GILLINGHAM supporters were told today to stay away from Saturday's match away to leaders Portsmouth unless they have a ticket.

The match is a 19,000 sell-out and there will be no admission on the day. Gillingham sold their ticket allocation yesterday.

Because of Portsmouth's success this season, the Milton End of Fratton Park, which in the past has exclusively accommodated up to 3,000 away fans, has been segregated to allow more Pompey fans in to home games. Consequently, the capacity for away fans has been drastically reduced.

Steve Styles, a Portsmouth-based Gillingham fan who had to come to Priestfield on Tuesday to buy his match tickets, said: "A lot of Gillingham supporters will be thinking there will be room at the Milton End because there has been in the past.

"But when Portsmouth warn that no tickets will be available on the day, they are not kidding."

Midfielder Mark Saunders is expected to be added to the Gillingham squad for Saturday's match but will have to be content with a place on the bench as player-manager Andy Hessenthaler sticks with the side that beat Grimsby 3-0 on Saturday.

Saunders, who has not played since suffering a hamstring strain in the 3-0 defeat at Preston on February 1, joined in training with the first team squad for the first time today.

Fellow midfielder Simon Osborn continued his comeback from long-term injury yesterday at Bournemouth where he played for 75 minutes for the reserves in a 1-1 draw.

Osborn, who has not played played since rupturing an Achilles against Norwich on August 24, is looking to make a return to the first team in two weeks.

Striker Jones Awuah equalised for Gillingham in a 1-1 draw.