More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Steve Evans doesn't care about this season's Carabao Cup but when his Gillingham team kick off at Stoke City he'll be as passionate as ever.
It will be Evans' first time managing a team in Stoke at their bet365 Stadium and while it may be an occasion that lacks atmosphere - there won't be any fans there to watch once again - the Gills boss will be up for it come 7pm.
Speaking about he clash, he said: "It won't be at the front of my thoughts but let's go to Stoke and try and make progress.
"It is a fantastic stadium, a fantastic club, but I individually have no interest in it. When I get there at 7pm, when it kicks off, I will be ranting and raving and appealing decisions because I will want to win.
"When it comes to seven o'clock it will mean everything."
Evans will make changes, almost certainly using those players who didn't get any action at Wigan Athletic in the league. The Gills were lacking in numbers, with a place spare on the bench.
Newly signed striker Dominic Samuel could be involved .
Alex MacDonald (ill) is the only other player likely to come into the squad. He missed the weekend trip to Wigan after a Covid scare .
Whatever team Evans puts out, his main concern will be Blackpool at home on Saturday in the league.
He said: "We have to look after ourselves for Blackpool.
"When we get back to Kent it will be in the early hours of Thursday, some preparation for a game two days later, but that is what the Football League have told us we're doing,
"We need to be ready for Blackpool so we will make changes for Stoke.
"I am not an autocratic manager, no matter what some might think, I am a democrat. I will have a chat and a coffee with the staff but us beating Stoke gives me no solace to then be playing Bristol City or Aston Villa (the winners play either one of those in round four). We will be playing infront of two people, not 20,000, and we have to focus on league action."
