It is approaching nine months since Pompey fans were last allowed to attend a game at Fratton Park. But there will be 2,000 spread out across the Fratton End, North Stand and Milton End for Saturday’s clash with Peterborough. And those lucky enough to be able to attend will be witnessing a clash between two of the division’s entertainers. No side in League One has netted more than Pompey’s haul of 26 goals, while Peterborough are a couple behind on 24. But both sides come into the contest on the back of midweek defeats, with Kenny Jackett’s side losing an uneventful contest at Blackpool and their next opponents beaten at AFC Wimbledon. And despite Posh’s position of third in the table, they are currently on a poor run of form, having lost three of their past four league games. Also included in that run was one of the shocks of the FA Cup second round, as sixth tier Chorley were 2-1 victors at London Road last weekend. Darren Ferguson’s men may still feel a sense of injustice about how the 2019/20 campaign ended, with Wycombe pushing them out of the play-offs when the standings were adjusted for points per game. They took four points against the Blues last term, with Lee Brown and Ellis Harrison on target for the hosts in a 2-2 draw at Fratton Park. TEAM NEWS Michael Jacobs (knee) is the only player currently missing for Pompey, but the midfielder is expected to return to training soon. Dan Butler is sidelined for the visitors with a calf problem, although fellow former Fratton full-back Nathan Thompson is expected to feature. Peterborough will also be without Ricky-Jade Jones (leg) and Joe Ward (knee), but leading marksman Jonson Clarke-Harris returned to the side in midweek. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 11 wins Peterborough: 9 wins 9 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 7 wins Peterborough: 6 wins 3 draws MATCHDAY INFO A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off in memory of Papa Bouba Diop, who sadly passed away last week. Supporters attending the game are expected to adhere to the new Code of Conduct. A programme will be available to buy for £3.50 and is also available from the Anson Road shop. You can also buy copies online here. OFFICIALS Referee: Peter Wright Assistants: Mark Derrien and Steven Plane Fourth Official: Justin Amey BETTING Pompey are the 6/5 favourites with Sky Bet to secure the victory, while the visitors can be backed at 2/1.
Peterborough United starting XI: Christy Pym; Nathan Thompson, Mark Beevers, Frankie Kent, Frazer Blakey-Tracy; Jack Taylor, Louis Reed; Ryan Broom, Sammie Szmodics, Siriki Dembele; Jonson Clarke-Harris Substitutes: Daniel Gyollai, Niall Mason, Reece Brown, Mo Eisa, Ryan Broom, Flynn Clarke, Idris Kanu
I have just returned home after a hike. I go to the BBC webpage for the results. Very happy with the outcome. Who was the player in the "hole" today?
What a match !! Lovely 2-0 home win for Pompey, with goals from Jack Whatmough with a superb header from a free kick by Lee Brown, in the 61st minute, then a magnificent volley from outside the box, into the top left hand corner of the net by skipper Tom Naylor in the 75th minute. Excellent all round performance. Ex-Pompey right back Nathan Thompson was his usual self, with a running battle between him and Ronan Curtis, with Ronan winning the tussle, culminating in Thompson being booked for a shocking challenge on our player, and then seconds later avoiding another yellow for another bad foul on Curtis. Thompson was then substituted before he was sent off ! We have leapfrogged Peterborough in the table. Now up to 4th place. A thoroughly good day at the office.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ...............Away Team: Peterborough Possession: Home 50% Away 50% Shots: Home 12 Away 7 Shots on Target: Home 3 Away 2 Corners: Home 8 Away 5 Fouls: Home 21 Away 8
As It Stands:- ...Team ............P GD Pts 1 Hull .............15 15 34 2 Lincoln City 15 10 32 3 Ipswich .......16.. 5 29 4 Portsmouth 16 13 28 5 Peterborough 16 7 28 6 Charlton .....15 6 27 7 Accrington 13 ..5 .26 8 Doncaster ..14 ,,9 .24 9 Sunderland 15 ..5 .24 10 Fleetwood 16 ..9 .23
Wonderful Portsmouth win, w00t. Was nice to be up to 3rd temporarily. Although I don't regularly attend the Park due to the distance I live from there and the time it takes to get there by train, this is the longest it has been since I've attended a match since I was at secondary school and didn't have my own means (and even then I think I attended a few matches with my sister). With a 2000 attendance, I, and anyone who isn't a season ticket holder, has no chance of getting down to the Park, though I would love to one day... I might have to resort to non-league in the meantime.
So we have beaten 3 of the teams around us in the bid for promotion, A 75% success rate against teams in the top 10 would surely be enough to ensure promotion at the end of the season!!!!
The overall performance today was excellent, with some clinical finishing. I really hope we can maintain this standard of performance for the remainder of the season.
I have generally watched game replays on ifollow since I do not have the energy to get up in the middle of the night to see games live. knowing the result before watching does of course dull the excitement. Last week I was away for a few days so on Sunday I found myself with both the Blackpool game and Peterbough games to watch. Having read the reports it was tempting to skip the Blackpool game but I thought I should do my penance by watching the Blackpool game first and it was interesting to contrast the two games after watching them in close succession. It is tempting to say that the Blackpool game was just an off day but with essentially the same selected Pompey side in both games perhaps the difference in the games was down to the difference in the opposition. Although the Blackpool side had fast wingers ( and ,as the ifollow commentary pointed out this caused the Pompey full backs to sit deeper) to me the main difference was in the pace of the two games. Blackpool appeared to be able to control the mid field and slow the game. This did not suit Pompey. In the Peterbough game neither side was dominant in mid field and the game was more end to end and played at a faster pace which suited the more pacey Pompey players - Williams and Curtis in particular. Pompey did not create many clear cut chances in either game but got more dangerous balls into the box against Peterbough. It was notable though that the two (excellent) Pompey goals did not come from the strike forwards - a point that that would have been highlighted more had the game been drawn or lost. A further difference was that Williams played in the No 10 role against Peterbough and did well.. Marquis is not a good 'line leader' but - prior to these two fixtures has had a consistent scoring record that cannot be ignored. Harrison is a better line leader but has a poorer scoring record. If both are picked one of our pacer players - Harness, Curtis and Williams - must drop out. Harness is a must to include. Williams has a more consistent presence in a game than Curtis but scores less. Curtis fades out of the game for long spells but has more goal scoring potential. Jacobs will shortly be added to this mix. So when playing against sides that control the mid field more ( Blackpool) having the three pacer players in the side may not be the answer but against oppositions that we are matching in mid field they are likely to thrive. It is difficult to identify the how the mid field will play out before the game. Perhaps the new substitution laws will allow this to be diagnosed during the early stages of the game and appropriate early substitutions be made.
