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Gillingham captain Kyle Dempsey has total respect for the opposition manager tonight but there’ll be no sentiment on the pitch at Northampton.
Cobblers boss Keith Curle was Dempsey’s manager during the early years of his career at Carlisle United, making him captain at the age of 18 and giving him the platform to earn a big move to Huddersfield in the Championship.
Dempsey will be looking to lead the Gills to victory at Northampton as they hope to close the six point gap between themselves and the play-off places.
Looking ahead to facing his former boss, Dempsey said: “He played me every single game and made me Carlisle’s youngest ever captain. I was 18 and never had a role like that in my life, I was never expecting it.
“It was a breakthrough season and so I do have a massive respect for Keith.
“He played me in a position I wanted to play and I was allowed to express myself going forward. I was double digits in goals and assists and he gave me the confidence to do that and at the back end of the season I got my move to Huddersfield in the Championship.
“I dropped him a message in the summer, when Northampton were in the play-offs, wishing him all the best and hoping he could get the job done. I have that mutual respect for him.”
Gills striker Vadaine Oliver enjoyed a great year under Curle last season too, helping them win promotion through the play-offs in League 2. Both will be against him tonight, with Oliver declared fit to play.
Dempsey said: “In football you have the respect off the pitch but for myself and Vadaine the main focus is the three points.
“When you stick your jersey on you give 110% and you want to beat anyone that is infront of you. Mutual respect comes off the pitch but on the pitch it is about delivering your part and helping your team win.”
Dempsey has a decent track record against Northampton, winning all five matches he’s played against them, scoring in a couple too.
A win for the Gills will keep their play-off push on track.
He said: I don’t want to jinx anything, my focus is just on delivering 100% and trying to showcase my talent and hopefully the rest of the squad are on their game as well.
“We see a run of games where we can pick up a lot of points. Rochdale (last time out, winning 4-1) was a game we needed, everything clicked and for us and now that has to be the benchmark what we use going forward.
“We have built some momentum and that is the minimum of what is required. The intensity from the front, controlling the middle and solid at the back and being clinical, that is something we haven’t been, we have had those performance but not been clinical.
“We took a lot of confidence from the game. We are a new set of players, now we have found an identity, players know what is required and we are in a good shape going forward.”
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