Gillingham boss Steve Lovell is hoping to get one over his Carlisle counterpart Keith Curle after struggling against him as a player.

The two men will be in opposite dugouts on Saturday at Priestfield when the teams meet in the second round of the FA Cup.

Lovell said: “I have played against Keith Curle many times and he was one of the hardest centre-halves I have ever played against. I could never get the better of him.

“He was quick. He was one of the best. I was quite quick but he was a little bit quicker! I hardly ever scored against him.

“He was organised and a good player. I am sure he will have his team organised in the same way as he was as a player.”

Curle appeared for a number of teams as a defender, most notably Manchester City and Wolves and picked up three England caps during his playing career.

The Gills, unbeaten in seven in all competitions and with just one defeat in 10 under Lovell, will be favourites to beat the visitors who play a league below them.

But Lovell will be rightly wary of a side that knocked fellow League 1 team Oldham out in the last round.

“It’s a one-off game and anything can happen,” warned the Gills boss. “We have to be on top form if we are going to get through.

“I spoke to the Oldham manager on Saturday (after Gillingham played them in the league) and he said they had a tough game against them. We know it is going to be hard, they all are.

“You have to be prepared, give 100% and work hard and hopefully do enough on the day to get through.”

The big clubs await in round three and the Gills haven’t got to that stage since losing to Stoke City in the 2011-12 season.

Read the full story in Thursday's Medway Messenger