Gillingham are up against Bradford City this Saturday and their in-form striker Andy Cook – Manager Mark Bonner looks ahead to the game at Valley Parade

Stopping the League 2’s most potent finisher will be key to Gillingham bringing home something from their trip to Bradford City this Saturday.

Bradford’s experienced striker Andy Cook, who turned 34 today, has a habit of scoring against the Gills, with seven goals in the six matches he faced against them. On a games-per-goal ratio, he loves facing Gillingham more than anyone.

Cook scored against the Gills in his last two games at Priestfield and netted twice in a 2-2 draw at Valley Parade in April 2023.

On a rare off day, he hit a blank at home for the Yorkshire side last season and manager Mark Bonner will be hoping his team can keep him quiet again.

Bonner said: “Andy Cook has been brilliant in the box and got off to a great start in his goalscoring this season.

“They've got some good experience in their team as well, some good signs about them, good experience, good power. I think it makes for a really good game.”

Cook’s got seven league goals this term and two more in cup competitions. The Gills manager knows they have to keep him away from the ball as much as possible.

He said: “He's just excellent on crosses so you have to try and stop the supply to him and to try and get control of him in the box.

“Even when you get control of him, a goal he scored against Newport which was on Sky on a Monday night a couple of weeks ago, he holds everybody off and scores a header that's from behind him, to loop it over in the top corner, so even under contact he's difficult.

“He's certainly started the season flying and if you're a striker now and you're sitting on the seven goals he's got you're fairly happy. We'll have to defend really well against him”

Andy. Cook. Scores. Goals.

Only Erling Haaland has scored more than the