Bournemouth v Gillingham

SUSPENSIONS are forcing Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson to shuffle his pack for Saturday's League 1 trip to Bournemouth.

The Gills are going for their third consecutive victory - something they have not achieved in three years - as well as their first away win of the season.

But they will be without defender Leon Johnson and midfielder Andrew Crofts, who both miss the game after picking up a fifth booking of the campaign against Doncaster and Port Vale respectively.

Jepson said: It's a blow for us as I would have liked to have fielded the same settled side but it gives a chance for others to come in. But they are both going to be big misses."

"Johnson’s been a different class alongside Ian Cox in defence in the last couple of games. And Crofts is one of four we’ve been playing across the middle of the park, who can all run, who are all athletes, work hard and get from box to box."

Jepson’s replacement options, especially for Johnson because Chris Hope is injured, are limited.

He continued with a wry smile and said of diminutive 5ft 4in defender Danny Jackman: "I may put Danny in there because of his height to fight aerial battles, but then again maybe I’ll give that one a miss. Brent Sancho is an option, but we’ll be trying things out on the training pitch."

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