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Gillingham manager Steve Evans is predicting a tough evening when they come up against an MK Dons team in good form.
The Dons have lost only once in their last seven League 1 matches and they sit a point and a place above Evans’ side in the table ahead of the meeting at Priestfield tonight (Tuesday).
MK won 2-0 when the sides met in mid-October and, like the Gills, are in need of a run of wins to make a late charge towards the play-off places.
“They gave us a hiding when we went there,” Evans admitted.
“We lost 2-0 and it could have been more. We never got a kick and so we need to be looking to reverse that.
“They are a terrific side, good players. I dread to think what their wage bill is, they have Cameron Jerome and Will Grigg and Dean Lewington, Scott Fraser, but that is not my business, that is (owner) Pete’s (Winkelman) business, he is a wonderful man and runs the club terrifically well. We know that it will be tough.”
The Gills have been inconsistent for much of the season and have had more of that lately, producing a poor 45 minutes last Tuesday against AFC Wimbledon and losing to a late strike. Portsmouth was much better and they claimed a point. A dominant second half performance should have earned them all three.
Taking one point from those two fixtures has been frustrating for Evans.
“We should win comfortably,” said the manager of the Portsmouth match. “We have not done and that is five points left out of the bag. We should have taken all six but we look to put them behind us and be positive and move on.
“We totally bossed the second half in both games and deserved so much more. I don’t remember ever going to Fratton Park and playing a second half when my goalkeeper has had nothing to do. He had nothing to do but sweep up behind the defence. At the end of the game a neutral would be saying it was unfortunate that Gillingham didn’t win four or 5-1.”
Evans, focussing on the midweek opponents, said: “Russ (Martin, the MK manager) has done a terrific job and I have a lot of respect for the owner. We’ve had many chats over the years about different things.
“They are full of good players. It is going to be a tough evening for us, like they all are.
"I don’t see a game for us on the horizon that is nothing other than a tough encounter, like it was at Wimbledon on Tuesday, who have to to be said have a lovely new stadium and a terrific club behind the scenes.”
Alex MacDonald is expected to be back available for the Gills after illness kept him out at the weekend.
