Saturday 10th April 2010 - Kick Off 15:00

Football League Division One

Venue: The New Den

Gills Recent League Form - last 6 matches

Millwall’s Recent League Form - last 6 matches

Easter Monday’s outstanding 3-0 home win over fellow strugglers Southend pulled us out of the drop zone after Saturday’s disappointing performance and 1-0 defeat at Oldham.

Assistant manager Scott Barrett (left) has called on the players to maintain the high standards shown against Southend. Gills dominated the second half and Barrett now expects that form to continue for the remaining six games.

“What frustrates us is that we don’t perform like that away from home. Our home record is the best in the league and our away is probably the worst. There is no rhyme or reason to it. There have been games where things haven’t gone for us.”

“The manager and myself and the coach Mark Robson always demand hundred per cent effort and I think some of the lads have let themselves down a bit in recent games in that department, but there was no way you could level that at them on Monday – they were outstanding.”

The incentive for the players is to show that same quality and commitment that sees Gills face four of League One’s top sides – Norwich, Southampton, Millwall and Leeds: “The players should be up for every game, whether it’s Millwall or playing Accrington in the cup. The big games seem to bring out a bit extra in players. We’ve got a few big games coming up and we are all looking forward to it,” he added.

“Those big games are the whole reason we want to stay in this division, we want to play against big sides like that. We don’t want to drop down a division and miss out on the big teams. There are big teams that are going to drop down against next season from the Championship and they are the games we want to be involved in and as players they are what they want to be playing in.”

Boss Mark Stimson will have some choices to make following the return to full fitness of 17-goal striker Simeon Jackson (right).

He now has a number of frontmen in reasonable form and he will need to make a wise selection ahead of the game: "It’s good options and good headaches to have,” said Stimson. "Simeon played and came on the other day (against Southend) and looked sharp.

That’s massive for us. He could be important because he can get a goal out of nothing."

Whoever starts will have to be right on their game to beat a Millwall side unbeaten in nine games: "We are looking forward to the challenge," said Stimson. "We haven’t won away from home for a long time so it’s going to be a good game. If we can go and put in a performance like we did at Charlton, then we won’t be far off getting something."

The manager fielded an experienced side for their reserve fixture against Brentford on Wednesday that finished goal less. Included were experienced ‘keeper Simon Royce, centre back Josh Gowling (left) defender/midfielder Chris Palmer and midfielder Mark Bentley.

Chris Dickson started up front alongside Luis Cumbers. Youngsters Jack Payne and Tom Wynter also featured. It’s likely that most of them will be in Saturday’s first team squad of eighteen, though none will probably start.

Young striker Andy Pugh has returned to Priestfield from his loan at Blue Square Premier side Histon because of a knee injury. He made six appearances, scoring once.

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett (left) saw his side move into second place in League One after a 2-1 victory at Colchester on Easter Monday.

An own goal with 13 minutes to go proved to be the winner as the Lions pushed Colchester’s fading play-off hopes further away.

Jackett said: "Coming to Colchester is a tough game. We knew we would have to be at our very best and in the first four or five minutes, we had to be very strong. But we stood up to what they threw at us very well."

He added: "I didn't think there would be many chances. But the ones that were created, we were the ones who created them. We had three very good chances but their keeper responded well. It was a very tight game and I'm pleased to say that we've added three points to our total."

Defender Tony Craig, 24 (right) has signed a two-year extension to his current deal keeping him at The New Den until summer 2013. He is the latest player to sign a new contract, with Neil Harris, Paul Robinson and Alan Dunne all signing new deals recently. He said: "I love it here. We are focusing on getting the club back into the Championship."

He came through the youth ranks at Millwall, making more than 80 senior appearances before moving to Crystal Palace. A year later, in March 2008, he returned to The New Den and has since made a further 85 appearances for the Lions.

Millwall will be keen to take the points on Saturday to maintain their promotion challenge. The Lions are currently third just one point behind Swindon Town in second place. They have an excellent home record losing just once at The New Den in 2009/10, winning 14 and drawing their other five home fixtures. Their only defeat was to relegation threatened Wycombe back in November.

Manager: Kenny Jackett (Record to date: P140 W67 D31 L42)

Nickname: The Lions

Colours: Home – Blue & White. Away – White & Black.

Ground: The New Den

Capacity: 20,146

What will it be like for Gills fans at The New Den?

Gills fans will be at one end of the ground in the North Stand (probably in the upper tier only)., which holds up to 4,000. A trip to The New Den is not as threatening as it used to be, but can still be a little intimidating for younger fans. My guess is that there will be a large police presence due to our assumed away following being around the same number that went to The Valley last month.

