For the second week in a row, Gillingham head into a top of the table clash in League Two, but this time there’s an added twist with former manager Stephen Clemence in the opposition dugout as Barrow make the long trip South to MEMS Priestfield. 

Talking to KSN this week however, current boss Mark Bonner is completely focused on taking his Gillingham side to the early summit of League Two. 

“We are all really looking forward to the game,” Bonner said. “I thought last weekend at Notts County was a really good test, we played ever so well and were delighted with the outcome.  

“Now we start a three-game week with two-games at home against another team who are flying and playing really well! I think we have played a lot of teams who are in good form, and they have been tough games for them as they have been tough games for us, and I expect this weekend to be no different!” 

“We are all looking forward to getting back to Priestfield as there’s an excitement about the game and I hope that there will be a big crowd for the game which is good, and the players will hopefully go into the game a little bit fresher after being rested in the week, and hopefully we’ll get the benefit of that at the weekend.” 

“Barrow have started ever so well, and their defensive record is as equally good as ours so I think it will be a game where chances will be difficult to create. They have some very good attacking players in wide areas, the full-backs get forward and join the attacks well.  

“There are threats throughout the team as you would expect and we know that they are top scorers from set plays in the league, and they will make it hard for us.  

“You can never predict exactly what the game will look like which is why we have to try and develop a bit of flexibility in the way that we play so that on any given day whilst we might have an idea of what the game is going to look like, whatever twists and turns it takes, we can cope.  

“We will need flexibility in the way that we go about our work, whether that’s players and personnel through the game with substitutions or just the way we play. We want to be a team that gets right on top of the game early and tries to have a dominant day when we can but equally, we are playing against a team that like the ball as well, so it should make for a really good game!” 

For the first time since taking over, Bonner confirmed that every one of his squad had been involved in training on grass this week, with Tim Dieng, Bradley Dack, Robbie McKenzie, and Ethan Coleman hopefully fit enough for the squad on Saturday.  

Aaron Rowe, Conor Masterson and Jake Turner are back on the grass training but not close enough to be considered, and the manager also confirmed that there were no further knocks after Tuesdays defeat to a young Crystal Palace side in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy and promised that when every player is back into full training, the manager intends to step up the levels expected!