Striker boost for Gills ahead of Villa clash

GILLINGHAM manager Mark Stimson has admitted his League Two side could be thrashed by Premier League Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Speaking about the sold-out KRBS Priestfield Stadium clash, which kick's off at 1:30pm, Stimson told BBC Radio Kent, “If they play to their potential, we could be looking at seven or 8-0 quite easily.

"You're talking about top international players, let alone Premiership players.

"But will they all play? Will they all click at the same time? Hopefully they don't and we do. If that's the case we could surprise a few people."

With the League Two side set to receive £250,000 in television rights and ticket sales from Sunday's game, Stimson said the Medway club will be proud regardless of the result.

"Whatever happens it's helped the club massively financially. You just wouldn't believe what it's done for this football club," he said.

"It was very important at the beginning of the year that we did better than we did last year in the FA Cup. We've done that.

"If you take the big four away, Aston Villa is the most talked about team in the country at the moment. And rightly so because they've got a young team who have achieved a lot with a fantastic manager.

"He[Martin O'Neill] is someone I have got a lot of time for because he started off where I started off and that's what I'm looking to do one day - compete at the highest level.

"He's done it, he's been through it, so it is possible."

Meanwhile, forward Andy Barcham today put pen to paper on a permanent contract that will keep him at the club for the remainder of the season.

The five-goal striker signs from Tottenham Hotspur following the expiry of his loan agreement on Boxing Day and will be eligible to play against an Aston Villa side that are currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table - with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United above them in the table.

Visit Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com

Visit BBC Radio Kent’s website: www.bbc.co.uk/kent
(You can listen to this match on BBC Radio Kent on Sunday - 96.7fm or 104.2fm.)