Gillingham vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League One.
Priestfield StadiumAttendance6,940.
Monday 24 December 2018 13:20, UK
Gillingham hope to have leading scorer Tom Eaves fit again for the visit of Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth on Boxing Day.
Striker Eaves, who has 14 league goals this season, sustained a thigh problem ahead of the 2-0 defeat at Charlton, but boss Steve Lovell indicated it was not expected to be a long-term issue.
Midfielder Callum Reilly could come back into the side after being sent on for the second half at The Valley following his return from a three-game suspension. Defender Max Ehmer remains sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, which is expected to keep him out until the new year.
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett saw his side defeat promotion rivals Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday, when he had named an unchanged side. Ben Close, Andre Green and forward Brett Pitman are all options for Pompey, having come off the bench against the Black Cats.
Winger David Wheeler is fit again following his hamstring injury, but was not included in the match-day squad. Goalkeeper Luke McGee continues his recovery from a broken bone in his wrist.
Gillingham have won both of their last two league meetings with Portsmouth, as many as they had won in their previous 10 against them combined (W2 D2 L6).
This will be the third meeting between Gillingham and Portsmouth in all competitions already this season, with Gillingham winning the reverse league fixture 2-0 in October after Pompey had beaten the Gills 4-0 in the EFL Trophy in September.
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Gillingham are winless in their last five home league games on Boxing Day (D2 L3) since a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient in 2006.
This will be Portsmouth's third visit to Gillingham on Boxing Day in the Football League, drawing 0-0 in 1977 and losing 2-0 in 2001 in the two previous such clashes.
Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett has lost five of his six visits to Gillingham as a manager in the Football League, although he did win the other 1-0 with Pompey in October 2017.
