The FA Cup takes centre stage once again this evening as 22 teams still battle for a place in the second round of the competition. The Gills enthralling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth just over a week ago has left Manager Andy Hessenthaler confident that his side can overcome their League One opponents. Speaking to the club website Hessenthaler said, “We are looking forward to the game. It’s the FA Cup and we want to get through and play Leyton Orient in the next round.”
The Kent based outfit recovered from being 3-1 down in the first meeting between the sides with Danny Kedwell’s last minute strike setting up the replay at the Priestfield stadium tonight. The fight back, along with Saturday’s league victory over Aldershot, has given the Gills valid cause for optimism ahead of kick off. Hessenthaler added, “We gave a good account of ourselves at Bournemouth in the first game to come back from 3-1 down.” Hessenthaler also commented on the important role that the supporters will have in tonight’s encounter. He included, “We have to make it a high tempo game and to get our fans going and to use them as an extra man.”
Frank Nouble, one of the scorers in Saturdays league victory, along with Jo Kuffour are both ineligible for tonight’s match after being refused permission to play in the competition by their parent clubs, leaving Hessenthaler with the unenviable task of trying to replace his two most prolific strikers so far this term. He added, “Obviously there has got to be changes because Jo (Kuffour) and Frank (Nouble) won’t be available. We will have to reshuffle which I don’t like doing I would rather keep us consistent but that’s the way it is and it will give a couple of other players the opportunity to come in on Tuesday night.”
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