Gills Don't Want To Go For A Burton

The Gills will hope to continue their good run of form at Priestfield and get themselves in with a shout of playing a big name in the FA Cup third round when Burton visit.

Mark Stimson`s side have won their last three games at home without conceding a goal and will be full of confidence ahead of their first-ever meeting with the League Two outfit.

The Brewers were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history last season after winning the Blue Square Premier - but it wasn`t all plain sailing as, after the departure of manager Nigel Clough to Derby, they almost threw away a huge lead.

However, they regrouped over the summer and hit the ground running in League Two, making a solid start to life as a Football League team.

Managed by former Birmingham (among others) striker Paul Peschisolido - who has been a thorn in the Gills` side many times in recent years - the Brewers are 12th in the table after 18 games.

They have been pretty strong at the Pirelli Stadium, where they have won five of their nine games, and have collected two wins from their away games, with their away record bizarrely mirroring their home, even down to the number of goals scored and conceded.

Burton beat non-league Oxford City in the first round, and have recent FA Cup pedigree, having played Manchester United - and taken them to a replay - in 2006.

Ironically, they could have met the Gills in the second round that season, had Neale Cooper`s side not been embarrassingly beaten at non-league Burscough.

The Gills themselves reached the third round last season - the first time they had done so since their relegation from the Championship in 2005 - and were unlucky to be beaten 2-1 by Premier League giants Aston Villa in a game live on ITV.

The big names await in Sunday`s draw, and the Gills - who beat Southend 3-0 in round one - will be hoping they are also in that hat.

As expected, the loan window closed without any further activity, so the Gills will choose from an unchanged squad.

Changes seem unlikely following Tuesday night`s win over Yeovil, although Stuart Lewis and John Nutter are both pushing for recalls to the starting line-up.

On-loan pair Matt Fry and Febian Brandy are both allowed to play, as they were in the first round.

Brandy has won three penalties in four games in his brief Gills career and looks to be a real coup by Mark Stimson.

The Brewers are set to hand a debut to striker Steve Kabba after he arrived on loan from Brentford.

The 28-year-old has failed to win a regular spot in Andy Scott`s side and has joined Burton on a month`s loan.

Aside from that, there are not likely to be many changes from the side beaten at Crewe in midweek, with full-back Paul Boertien not yet ready to return despite playing 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

Midfielder Penn was the Brewers` record signing when he arrived from Kidderminster in the summer and has adapted very well to life in the League.

The two clubs have never met before.

Leyton Orient (A),
League One,
Brisbane Road,
Tuesday December 1,
7.45pm