Pompey will look to blow the cobwebs off their play-off disappointment when they open the 2020/21 campaign on Saturday. Kenny Jackett takes his side up to Broadhall Way for a tie against Stevenage in the first round of the Carabao Cup. It looked like their opponents would not be featuring in this season’s competition, having finished bottom of League Two last term. However, a series of points deductions saw Macclesfield instead claim the unwanted sole relegation spot. It has been all change at Boro over the summer, with plenty of players coming and going to refresh the squad. Pompey slumped to a 3-0 defeat when they last made the visit to Hertfordshire back in March 2017, with Christian Burgess’ red card and a missed Conor Chaplin penalty adding to the misery. But that was the only defeat in a run of 12 games to conclude a campaign that saw the Blues dramatically claim the title on the final day. The first ever competitive meeting between the sides came in the EFL Cup back in the summer of 2010. Goals from Nadir Ciftci and Michael Brown ensured Steve Cotterill’s side triumphed 2-1 to reach the second round. TEAM NEWS Pompey will be without Ellis Harrison (calf) and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (knee), who have only just returned to training. Stevenage could hand out plenty of debuts, having brought in 12 new players over the summer, including the likes of Ben Coker, Luke Prosser and Romain Vincelot. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 3 wins Stevenage: 5 wins 2 draws At Broadhall Way Pompey: 2 wins Stevenage: 4 wins 0 draws OFFICIALS Referee: Sam Purkiss Assistants: Conor Farrell and Gregory Read Fourth Official: Andy Bennett BETTING Pompey are the 4/6 favourites with Sky Bet to secure victory after 90 minutes, while the hosts can be backed at 18/5.
Stevenage 1 Cumming 2 Wildin 5 Cuthbert 6 Prosser 3 Coker 8 Osborne 4 Vincelot (Sub:Newton) 7 Carter 17 List (Sub:Hutton) 9 Effiong 10 Marsh (Sub:Akinwande) Substitutes 11 Newton 12 Hutton 13 Johnson 20 Akinwande 22 Dinanga 23 Smith 24 Marshall
SAT 29 AUG 2020 - CARABAO CUP List (9'minutes), Carter (10'minutes), Cuthbert (29'minutes) FT: 3-3 Curtis (21'minutes), Evans (45'+2minutes pen), Marquis (51'minutes) Portsmouth win 3-1 on penalties 3 penalty kicks by Pompey - all scored by John Marquis, Ronan Curtis and Lee Brown. 4 penalty kicks by Stevenage - one scored by Inih Effiong, three saved by Craig MacGillivray from Danny Newton, Elliot Osborne and Ben Coker !!
In a way we were fortunate to win the match, as in the first half our defending was abysmal, with their three goals all down to mistakes by our defenders, especially by Sean Raggett ! At 3-1 down, we were awarded a penalty for a deliberate hand ball just on half-time. No booking or red card for their defender, and then whilst Gareth Evans was patiently waiting to take the penalty, to add injury to insult, not one, not two, but three of their players were standing in the penalty area refusing to leave, and the weak referee didn't book a single one of them. More like a pre-season friendly. Alex Bass was replaced at half time by Craig MacGillivary, and goodness knows what Kenny Jackett said to the players, but we came out to play in a very positive manner. John Marquis scored a lovely vollied goal in the 50th minute. Things must improve before the start of the league season. We definitely need a new centre half as there appeared to be no understanding between Sean Raggett and Paul Downing. To make matters worse, as my younger daughter was at our house, I paid out £10.00 for an 'ifollow' pass, only for the live coverage to "buffer" every 5 seconds. That's the last time I will bother with 'ifollow' if that is the poor coverage they provide !!
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Stevenage......... Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 33% Away 67% Shots: Home 9 Away 16 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 8 Corners: Home 5 Away 5 Fouls: Home 11 Away 10
Match Highlights:- https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...XGv8ysvaUwXkaI4NHoYmyMrzx62I8sQd5pQGtRbOGW5Cl
Beating Graham Westley is always glorious, though I can't help but wonder how different the playoffs would have gone if Craig had played rather than bass.
Alex Bass didn't get any protection from his defence, Lapras, as you can see from the match highlights. We are really going to miss Christian Burgess this season, so we must sign a decent centre half before it is too late. We now have the £750,000 still owed to us by Wigan who have sold Jamal Lowe on to Swansea, so need to invest it in three new players including a centre half and a left back. By the way, Alex Revell is now manager of Stevenage, the "revolting" Graham Westley is currently out of work !!