Preview: Notts County vs. Gillingham - prediction, team news, lineups

The Magpies are currently sitting in seventh place in the League Two table, while the visitors are one point further back in 10th position.

Match preview

After taking over from Luke Williams in January, Maynard has taken one point from his opening two games in charge of the Magpies.

Maynard began his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Barrow, before he saw his side fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat in last Saturday's away meeting with Mansfield Town.

While the Magpies may still occupy a place in the top seven, they have now failed to win any of their last four matches since thrashing Morecambe 5-0 at the end of December.

However, they can at least take confidence from the fact they have picked up seven points from their previous three home games.

The hosts have the chance to complete a league double over Gillingham after claiming a narrow 2-1 victory in October's reverse fixture.

After claiming three consecutive league victories, the Gills have gone on to take just two points from their last three games.

In their most recent outing against Walsall, Gillingham defender Conor Masterson netted a 77th-minute equaliser to cancel out Isaac Hutchinson's penalty.

While the Gills are firmly in the playoff race, they will need to improve in the final third if they are to secure a top-seven finish, with their 26-goal league tally the lowest of any team in the fourth tier.

They have at least proven to be a resolute force at the opposite end of the pitch, conceding just 35 league goals to leave them with the fifth-best defensive record.

The first goal could be crucial to Gillingham's hopes of claiming all three points on Friday, having won all five away league matches where they have opened the scoring this season.

Notts County League Two form:

W

W

L

D

D

L

Gillingham League Two form:

W

W

W

D

L

D

Gillingham form (all competitions):

W

L

W

D

L

D

Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the service of Geraldo Bajrami, Cedwyn Scott, Matt Palmer, Adam Chicksen and Junior Morias.

Jaden Warner made his debut against Mansfield last weekend, and the Norwich City loanee is set to retain his place alongside Aiden Baldwin and Kyle Cameron.

Charlie Colkett is expected to feature in the matchday squad after joining on loan from Crewe Alexandra at the end of the transfer window.

As for the visitors, midfielder Dom Jefferies will miss a second straight match after he picked up a thigh injury in training.

Gillingham are also expected to be without the services of deadline-day signing Josh Andrews, who is currently recovering from a hip problem.

Watford loanee Jorge Cabezas Hurtado is in contention to start after coming off the bench to make his Gillingham debut last weekend.

Notts County possible starting lineup:

Stone; Cameron, Baldwin, Warner; Nemane, Crowley, Bostock, Robertson, Jones; Langstaff, McGoldrick

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Turner; Hutton, Ehmer, Masterson, Ogie, Malone; Mahoney, Coleman, Lapslie; Cabrezas Hurtado, Hawkins

We say: Notts County 2-2 Gillingham

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