Oxford are the only side that Pompey have not yet faced in League One this season, but that changes at the Kassam Stadium this evening (7.45pm kick-off). This fixture was originally supposed to take place in November, only to be postponed because of international call-ups. The Blues were, as now, sitting top of the table back then, while their next opponents were just a point behind in second position. Liam Manning had just departed to take charge at Bristol City, replaced by Des Buckingham, who had previously coached at the club earlier in his career. United have struggled for consistency since that change, however, and are currently sitting in seventh spot. They head into this fixture on the back of successive defeats to Barnsley and Bristol Rovers, leaving them eight points off the automatic promotion places. It will be the second time that Blues boss John Mousinho has returned to his former club, with Marlon Pack netting in a 1-1 draw last April. A close contest could be on the cards tonight, with all of the 11 most recent meetings between the sides either finishing all square or being won by a single goal. TEAM NEWS Callum Lang could make his debut after signing from Wigan, while Joe Rafferty has recovered from a neck injury and is available for selection. But experienced skipper Marlon Pack is a doubt after illness kept him out of Saturday’s victory at Port Vale. Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Regan Poole (knee), Alex Robertson (hamstring), Ben Stevenson (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) are all definitely sidelined. Joe Bennett (calf), Billy Bodin (Achilles), Marcus Browne (hamstring), Kyle Edwards (hamstring), Will Goodwin (quad), Sam Long (head) and Josh Murphy (hamstring) are expected to miss out for the hosts. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 27 wins Oxford: 24 wins 23 draws On the road Pompey: 9 wins Oxford: 19 wins 11 draws TICKETS Pompey have sold their full allocation for this game, so please do not travel to the ground if you do not have a ticket. There is industrial action on the railways today and services are limited, so please check before you travel. Click here to read a guide to visiting the Kassam Stadium that has been produced by the home club. MATCH COVERAGE Supporters at home and abroad can watch the contest live by purchasing an iFollow match pass and visiting the match centre. Domestic iFollow subscribers can also enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game. 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 Wednesday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online).
Oxford United Starting Line Up:- 1 Jamie Cumming GK 15 Finley Stevens DF 22 Greg Leigh DF 5 Elliott Moore (C) DF 3 Ciaron Brown DF 8 Cameron Brannagan MF 20 Rúben Rodrigues MF 18 Marcus McGuane MF 9 Mark Harris FW 19 Tyler Goodrham FW 16 Tyler Burey FW Substitutes: 13 Simon Eastwood 28 Stephan Negru 4 Jordan Thorniley 17 James Henry 6 Josh McEachran 14 Oisin Smyth 39 Gatlin O'Donkor
New signing Callum Lang is named on the Pompey bench tonight. Skipper Marlon Pack returns after illness. Joe Rafferty not quite yet match fit. Ex Pompey keeper Simon Eastwood named on Oxford's bench.
Final whistle. 2-2 draw. To my mind, I thought we deserved the 3 points, but we conceded in the 90th minute, so only 1 point instead of 3. Pompey goals from Colby Bishop with his 15th goal of the season, and new boy Callum Lang coming on as a second half sub and scoring a brilliant solo goal.
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Oxford Utd ..............Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 36% Away 64% Shots: Home 12 Away 17 Shots on Target: Home 4 Away 6 Corners: Home 6 Away 3 Fouls: Home 8 Away 9
Callum Lang came off the bench to score a dramatic debut goal, but it was not enough to secure victory for Pompey at Oxford. His late strike had turned the contest on its head after a scrappy Colby Bishop effort cancelled out Tyler Goodrham’s opener. But it was another substitute, James Henry, who had the final say with a 90th-minute leveller for the hosts. John Mousinho made one change from the side that had won on the road at Port Vale at the weekend. Marlon Pack missed that game through illness, but the skipper recovered to replace Tom Lowery in midfield. Lang was named on the bench, although fellow new arrival Tom McIntyre did not sign in time to feature. Pompey, as in recent weeks, controlled possession throughout the first half, but they struggled to convert that into many meaningful chances. In fact, neither goal was really tested for most of the opening period, as the contest struggled to get going. Not that there was any lack of commitment, with Connor Ogilvie and Joe Morrell both sliding in to win key challenges in the middle of the pitch. There was an opportunity for the visitors after Pack had sprayed a fine pass out to Terry Devlin on the right. He sent in a cross that Abu Kamara had to stoop to get his head to, with the ball flying narrowly wide of the post. But the Blues were forced to make a change when Morrell went down and limped from the pitch to be replaced by Lowery. Pompey continued to build patiently around the Oxford box, but they were just unable to fashion a opening. And it was their opponents who broke the deadlock just before break, as Marcus McGuane found Goodrham, who had time to advance and send a precise shot into the bottom corner. Half Time: Oxford 1 Pompey 0 United had already been forced to bring off defender Fin Stevens in the first half and they had to make another change at the break. Jamie Cumming had appeared in some discomfort and did not return, with former Pompey keeper Simon Eastwood replacing him. The visitors had an early chance to get back on level terms when Kamara met Paddy Lane’s fine cross, but he could only direct his header into Eastwood’s arms. Lowery then brought the ball down neatly outside the box and sent a shot dipping not too far over the bar. The midfielder was soon caught in possession to set up an Oxford attack, but Mark Harris’ pass to Tyler Burey was poor, allowing Ogilvie to make the block. Mousinho decided to freshen things up, with Lang brought on for Devlin to make his Blues bow just past the hour mark. Pompey continued to pass the ball around and were searching for gaps to exploit, with their opponents defending resolutely. But they did grab an equaliser on 69 minutes – and none of the away fans cared that it was an extremely scrappy affair. Kamara did well to skin Goodrham on the right and send a cross in towards Lang, whose touch led to an almighty scramble. Eastwood was unable to grab hold of the ball and BISHOP showed plenty of persistence to force it over the line. Goodrham soon tried to make amends by breaking up the pitch and finding Cameron Brannagan, whose shot deflected narrowly over off Kamara. The United winger was in the thick of it again, seeing penalty appeals waved away after hitting the turf under pressure from Conor Shaughnessy, with boss Des Buckingham booked for his protests. But the noisy Blue army were sent wild with delight on 80 minutes, thanks to a moment of magic from a new favourite. LANG collected a fine Pack pass into the box and held off challenges from both Greg Leigh and Brannagan before firing into the net. It looked like that would be enough to secure all three points, but United had other ideas and grabbed a late leveller. Will Norris did well to get down to a low Harris shot and make the save, only for Henry to get to the loose ball first and nod it home from close range. Both sides still sensed they could find a winner during five minutes of added time, but had to settle for a share of the spoils. Oxford (4-4-2): Cumming (Eastwood 46); Stevens (Smyth 43), Moore (c), Brown, Leigh; Burey (O’Donkor 69), McGuane (Henry 85), Brannagan, Goodrham; Rodrigues, Harris Goals: Goodrham 45, Henry 90 Subs not used: Negru, Thorniley, McEachran Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Devlin (Lang 62), Shaughnessy, Raggett, Ogilvie (Towler 86); Pack (c), Morrell (Lowery 34); Kamara, Peart-Harris, Lane; Bishop Goals: Bishop 69, Lang 80 Booked: Bishop, Peart-Harris Subs not used: Macey, Sparkes, Martin, Saydee
