Palace v Gillingham

Selhurst Park, Sunday 4.05pm

Nationwide Division One

Team news

Following two draws in a row, Palace will be looking to pick up three points which would take them level with 11th-placed Gillingham, who have so far notched up 14 points from ten games.

Palace will probably start with new loaning signing Nic Michopoulos in goal following the bad news that Alex Kolinko has a groin injury and Matt Clarke will have to go under the surgeon's knife which will put him out for the rest of the season.

In defence, captain Craig Fleming is struggling with an ankle injury and if it doesn’t clear up in time for Sunday’s match Danny Butterfield should replace him at right back with Julian Gray taking his place on the left hand side of midfield.

Finnish international Aki Riihilahti is nearly 100% fit following a long lay off through injury and should line up in central midfield alongside Hayden Mullins.

This is very good news for Francis as Stevie Thomson was substituted during Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw at Hillsborough due to a knee problem which could see him out for a long while.

Up front Andy Johnson and Dougie Freedman are both rated as doubtful so this should give space to Dele Adebola and Tommy Black.

Gillingham have started the season remarkably well and travel to Selhurst Park with a host of players returning from injury.

Nyron Nosworthy and Rod Wallace should both be available for selection with the pair having recently recovered from groin injuries.

Meanwhile, recent signing Tommy Johnson might only make it to the bench as he has yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury.

Defender Roland Edge has been ruled out of the derby clash through injury and Hessenthaler will have to decide weather to play Adrian Pennock or Leon Johnson at full-back.

Two further absentees are Mark Saunders and Kevin James who are serving suspensions following their recent red cards picked up against the Seaweed.

Gillingham - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
11th	10	4	2	4	14

Full league table

Gillingham - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	2	1	2	9	10

Full form table

Our home record v Gillingham

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
31	16	7	8	70	35

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
16/01/2002	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 1	Gillingham
21/11/2001	League	Gillingham	3 - 0	Crystal Palace
20/01/2001	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 2	Gillingham
26/12/2000	League	Gillingham	4 - 1	Crystal Palace
05/04/1977	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 1	Gillingham

All time results

One to watch

Andy Hessenthaler

Gillingham's top scorer

Shaw - 4 goals

Gillingham's bad boy

Hessenthaler - 4 0

Palace old boys

Simon Osborn

Though past his prime and featuring less and less in his own team, the Gills manager is a pivotal cog in the Kent club's machine. A hard working, no-nonsense midfielder, he isn't afraid to get stuck in, as shown by his collection of 4 bookings already this season. However, he does weigh in with a few vital goals and sets an example for his side to follow. Palace will have to keep him quiet on Sunday to get a hold of the game.

Probable line-up

	Adebola	Johnson
Gray	Mullins	Riihilahti	Routledge
Granville	Popovic	Powell	Fleming
Michopoulos

Last meeting

Palace 3-1 Gillingham

Wednesday January 16 2002

Palace: Kolinko, Mullins, Popovic, Symons, Fleming, Riihilahti, Gray (Rodger 85), Granville, Freedman, Benjamin (Smith 45), Morrison.

Subs not used: Hopkin, Kirovski, Clarke.

Bookings: Mullins, Smith.

Goals: Morrison 3, 65, Freedman 87.

Gillingham: Bartram, Hope, Ashby, Smith, Nosworthy, Shaw, Browning (Gooden 74), Osborn, King, Onuora (Ipoua 51), Perpetuini (Patterson, 80).

Subs not used: Butters, Saunders.

Goal: Onuora 29.