Swindon v Gillingham: Preview and team news from interim manager Keith Millen ahead of League 2 match at the County Ground
Tired legs and back-to-back defeats could prompt Gillingham’s interim manager Keith Millen into making changes at Swindon tonight.
The Gills have lost to Walsall and Notts County in their last two matches and Millen has been plagued by numerous injuries within the squad since stepping in as a caretaker boss.
Millen will be picking a team which he hopes will end a run of four successive away defeats in the league.
He said: “The away form hasn’t been as as good (as at home). At home we have been really strong, we were strong (on Saturday).
“We need to look at who is fit and fresh.
“Scott (Malone) walked off and looked like he was 80-years-old but hopefully when he looks back at the goal it loosens his back off a bit.
“It will be a case of trying to get as much freshness in the team as possible, then tactically what gives us the best chances of winning the game.
“There were some tired legs and at the moment we have quite a few injuries, you could see on the bench (against Notts County) that we have not got a load of attacking options.
“It was good to get Jonny Williams some minutes and Lapo (George Lapslie) will be better for minutes, then after that from an attacking side we didn’t have many other options.”
Gillingham’s weekend visitors Notts County top League 2 on the possession stats so it was no surprise that they had 67% of it at Priestfield on Saturday.
Midweek hosts Swindon are the third best in the league for keeping the ball, so the Gills will know what to expect.
Millen said: “They have had some big scoring games, they are a wide, expansive, passing team and it will be a case of what has been the case most of the season, when we do have our chances and when we do create chances, can we be a little more ruthless and take them?”
The Gills, with 13 goals, are the lowest scorers in League 2.
With Gillingham narrowing down their hunt for a new manager – chairman Brad Galinson is expected back in the country in time to be at the game – this could be Millen’s last in charge.
“It’s not about me personally,” said the stand-in boss. “It’s more about making sure the players are ready.
“Hopefully we have a few players back. Shad is back from suspension, Cheye will hopefully be better (following an illness) and Willo (Shaun Williams) was available again (on Saturday).
“We have some options and the freshness is going to be important.”
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