richards makes his first league start in six weeks as Gillingham look to end their winless run away from home against struggling Brighton.
The 23-year-old has recovered from a fractured big toe sustained last month and will start alongside Josh Gowling at centre-half. Richards, who was sent off in Gillingham's last visit to Brighton two seasons ago, is the only change from the side which started Saturday’s 3-2 win against Wycombe, with Dennis Oli relegated to the substitutes’ bench.
With Richards’ return, Mark Bentley is expected to switch from central defence to the right side of a five man midfield supporting lone striker Simeon Jackson. The Canada international is in superb form, netting the winner against Wycombe, and can draw level at the top of the League One top scorers chart if he can notch this evening.
With just one point taken from five trips away from Priestfield this season, Gillingham have the worst away record in the division. However, they will fancy their chances of posting a first away win of the campaign against a struggling Brighton side in the bottom four.
Former Gillingham skipper Andrew Crofts starts for the home side after scoring in the 2-2 draw against Yeovil on Saturday.
Brighton: Kuipers, Hoyte, Elphick, Virgo, McNulty, Bennett, Dicker, Crofts, Thornhill, Forster, Murray
Subs: Wright, Cox, Dickinson, Tunnicliffe, Hart, Davies, Smith
Gillingham: Royce, Fuller, Gowling, Richards, Nutter, Bentley, Payne, Weston, Barcham, Miller, Jackson
Subs: Julian, Lewis, Erskine, Rooney, Maher, Oli, Palmer
POSTED: 13/10/2009 19:17:11
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