The Football League's bottom two Divisions took a break from league duties last weekend and concentrated on the first round of the FA Cup. Sheffield United made a safe passage into the second round after beating Colchester United by three goals top two - 'Chris Porter's late penalty sent Sheffield United through to the second round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 win, despite a stirring second-half comeback by Colchester. The Blades struck twice in the space of two early first-half minutes.
Harry Maguire headed Tony McMahon's free-kick into the far corner of the net, in the 10th minute and the Blades doubled their lead when Porter closed down Magnus Okuonghae's attempted pass and delivered a cross-shot which flicked in off Tom Eastman, despite keeper Sam Walker's attempts to keep it out. Matt Hill struck the crossbar for the visitors and Sheffield United were the better side in the first half.
But Colchester reduced the deficit three minutes after the break when Macauley Bonne headed in after Clinton Morrison had flicked on Luke Garbutt's delivery. And Garbutt drove in a superb low shot from 25 yards from Brian Wilson's throw to equalise just after the hour. But after Okuonghae was adjudged to have handled Maguire's header in the area, Porter netted from the spot to send the Blades through.'
New Blades boss Nigel Clough is likely to be without midfielder Callum McFadzean (ankle) through injury. However he is without Febian Brandy whose red card at Shrewsbury on 2 November was his second of the season after he was dismissed at home to MK Dons on 31 August and will now serve a four match ban. He will miss the fixtures against; Colchester United (a - fac), Gillingham (h), former club Walsall (h) and Bristol City (a) and be available for selection for the away trip to Leyton Orient.
Sheffield United currently has two former Gills on their books; Febian Brandy (suspended) and Marlon King who is likely to start on the substitute’s bench. Brandy joined the Priestfield Stadium club on loan from Manchester United in November 2009 and remained their throughout the course of the season. He scored on his debut in a 3-0 home win over Southend United in the FA Cup and left the club in July 2010 having made just 7 (+2) and scored two goals.
King spent three years at Gillingham having signed from Barnet in June 2000 for £255,000. He made his debut in a 3-1 home defeat to Stockport County and scored his first goal in November at the Hawthorns by the same score. In April that season he scored twice as the Gills beat the Blades 4-2 at home. In November 2003 he joined Nottingham Forest for £950,000 having made 93 (+23) appearances and scored 47 goals. His time at Gillingham was hampered by his off the field activities; in May 2002 he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for receiving stolen goods.
Gillingham are currently 18th in League One and just three points ahead of Sheffield United after they beat Carlisle United by a single goal in their last league fixture. Recently the Gills have seen a change in management with Peter Taylor replacing Martin Allen and the currently England U-20 boss was in charge to see his side narrowly avoid defeat in the FA Cup to non-leaguers Brackley Town but had to settle for a last ditch equaliser and a replay. 'Bradley Dack's volley in the seventh minute of injury time rescued a 1-1 draw for Gillingham and denied Conference North side Brackley a famous scalp as they came within seconds of securing a place in the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Substitute Dack latched onto Adebayo Akinfenwa's header to fire past experienced goalkeeper Billy Turley to earn the League One strugglers a replay. Town looked on course to knock out their hosts after Joe Martin's 69th-minute own goal. Despite sitting 57 positions below Gills in the league pyramid, the Northamptonshire side nearly went ahead after just four minutes as leading scorer Steve Diggin hit the crossbar with a volley. Midfielder Steve Towers was then denied by Gills keeper Stuart Nelson after 15 minutes.
At the other end, Curtis McDonald saw his goal-bound shot deflected over by Martin shortly after half-time. The hosts failed to produce a shot on target in the first half, although in-form striker Danny Kedwell should have done better as he blazed over just before the break. Town's hero of the last round Turley then kept his side in the game with two key saves to deny Weston and Dack but the latter kept going and fired home in injury time to break Brackley hearts.'
The Gills should see on loan Charlton Athletic midfielder Danny Hollands return to the starting line-up after he was refused permission to play in the cup by his parent club whilst striker Adebayo Akinfenwa will be pushing for a starting place after recovering from an illness - midfielder Amine Linganzi (hamstring) is sidelined through injury.
Elsewhere centre-half Leon Legge is available for selection after serving a one match ban whilst Charlie Lee will serve a one match ban against the Blades after picking up five cautions for the season.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Gillingham 0