Pompey welcome Barnsley to Fratton Park this weekend for a clash between two sides chasing promotion to the Championship. The visitors are trying to get back there at the first attempt after suffering relegation on the final day of last term. They are doing a good job of achieving that under Daniel Stendel – who took charge over the summer – and have not been beaten in 13 league games. It has seen them rise up to second in the table, four points clear of Sunderland in third position and five ahead of the Blues. The Tykes have a better record at Oakwell, but still managed to secure eight league victories on the road this season. Their most recent away fixture resulted in a convincing 4-1 triumph at Gillingham a fortnight ago, the same result achieved at AFC Wimbledon last month. Gareth Evans was on target when the sides played out a 1-1 stalemate up north just before Christmas. You have to go back to 2011 to find the last meeting at Fratton Park, with David Norris and Luke Varney on target in a 2-0 victory. TEAM NEWS Andy Cannon (quad), Nathan Thompson (knee) and Jack Whatmough (knee) are all still sidelined for Pompey. Luke McGee has returned to full training following a wrist injury, but Lloyd Isgrove cannot feature against his parent club. Barnsley will be without top scorer Kieffer Moore, who has been suffering from concussion, while there is a doubt over Ben Williams (knee). HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 21 wins Barnsley: 18 wins 13 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 14 wins Barnsley: 5 wins 6 draws TICKETS Seats have sold out in the home sections of the ground and supporters are advised to see if any are available via the ticket exchange. BETTING Barnsley are the 6/4 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 17/10.
The past two months have confirmed that there are better footballing teams in this división than PFC. Whilst I am disappointed that automatic promotion has disappeared over the horizon there is still a lot to play for. What the players and manager need to do is refocus and try and finish 4th. 3rd is awful if you end a point or two behind the second placed team and a long way in front of the other play-off contenders. I will enjoy the play-offs even if it ends in elimination before the final. After years of struggle, it is good to see PFC competing at the business end of the table again.
I wasn't going to come on here Ides, as there wasn't a matchday thread today, but can confirm that today's game was very entertaining, end to end stuff, with all our players performing well. Shame that Omar Bogle's penalty was well saved by their keeper, as thought we deserved the three points, but Barnsley are an excellent team who hopefully will secure automatic promotion along with Luton Town. We must concentrate on the playoffs. Christian Burgess was deservedly named man of the match. We play away to Bury this coming Tuesday night in the Checkatrade Trophy, with the winners meeting either Sunderland or Bristol Rovers in the Wembley final end of March.
As It Stands:- ..Team .............P GD Pts 1 Luton ..........33 38 71 2 Barnsley .....34 31 67 3 Sunderland 33 27 65 4 Portsmouth 34 19 62 5 Charlton .....34 16 59 6 Doncaster ...32 19 54 7 Peterborough 34 6 52 8 Fleetwood 34 9 48 9 Blackpool 33 5 48 10 Coventry 33 -1 46
