Notts County v Gillingham preview from manager Mark Bonner ahead of League 2 match at Meadow Lane on Saturday
05:00, 20 September 2024
updated: 07:20, 20 September 2024
Gillingham boss Mark Bonner isn’t getting caught up in top-of-the-table talk ahead of their trip to Notts County.
With six games played, there’s plenty of time for life at the top of League 2 to change. Notts lead the way ahead of this weekend with the Gills in second spot.
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Bonner said: “This will be another good challenge for us. Our job is to make sure it's a real challenge for them as well.
“What we have to go after is a really high-performance level and where it ranks in the other games that we've played, who knows? We won't know until afterwards.
“All I do know is, like the other ones, it will be a really challenging game and in order to win it, we'll have to be excellent.
“It's two good teams having a go at each other six games into a season. So, with 40 games to go, forgive me for not getting too excited behind the league table!
“It’s two form teams. I think they've won four on the bounce (and their) home form's been good.
“What we know about the place is a wonderful stadium, the pitch is in immaculate condition. I think it’s the best in the league.
“I'm expecting there'll probably be 11,000 at the game. It'll be a brilliant atmosphere. We'll be really well followed. Two good teams. They've got bags of talent in theirs and are confident.
“We're in a confident place ourselves.”
The Gills head to Nottingham off the back of a 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
It’s three wins from three for the Gills at home.
Away from home goals and points have been harder to find, with a 1-0 win at Morecambe followed by a scoreless draw at Fleetwood and a solitary-goal defeat at Doncaster.
“It’s a good test for us,” said Bonner. “A good marker for us, a good challenge for us away from home in what's been a tough start in terms of opposition.
“It's set up to be a really good game and it's certainly one of those games you should be looking forward to and excited so early on in the season, when there's less consequence now than if it was game 40, potentially.
“But at the same time, I think it'll be a really good, challenging game and one to look forward to.”
League 2 table
The Gills are set to be backed by around 1,000 fans at Meadow Lane.
Bonner said: “The distance dictates a little bit how many you get there. But I think that number's exceptional.
“They had a brilliant away day there last season (watching Gills win 3-1). We've got to try and give them another one.
“I'm not surprised that there's really good numbers. We've got good support and I know that will continue to build, as I've said from the start.
“We're really looking forward to what will be a challenging afternoon and these are the games you don't require motivating players for.
“You know what the test is, you know what the challenge is, you know what the opportunity is and we want to continue the good form we're on ourselves.”
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