Pompey will be looking to rediscover the form that took them to the League One summit when they host Leyton Orient on Saturday (3pm kick-off). John Mousinho’s have won just one of their past five games to see the gap to the chasing pack shrink. The side trying to stop them from getting back on track are the reigning League Two champions, who are currently sitting comfortably in 12th position. It took a while for the Londoners to adapt to life at a higher level, as they took a single point from the opening four games. But they have improved under Richie Wellens since then and are a comfortable nine points clear of the drop zone. He brings the side to the south coast on the back of a 2-0 victory at Cambridge in their last outing on New Year’s Day. Goals from Jordan Brown and Dan Agyei early in the second half ensured Orient started 2024 on a positive note. Pompey won 4-0 when the sides met in the reverse fixture back in August, while they also triumphed 2-1 in a Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage fixture. But you have to go back to the 2016/17 title-winning campaign to find the last clash at Fratton Park, when Conor Chaplin’s brace saw the hosts collect all three points. TEAM NEWS Manchester City loanee Alex Robertson is likely to miss the rest of the season after tearing his hamstring. Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Connor Ogilvie (ankle), Regan Poole (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) also remain sidelined. And Kusini Yengi is currently unavailable after joining up with the Australia squad for the AFC Asian Cup. Leyton Orient can no longer call upon the services of Brandon Cooper, who has returned to parent club Swansea, but former Fratton loanee Joe Pigott could feature. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 19 wins Leyton Orient: 13 wins 13 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 10 wins Leyton Orient: 5 wins 7 draws TICKETS Seats have sold out in the home areas of the ground, including those that were made available in the Milton End, but keep checking until 11.59pm this evening to see if any are available via the ticket exchange. If you are coming to the game, click here to read our matchday guide and find out what is happening around the ground. OFFICIALS Referee: Benjamin Speedie Assistants: Leigh Crowhurst and Scott Williams Fourth Official: Michael Webb MATCH COVERAGE Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 2pm on Saturday. Overseas subscribers and match pass holders can watch all the action live, with four-camera coverage, replays and accompanying commentary. 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 key updates throughout the game on Twitter and a detailed blog via the match centre. There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Sunday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online).
Leyton Orient Starting Line Up:- 1 Solomon Brynn GK 22 Ethan Galbraith DF 2 Tom James DF 19 Omar Beckles (C) DF 5 Daniel Happe DF 15 Idris El Mizouni MF 17 Shaqai Forde MF 8 Jordan Brown MF 23 Max Sanders MF 11 Theo Archibald MF 7 Daniel Agyei FW Substitutes: 27 Rhys Byrne SUB 3 Jayden Sweeney SUB 4 Ed Turns SUB 14 George Moncur SUB 18 Darren Pratley SUB 9 Joe Pigott SUB 10 Ruel Sotiriou SUB
A long throw from Marlon Pack goes all the way through to Abu Kamara, who sends a header looping just over the bar. 3 minutes.
Another long throw from Marlon Pack is met by Conor Shaughnessy in the box and his header is saved by Brynn. 7 minutes.
0-2 now with a goal from Brown. 35 minutes. Pompey fail to defend the corner and Happe's shot hits the backside of Brown and ricochets into the net
Penalty to Pompey. Jack Sparkes is scythed down by Forde inside the box and the referee points to the spot. 39 minutes.
Joe Rafferty booked for a foul on Agyei. 41 minutes. I wonder why Forde wasn't booked for the foul in the box on Sparkes ?!
Paddy Lane whips in a cross towards the near post and Colby Bishop glances a header just past the post. 43 minutes.
Half time whistle. 0-3 to Leyton Orient. It's all going "Pete Tong" at the moment The second half can only get better..........surely?..................It can, can't it?...........
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .............Away Team: Leyton Orient Possession: Home 60% Away 40 Shots: Home 8 Away 10 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 5 Corners: Home 2 Away 6 Fouls: Home 3 Away 3
Second half kicks off. Pompey subs are Terry Devlin and Tom Lowery on for Christian Saydee and Jack Sparkes.
