Stat Attack: Notts County v Gillingham

Notts County's head-to-head record against Gillingham is historically pretty poor, winning 8 games, drawing 7 and losing 15 since our first fixture on 25th October 1930.

Fixtures between the two tend to come thick and fast for a certain period of time before ceasing to be for years on end; between 1985 and 1989 we played each other nine times, then no meeting for seven years, squaring up again in October 1996.

Since that league meeting (lost 1-0), another five games took place until March 2000, and then, nothing for eight years!

Our last victory over the Gills was the March 2000 game, where the only goal scored came from Ian Richardson; Notts heroes such as Darren Ward and Mark Stallard also played in that game!

For over 50 years, the record for the fastest hat-trick in the Football League belonged to Jimmy Scarth, who scored three goals in two minutes and 30 seconds against Leyton Orient, on the 1st November 1952.

Sadly in 2004, James Hayter of Bournemouth dispossessed Scarth of said record; he came on as an 84th minute substitute in their game against Wrexham, and scored three times in two minutes and 20 seconds!

Gillingham do however retain one record; having conceded the fewest goals in a 46-match season, when the team conceded only 20 goals during 1995–96.

Former Notts boss Martin Allen led the Gills to the League Two title last season, but a Notts reunion isn't on the cards, as he was surprisingly sacked after a seemingly poor start to the season.

The Gills could have radically changed the face of English football had they not lost against Manchester City in the 1998/99 Second Division play-off final. Had they won, City may have never recovered from a second year on the bounce in the third tier, by their own admission. And let's not forget Gillingham were leading 2-0 will less than two minutes left on the clock!

Instead, as things went, City were back up in the top tier within a few years, just in time to catch the eyes of some very wealthy people casually window shopping in the Premiership...

Shaun Derry says on-loan Callum Ball, Morgan Fox and Bradley Jordan are all in contention for starting places.

Striker Marcus Haber is suspended, while defender Mustapha Dumbuya and midfielder Joss Labadie are injured.

Gillingham are without John Mousinho and Elliott Hewitt, whose loan stints ended early because of injuries.

Charlie Allen has been recalled from his loan spell and Amine Linganzi is expected to be back on the bench.

Striker Danny Kedwell will be assessed following illness but midfielder Steven Gregory and forward Craig Fagan are out.

Former Notts alumni who could line up for the Gills today include Myles Weston and Stuart Nelson.