Evans confident Cobblers will stay up as he hails Curle for 'working wonders'

Gillingham manager Steve Evans has hailed counterpart Keith Curle for 'working wonders' at the Cobblers ahead of tonight's Sky Bet League One fixture at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Curle has come under pressure in recent weeks following four successive defeats, a desperate run of form which has dropped Town into the relegation zone. However, Evans is full of praise for his opposite number going into tonight's clash.

“Keith Curle has worked wonders," he said. "He gets brilliant support from a brilliant chairman and he delivers. He got them promoted and they have started this season incredibly well. I personally think that they will be fine and the minimum place they should be is in League One.

“Northampton are organised and very efficient under Keith. We will go there and work extremely hard, hopefully just as hard as the opposition, and if we do, we can get a result.”

Like Northampton, Gillingham were also without a game on Boxing Day and have had a 10-day break since they last played.

“Northampton are a direct and physical side," Evans continued. "We will have to look at our shape and system for this game to try and get the win. We have had a good look at what Northampton are all about; myself and Paul Raynor have studied them to a lengthy degree.

“We have been analysing their players for the last couple of days. They have very good wide players. They have Danny Rose who was absolutely tremendous for me at Mansfield. They have quality all over the pitch and are strong throughout.”

Striker Vadaine Oliver is fully fit for tonight's reunion with his old club.

“We had a chance to come in and train and the boys have trained well," Evans added. "We are looking forward to this game.

“We have got Vadaine Oliver one hundred percent fit now. He was running about yesterday in training and really impressed. Jordan Graham also has a chance of being available and may play at some stage.”