Gillingham welcome Accrington Stanley to MEMS Priestfield this weekend with boss Mark Bonner keen for his side to re-find the form that has eluded them in the past week. 

And despite Accrington’s lowly League position, Bonner knows that Stanley, who enjoyed their first win of the season against Morecambe last week, will be another tough obstacle for his side. 

“We have watched them, as you would expect – they seem to have changed their system last three or four games from what they were earlier in the season and they have managed to rest players in the week when they played a (Bristol Street Motors) Trophy game, and so I would expect it to be a team similar to the one that got the result against Morecambe which was a big result for them.”

“Having been in a similar situation in the past where you are doing OK, but not getting the results, that first win can be a big, big lift for your team, so I expect that.” 

“The game on Saturday will take a similar shape to what a lot of their games have – quite stretched and quite open, with chances for both teams.”

“They are an aggressive team; statistically the most forward passing, direct team in the League, the most aggressive pressing team in the League as it stands after ten games which gives you an idea of what the game could look like as they are on the back of a positive result last week.”

“It is likely to be an energetic game, a tough game, and one that we will have to be good in the chaos, play football at the right times, but make sure that we are physically aggressive and tidy the game up in the correct moments – it will be an interesting game, one that we have to be ready for with our own motivation to get back on track after the past week to get a good result ourselves.” 

Bonner went on, “I have really enjoyed this week on the training field. We had a really good day on Tuesday, another one on Thursday, and we have some longer meetings with the players too as we have had to cram a lot in – preparation for the weekend; a bit of a review of where we are, the last week, the last game and the first block of ten games.” 

“The lads are probably bored of hearing my voice this week, but we must give them the information that we think is important as they must take it, digest it, use the right bits.”

“The meetings have been great, and we have been able to do lots of that with the lads this week, and the two training sessions, particularly Tuesday, Thursday that we have really nailed down some good physical work.”

“Not only for the team off the back of the first ten games, but certainly a number of individuals that maybe have been lighter on game time or just have missed periods early on – I think physically good for everybody, ultimately how beneficial it’s been for us will be the proof of Saturday’s game, but we know it will serve us well over the coming weeks, and having another full week to train next week will be really helpful I think!” 

Bonner then spoke of his squad for the weekend and the only real doubt from the squad at Crewe last weekend is Robbie McKenzie who has a knee problem and will be assessed before the game.

Of those players still recovering from knocks, the Gills boss does not expect any will be ready for this weekend, but did say that he hoped that would change before the trip to Bradford City on Saturday week.