Gills can take play-off points at embattled Chester

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 29 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ian Lamont believes Gillingham can take advantage of Mark Wright's woes and recommends that at the current price you do too. Meanwhile, what will Peter do next? And can Dagenham continue to score for fun?

It is said in football that injuries and suspensions can blight a season and that when players become absent the real test of your squad begins.

At Chester, Mark Wright must be looking round and thinking "what squad?". The Cheshire club are far from smiling, with a transfer embargo on bringing in new players seemingly the tip of the iceberg of their troubles.

Last Saturday they had midfield to forward line link man Kevin Ellison playing in defence, such were their shortages with James Vaughan and Lawrence Wilson suspended. Ellison's long stride would have been missed up front and it is no wonder Wright has told suitors to keep away from him and Ryan Lowe in the transfer window. Chester would be sitting ducks without them. Then on Tuesday they were without injured Damien Mozika and Wilson returned but was one of two sent off, meaning more suspensions.

Wright slated Wilson and even called on keeper Jon Danby to "grow up" and "know his team-mates" because he had not come out to collect a ball and that led to a goal. Next season, it seems, cannot come soon enough for this unhappy ship, of which Gillingham can take full advantage of at [2.4].

A last-minute defeat at home to Lincoln can be taken as a blip in league results since the turn of the year, when the Gills have taken nine points from a possible 12, winning twice away, at Morecambe and Port Vale. The boo boys intent on making manager Mark Stimson's life a misery might like to note that, unlike some teams, the Kent club have not slipped out of a tight race for the play-offs, or even automatic promotion. Where better for a pretty settled line-up to continue that challenge than at a club in disarray?

If there is another side that needs to pick up after dropping points it is Wycombe. Two defeats and a draw out of three is a trend that cannot be allowed to continue if they want to head off the title challenges of Brentford and Bury. Chris Casement's call up for the Northern Ireland U21s is the sort of tonic that can help the on loan defender cajole more out of the team. Boss Peter Taylor says he has been promised some of the fee Watford paid for centre-back Mike Williamson to strengthen.

I know people who just don't trust Taylor to produce and I'll admit it is now a case of seeing "what Peter does next", but if his reputation stands up then he should be able to inspire his charges to victory over Accrington. John Coleman's side have one of the worst away records. They have drawn four out of their last seven winless trips on the road and Wycombe's attack, inspired by Chris Zebrowski on the wing, ought to be too much for them at [1.7].

Barnet appear to have reverted to type somewhat since a victory at Bournemouth in Paul Fairclough's final game in charge of the team. They haven't won since. But to be fair they have drawn three out of four, two of them at home against the division's better teams in Shrewsbury (whose away wins ratio is too small for automatic promotion) and Dagenham.

Paul Tisdale's Exeter will be glad to get back to St James's Park to regroup after one win in seven games and playing a team near the bottom offers them a great opportunity, after their previous two home games reaped a draw and a defeat against high-flying Bury and Brentford. Those who like risking big-price lays might take on Barnet at [5.5] to cover the draw, but Exeter should be able to take all three points and reward backers at [1.68].

Darlington are an interesting proposition of late and I make the [3.1] or so offered about them winning at Dagenham a big price. Dave Penney's outfit have won three out of the past four - the slip up coming at Shrewsbury, who have the division's best home record by a mile, propelled by those with 10 wins. There is plenty of competition for striking berths at the Quakers, with Danny Carlton now vying to keep Liam Hatch, who was out with a hamstring injury recently, off the starting team sheet alongside Pawel Abbott, just as Hatch was enjoying good form. This is a bit of a risky bet against a Dagenham side who like scoring for fun, so the run for your money on Saturday afternoon should not be a dull affair.

Recommendations
Gillingham [2.4]
Wycombe at [1.7]
Exeter at [1.68]
Darlington at [3.1]