Many would advise you to exercise caution near the ground and not wear club colours, although the police are pretty well-drilled in dealing with club coaches and fans arriving by train via London Bridge to Bermondsey. In the main the stewards are helpful and friendly.

A visiting Leicester City fan said: 'We chose to drive down to Millwall and park away from the stadium. It was somewhat intimidating walking to and from the ground and our fans were kept back inside the stadium for quite a long time after the final whistle.’

(Information courtesy of www.footballgroundguide.co.uk)

Transfers in: Jason Price from Doncaster – free, Steve Morison from Stevenage - £130,000, John Sullivan from Brighton – free.

Loans in: Jonathan Obika from Spurs, Shaun Batt from Peterborough, Liam Trotter from Ipswich,  Danny Schofield from Yeovil.

Transfers out: Zak Whitbread to Norwich – signed, Danny Spiller to Wycombe – free, Richard Duffy to Exeter – free, Lenny Pidgeley to Carlisle – free, Adrian Forbes to Grimsby – free.

Loans out: Lewis Grabban to Brentford, Jason Price to Carlisle, Adam Bolder to Bradford City, Dave Martin to Derby.

Released: Lyle Taylor, Ahmet Brkovic, Darren Elsworth, Gary Bowes, Danny Senda, Preston Edwards.

We have met 93 times in total to date. Our first was back in the 1920/21 season when we were beaten 4-0 at The Den, then drew 0-0 at Priestfield.

The Lions have enjoyed some pretty big wins over us over the years, however we have had one or two notable results, such as the 6-1 FA Cup replay win in 1957 at Priestfield.

Our last meeting was in September last year when we beat the Lions 2-0 at Priestfield in front of a crowd of just over 8,000, thanks to goals from Andy Barcham and Curtis Weston.

The total record reads: Gills wins - 26, Millwall wins - 46, draws - 21.

•  Millwall's most capped international is Eamonn Dunphy (22 caps for Republic of Ireland).

•  Their best ever League win was 9-1 vs. Torquay - 29/9/1927 - D3 South (old).

•  Best ever attendance: 20,093 vs. Arsenal - 10/1/1994 - FA Cup R3.

•  Most League goals in a season: Richard Parker with 37 -1926/27 - D3 South (old).

•  Most League appearances: Barry Kitchener with 523 from 1967 to 1982.

•  Biggest transfer fee received: £2.3 million for Mark Kennedy from Liverpool - March 1995.

•  Biggest transfer fee paid: £800,000 for Paul Goddard to Derby County - Dec 1989.

Dennis Oli is the main injury doubt with a hip flexor injury and is rated 50/50 to start. Leading scorer Simeon Jackson had no reaction to his hamstring strain and is fit to play.

Gills eleven from (4-4-2): Alan Julian (GK), Simon Royce (GK), Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Josh Gowling, Garry Richards, Kevin Maher, Curtis Weston, Stuart Lewis, Chris Palmer, Danny Jackman, Mark Bentley, Dennis Oli, Simeon Jackson, Chris Dickson, James Walker, Andy Barcham, Jack Payne, Tom Wynter, Rashid Yussuff, Rene Howe, Darren Dennehy, Adam Miller.

Manager Kenny Jackett has a full strength squad to choose from with long-term injury victim Gary Alexander returning after shaking off a heel injury.

Striker Steve Morison was substituted as a precaution after taking a knock in the Easter Monday win over Colchester United but is said to be OK for Saturday.

Lions eleven from (4-4-2): David Forde (GK), John Sullivan (GK), Alan Dunne, Andrew Frampton, Paul Robinson, Danny Schofield, Gary Alexander, Neil Harris (above left), Chris Hackett, Tony Craig, Scott Barron, Darren Ward, Ashley Grimes, Steve Morison, Jack Smith, Ali Fuseini, Marc Laird, Shaun Batt, Nadjim Abdou, Pat O'Connor, Jonathan Obika, Liam Trotter.

Saturday’s referee is Mr Mark Haywood from West Yorkshire. He started his refereeing career in West Yorkshire in 1993 progressing through the West Yorkshire and Northern Premier Leagues to reach the National List of assistant referees in 2002.

After four more seasons he was again promoted in 2006, to the National List of referees.

To date this season, he has cautioned sixty-eight and sent off three in thirty-two games.

His last game involving the Gills was our 2-0 League Two win at Accrington last March, and left with a ‘clean sheet’. This will be his first visit to The New Den this sesaon, however he did take charge of the Lions 4-0 win at Stockport last October.

His assistants are Mr Andrew Laver from Hampshire and Mr David Rock from Hertfordshire. Our fourth official is Mr Ashley Slaughter from Sussex.

(Referee information courtesy of www.refworld.com)