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Gillingham manager Steve Evans is expecting Rochdale to provide a sterner test than they did a month ago.
The Gills were 4-1 winners at Spotland when the two sides met just before Christmas. Evans knows his side that day were up against a weakened Dale outfit.
Rochdale were missing some key men when they last met, including their 10-goal leading scorer Matty Lund, but their key players are expected to be out again when they turn up at Priestfield this Saturday.
Along with Lund, Manchester City loan keeper Gavin Bazunu, defender Ryan McLaughlin, midfielder Oliver Rathbone and forward Jake Beesley could all face the Gills this time around.
Evans said: “We were outstanding against Rochdale on the day but they were without some influential players.
“We scored goals at the right times and probably subdued them a bit and we don’t kid ourselves, we were a little depleted ourselves, but they had their two best players out and we have never hidden from that. Since then they have been scoring for fun.
“They are always going to score, they are an attacking side, a very open side, they will concede and anyone that scores four goals at Charlton must be shaking their head on the team coach (Their game at the Valley ended 4-4).
“We have a real tough test against Rochdale. Those players who were missing will be there on Saturday.
“They will have the boy Lund, but it’s not just him, others will come back. They will come here full strength and will be confident of getting a result because they have been very good.
"We know how tough it is going to be and anyone that thinks differently doesn’t know anything about League 1 football."
Nobody outside of the top six have scored more than Rochdale this season. They recently took a point away from Charlton after the 4-4 draw there. On Tuesday night they were beaten 1-0 by Doncaster on a rare off-day for the strikers.
Evans was there to watch both games so is well aware of what his side are up against.
“They should have beaten Doncaster,” he said. “They were commanding in the last 20 minutes against a very good side. I know and the players will be made aware of how tough Saturday will be.”
Evans is still hoping to make additions, with a defender on their radar. The club are also in negotiations over a striker but are facing competition from teams further up the pyramid for the same player. The Gills boss would also like to add a wide player to his squad.
“Two or three more would make us 25% better,” Evans said.
“We are two or three players short of being able to finish above that top 10 which is where we finished last year. If we do, there isn’t much of a gap between top 10 and top six.”
Read more on the Gills;
Team news: Gills wait on midfielder pair
