By Jack Nolan
December 16 2006

Gillingham host Bournemouth at Priestfield today hoping to end a run of three consecutive defeats. The game shall also see a number of former Gillingham players return to Priestfield and see on loan goalkeeper Dean Brill make his home debut.
Gillingham v AFC Bournemouth
Priestfield Stadium
16/12/2006
Coco-Cola Football League One

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Gillingham Team News

Gill's defender Clint Easton is suspended for the visit of AFC Bournemouth at Priestfield today. Easton picked up his fifth booking of the current season in the FA Cup defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Goalkeeper Kelvin Jack is also out of the game having suffered shoulder injury in the FA Cup defeat and is going to be replaced by home debutant Dean Brill.

Gills from: Brill, Jupp, Sancho, Chorley, Jackman, Cox, Johnson, Clohessy, Bentley, Crofts, Pouton, Flynn, Spiller, McDonald, Stone, Mulligan, Jarvis, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Savage, Collin.

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AFC Bournemouth Team News

Former Gillingham players Steve Claridge - who made his debut in the same fixture last season, Niel Moss and Marcus Browning are all included in the squad to play the Gills at Priestfield. Former youth player Ryan Betrand also returns to Priestfield who was subject of a controversial tapping up by Chelski in which the Gills won just £250,000 initially in compensation.

Under pressure boss Kevin Bond has to do without the services of players Cummings, Purches and Foley are all doubtful for the game.

Bournemouth from: Moss, Stewart, Young, Purches, Broadhurst, Maher, Gowling, Howe, Hart, Bertrand, Connolly, Hayerson, Browning, Cooke, Cooper, Khalil, Anderton, Gillett, Songo'o, Cork, Fletcher, Hollands, Hayter, Allen, Ainsworth, Pitman, Vokes, Claridge.

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Views

Ronnie Jepson

"It's been a poor week. It's been a hectic week, but luckily we've been able to get back on the training ground this week after a lot of travelling. Obviously I'm disappointed with the amount of goals we've conceded, but you speak to most managers at this level and they are pulling their hair out at the inconsistency, except for maybe three or four teams up there that get more level consistency than we do.

"We saw Bournemouth beat Nottingham Forest 2-0, and then we see them during the week against Bristol Rovers lose 1-0. So it's not just us, there are a lot of teams in this league where consistency is poor. If you read the report for the Bournemouth/Forest game, you'd think you were in for a tough game and then you see them against Bristol Rovers.

"So we know on their day they can play good stuff. It's like Leyton Orient who go and beat Huddersfield last week, who maybe should be up there. So we just have to look after ourselves, we have to play with more consistency, especially here at Priestfield, play with a proper tempo and get about things, because against teams you would say you'd expect points off, on their day they could be good as well, as we've seen."

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Stats

Out of eighty-five previous meetings between the Gills and Cherries, the Cherries have the honours with thirty-three victories whereas the Gills are just one behind them winning thirty-two of the meetings. Twenty games have finished all square.

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Officials

Officiating today’s game with the Cherries shall be:

Referee: Mr Ray Lee (Essex)
Assistant Referees: Mr D Margetts and Mr I Woodward
Fourth Official: Mr I Cooper

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Ticket News

Tickets are still available in all areas of the ground but the prices will be increased if purchased on match day.

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GFC ONLINE Match Prediction

I think anything other than a Gills win would be an upset. Gills' home form makes good reading as does Bournemouth’s table position compared to Gillingham, with the Gills seven points clear of today’s opponents, being just four points off of the play offs despite three consecutive defeats.

3.1

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ENJOY THE GAME!