Oldham Athletic v Gillingham

GILLINGHAM will have to cope without strikers Paul Shields and Darren Byfield as they look to end their away duck at Oldham on Saturday.

Shields has a thigh injury and Byfield picked up his fifth booking of the campaign during the 3-0 win over Swindon Town at Priestfield at the weekend.

The yellow card and subsequent one match ban has angered Gills boss Ronnie Jepson.

Jepson said: "We looked at the video and it's very frustrating because Darren held his arms up when the ball was thrown back at him from the crowd.

"He's been booked for unsporting conduct, which covers the referee for pretty much anything.

"There was no rude gesture and it's disappointing to lose him to this ruling rather than a bad tackle or dissent."

It means the manager will be forced to change a winning team and he said: "It's been difficult enought to pick the same team week in week out and I would have loved to for the Oldham game.

"We have to get on with it. I'm happy with the way the team's pulling together when someone's asked to fill in a role foreign to them."

One such player is 23-year-old Danny Jackman, who can play left midfield or full-back.

Jepson said: "He may lack height but he doesn't lack heart and he gives us an option because we don't have many left-footed players.

"He's never let me down and though we expect Oldham to bombard him aerially, I know he'll just deal with it."

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