More on KentOnline
Gillingham fans and even an Oxford supporter are unanimous in their belief that the Gills will continue their good form by taking three points at Priestfield on Saturday. Here's what our panel had to say.
RICHARD PEPPER
(Manston)
"It may be time to shake things up a little bit and rest a couple of players. How great it would be to see Simon King back in the first team, maybe even at left back! Joe Martin also deserves a start.
"Oxford will be a tough test but, as long as we keep things tight at the back, with our strike pair in a rich vein of form, we should come away with all three points."
Prediction: Gills 3 Oxford 0
MALCOLM SMITH
(Grimsby)
"After Saturday’s game against Oxford, we have four games involving those teams above us, so three points are imperative to head into these ‘six pointers’ on a high.
"The next five games could potentially put us in the driving seat for automatic promotion. Equally, they have the potential to ruin any promotion hopes and leave us dreaming of the play-offs."
Prediction: Gills 3 Oxford 1
JAMES STAPLES
(Greenwich)
"It will be interesting to see if Hess makes further changes after bringing Bentley and Martin into the team at Stevenage. Having Dennis Oli back in contention is a bonus as he gives us an attacking option.
"The injury to Gowling will also give Garry Richards the chance to claim a regular first team place and it will be interesting to see if he can last the 90 minutes."
Prediction: Gills 2 Oxford 1
PAUL BLAKELEY
(Maidstone)
"It’s good to see that we’re keeping pace with the play-off pack. Although we seem incapable of remaining in the top seven two games in a row, it’s good that we’re managing to pick up points.
"To come from an away game after being a goal down with a point shows that we’ve managed to get the resilience we need to challenge.
"Our squad finally looks like it can deal with the final half of the season, with players like Jackman improving all the time.
"Cody’s partnership with Bayo is looking the best we’ve seen for years."
Prediction: Gills 3 Oxford 0
SAM LIVINGSTONE
(Pangbourne)
Worryingly we seem to be in a bit of a slump at the minute with only five points from a possible 12. However, we welcome Oxford to Priestfield, where our good run started and yet again I think that we must win this game.
We have a really tough, congested run of fixtures coming up, so I think that if we are going to keep in touch with the promotion spaces we need to pick up three points here.
I think that fatigue will start to set in and also injuries are starting to come now with Gowling having to go off at Stevenage so our true squad depth will start being tested!
I think that we will win on Saturday 2-1 with Cody McDonald and Weston scoring. James Constable will get a consolation.
Prediction: Gills 2 Oxford 1
WARREN LIGHTFOOT
(Lydden)
The Gills put in a good performance on Tuesday, against a very physical Stevenage side, but Saturday should be a different prospect.
Providing Gillingham pass the ball through the midfield and keep the tempo up, they should be too strong for Oxford.
The important thing is not to drop too deep and allow Oxford too much time on the ball. Joe Martin looked dangerous at times on Tuesday and created the chance for Bayo to score, he seems to be a class above League 2 and if he can get the service I'm sure he will deliver some testing crosses into the box.
Prediction: Gills 2 Oxford 0
PAUL BEASLEY
(Oxford Fan)
"We’re playing some good football on the ground but we’re vulnerable in the air. We lost to Southend on Tuesday and they played in a load of high balls and just seemed more up for it than we did.
"We’ve got a pretty awful record when it comes to keeping clean sheets but we’re just below the play-offs still.
"We’ve strengthened since last playing Gillingham but I still can’t see us keeping a clean sheet and although I haven’t given up hope of getting anything at Gillingham, I’m not confident."
Prediction: Gills 2 Oxford 1
What's your prediction? Leave your comments below.