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It’s another crucial game for the Gills this weekend as they look to keep alive their play-off hopes.
Hosts Bradford have lost their last three games without scoring a goal.
A win for the Gills will see Steve Lovell’s men leapfrog them. Defeat for either side could mean curtains for their outside play-off hopes.
Gillingham will be looking to pick up their ninth away win of the season.
The Gills have enjoyed their recent trips to Valley Parade, unbeaten there in six games, with four draws and a couple of wins.
Head to head;
Gills wins: 22 Draws: 15 Bradford wins: 13
Form;
Bradford (LLLDDL): Doncaster (a) 0-2, Wigan (h) 0-1, Plymouth (a) 0-1, Charlton (a) 1-1, Bury (h) 2-2, Oldham (h) 1-2.
Gillingham (WLDDWD): Portsmouth (a) 3-1, Bury (a) 1-2, Shrewsbury (a) 1-1, Walsall (h) 0-0, Northampton (a) 2-1, Peterborough (h) 1-1.
Last time out;
Conor Wilkinson came off the bench to inspire a comeback victory for the Gills at Portsmouth a fortnight ago.
Jamal Lowe had put the hosts ahead but fluffed a great chance to make it two before the break, thanks to a crucial tackle from Luke O’Neill.
Wilkinson, on at the break for Tom Eaves, levelled just three minutes after the restart with a fine solo goal as the Gills put a poor opening half behind them.
Connor Ronan hit the post for the home side before Lee Martin’s double put the Gills on the path to victory.
Last game at Valley Parade;
Bradford City 2 Gillingham 2 - February 4, 2017
Gillingham hung on to claim a point from their last trip to Bradford.
The hosts, battling for promotion, were ahead at the break after Josh Wright’s opener was cancelled out with goals from Charlie Wyke and Tony McMahon.
Defender Deji Oshilaja levelled shortly after the restart but for much of the second half the Gills were forced on the defensive.
Wyke was close to grabbing a third for Bradford but his effort was cleared off the line by Rory Donnelly.
Team news;
Gillingham will be without Josh Parker as he is on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda.
Parker scored a goal for his national side on Wednesday, in their 3-2 win over Bermuda. They face Jamaica on Sunday.
Lovell said: "Obviously we are going to miss him because he's been a major part of our success this season."
Lovell has central defender Alex Lacey fit again. He played in a behind closed doors match against Luton on Tuesday.
Conor Ogilvie is available against after a bout of tonsillitis.
More on the Gills;
Lovell: Play-off race opening up
MEMS to end sponsorship deal with Gills
Scott Wagstaff: No pressure on us
Man in the middle - Ross Joyce;
Games: 34 Yellows: 130 Reds: 1
Ross Joyce was in charge of the Gills’ game against Northampton back in October.
A 2-1 defeat followed some impressive early results for Steve Lovell as he held the management role in a caretaker capacity. It was Lovell’s first defeat.
Prior to that game, the North East-based official came in for some stick on his visit to the Gills in April 2016, after failing to award them a penalty against Port Vale.
A high boot caught Deji Oshilaja as he went for goal, ending the player's afternoon.
This is Joyce’s third season refereeing in the Football League.
Assistants: Craig Taylor and Barry Gordon. Fourth Official: Andy Haines
From the opposition;
Recently employed Bradford boss Simon Grayson is desperate to keep their season alive.
A terrible run of form has seen them plummet down the League 1 table. They have picked up just two points from their last 10 games.
Grayson is awaiting his first win, after four attempts. They lost 2-0 to Doncaster on Monday night.
He said: “One game could turn a season round. But we’ve been saying that since day one of walking in.
“We’ve got to make sure we do the basics right, attack and defend as a team, make it hard for the opposition but be ruthless as well when we get to that top half of the pitch.
“We encourage supporters to get behind the team, which they will do at the weekend. Let’s get a victory and see where it goes after that.
“That first goal is vital at this moment in time. If we can get it, it will give the players a lift.”
Bradford sacked Stuart McCall in February after six straight defeats
The Bantams will be without leading scorer Charlie Wyke. Their 14-goal striker was sent off, for the second time this season, against Plymouth.
Fancy a flutter?
With Josh Parker away on international duty the door is open for someone else to get in on the act.
Conor Wilkinson has moved into pole position among those strikers vying for a starting role and he’s 5/2 to score in 90 minutes with Sky Bet.
Romain Vincelot is 3/1 to score against his former team while Gills defender Max Ehmer, on a high after signing a new deal, is 11/1 to net.
Bradford are 21/20 for the win, it’s 12/5 for the draw and 13/5 for a Gills win.
