Match Preview: Pompey v Bristol City All you need to know ahead of final pre-season friendly It is just shy of three months since Fratton Park last hosted a Pompey game. But the stadium will open its doors once more on Saturday for a pre-season friendly against Bristol City (3pm kick-off). It provides a final opportunity for fans to see the players in action before the League One fun beings with a visit from Bristol Rovers a week later. The game provides a step up in opposition after a series of tests against local non-league sides, as well as fourth tier outfits Crawley and AFC Wimbledon. Nigel Pearson’s side finished 14th in the Championship last term – 10 points adrift of the play-off spots and 15 clear of the bottom three. Included in their ranks is Kal Naismith, who was Pompey’s top scorer when they dramatically secured the 2016/17 League Two title, while Ross McCrorie and Cam Pring previously had loan spells with the club. Meanwhile, Bristol City offered the use of Marlee Francois to help make up the numbers during a friendly at the Robins’ base a couple of years ago – and he promptly grabbed a late equaliser for the Blues. The last competitive contest between the sides took place at Ashton Gate in January 2021 and resulted in a 2-1 win for the hosts. You have to go back to September 2010 to find the most recent Pompey win, with John Utaka, Aaron Mokoena and Hayden Mullins scoring in a 3-1 Championship victory at Fratton Park. A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off to remember Tony Priscott, who sadly passed away earlier this month. TEAM NEWS There are 12 summer signings who could make their Fratton Park bow, with Terry Devlin, Abu Kamara, Will Norris, Regan Poole, Christian Saydee, Ryan Schofield, Anthony Scully, Jack Sparkes, Ben Stevenson, Connor Shaughnessy, Gavin Whyte and Kusini Yengi all hoping to feature. Colby Bishop and Sean Raggett will be hoping to feature after missing Tuesday’s game at AFC Wimbledon as a precaution, while Pompey are assessing Paddy Lane, who limped off towards the end of that game. HEAD TO HEAD* Overall Pompey: 14 wins Bristol City: 22 wins 18 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 9 wins Bristol City: 7 wins 11 draws *Competitive matches only TICKETS Pompey fans can purchase tickets in the North and South Stands for this fixture. Buy online here today to book your place at Fratton Park, with prices increasing (except for juniors) if bought on the day of the game. Please note that the Fanzone will not be in operation for this game and no programme has been produced. These will both return when the League One season resumes on August 5. Strike action will impact train services on Saturday, so please check before you travel. OFFICIALS Referee: Sunny Gill Assistants: Michael Webb and Dean Treleaven Fourth Official: Alex Blake MATCH COVERAGE Supporters at home and abroad can watch the game live by purchasing an iFollow match pass for just £5. Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device. We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story. https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news...-for-portsmouth-vs-bristol-city-on-29-jul-23/
Last pre - season game, 7 days until the season starts, it's all about to start again, have we improved, have we gelled, has Nige decided on his selections and style of play,all will be revealed soon..
Portsmouth vs Bristol City live: Updates from final pre-season friendly at Fratton Park Bristol City travel to the South Coast to take on League One Portsmouth for their final friendly of the summer https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-bristol-city-live-updates-8634704
How City line up at Pompey The teamsheet is out, Vyner and Conway recover from knocks, with the latter on the bench, as Wells leads the forward line. Conway is joined among the substitutes by Weimann who is also fit enough for the bench. Still no McCrorie and Naismith, as expected.
Ball in the net... but ruled out for offside Bristol City have the ball in the net... but its rule our for offisde! A lovely move as City wide man is found free on the left, pass acorss the box is turned in but linesman has his flag up!
Off the post! Inswinging ball from a free kick 35 yards out from Scott, Wells gets on the end of it but his header hits the keeper's left hand post and goes out for a goal kick.
Cornick denied lovely goal Great play from Harry Cornick, flicked the ball over his hand turned and let off a low shot from outside the box which is saved by Norris down to his left.
Pring wants a pen A nice one-two between Pring and Knight down the left, Pring is bundled to the floor in the box but ref signals for a corner, to the dis-belief of the the City left-back.
Bell blazes over Great play from Jason Knight, wins the ball back in his own half, drives towards the box on the counter, picks out Sam Bell coming in off the left, takes a touch but then blazes it over the bar
Tin man recons we’ve played brilliant, I’m not as convinced.. Not sure their keeper’s had that many saves to make.. lots of possession without any conviction imo
Thoughts on the first half Nigel Pearson will have liked what he saw from his players in that opening 45 minutes. City dominated Pompey in the first-half with some slick passing, the Robins looking strong in possession and not giving their hosts a sniff at the other end. The only thing missing is a goal. Nahki Wells may be disappointed he couldn't quite steer his header in, which hit the post from a free-kick, but he couldn't get quite enough on it. Sam Bell was a thorn in the side of Portsmouth's defence throughout, linking up with Cam Pring and Jason Knight down the left hand side, and of course he had the ball in the net only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. Rob Dickie also seems to have added another element to City's play with his strong passing abilities to get the City up and running out on the counter attack. Will be interesting to see if Pearson decides to make any tweaks or wait until the hour mark to ring the changes.
This was an issue for us a lot last season. It’s only ore-season, so I’m not getting carried away by good or bad, but it is something to keep an eye on.
Sub - Haydon Roberts on Looks like Nigel Pearson has made one change at the break, bringing on Haydon Roberts for Cam Pring at left-back
Seven changes for City at the break More changes than I thought, as Matty James, Anis Mehmeti, Joe Williams, Mark Sykes and Andi Weimann are among seven replacements
