GILLINGHAM look to extend their four-match unbeaten sequence tonight at bottom club Stockport with player-manager Andy Hessenthaler urging his players to guard against the Carlton Palmer factor. The Gills boss, who watched with pride as his side came off the ropes after their Manchester City mauling to surprise Crewe, Crystal Palace and Millwall, has told his players to guard against complacency following County's 5-0 drubbing by Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.

The defeat was County's first in three games under Palmer and Hessenthaler warned: "Everyone knows that Carlton Palmer is a proud man and the margin of Saturday's defeat would have badly wounded his pride, especially as it was against his former club.

"I would imagine he was seething and he'll be telling his players that they've got to be beating sides like us in the bottom half of the table if they're to stand a chance of staying up.

"I've reminded our players that defeat can work both ways. Stockport could be low in confidence but then they could bounce back tonight against us.

"We did the same after losing to Manchester City. Knowing Carlton Palmer, he would have had strong words on the training ground and will want it sorted tonight."

Hessenthaler added: "We've not had a lot of joy at Stockport since I've been at the club but if we roll up our sleeves and continue being hard to play against then we're always capable of getting something, no matter how difficult the venue."

J-Lloyd Samuel is favourite to replace the injured Barry Ashby in defence tonight though transfer-listed Guy Butters is in contention. Ashby sustained knee ligament damage during Saturday's second half at Millwall where he was replaced by Butters.

Striker Iffy Onuora, who made his 150th appearance for the club at Millwall, is available tonight and Friday's televised home game against Birmingham. But his dismissal against Watford plus accumulated cautions means he is suspended for the matches against Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.

Palmer, capped 18 times by England, returns to Stockport's starting line-up this evening as does midfielder Ali Gibb.