After 17 months of waiting, the time has almost come. Pompey fans have had to wait a long time before being able to enter Fratton Park in significant numbers to watch their side in action. But they will be able to cheer a Danny Cowley team in a competitive fixture on home soil for the first time on Saturday. Crewe are the visitors for a League One contest, as life begins to return to something at least resembling normality. While the Blues started the season with a narrow win at Fleetwood, their opponents drew 1-1 against newly promoted Cheltenham at Gresty Road. They followed that with a narrow midweek Carabao Cup success at Hartlepool to set up a mouth-watering second round trip to top-flight Leeds. David Artell’s troops finished 12th in the third tier last term, having come up from League Two during the previous – prematurely curtailed – campaign. They will be without Charlie Kirk on Saturday after the highly-rated winger was snapped up by Charlton. The most recent meeting between the sides finished goalless in Cheshire back in March, with John Marquis seeing a penalty saved. But the Blues eased to a 4-1 victory at Fratton Park last season, courtesy of Ronan Curtis’ brace and goals for Tom Naylor and Marquis. TEAM NEWS Callum Johnson is suspended for three games after the appeal over his sending off at Millwall was rejected. New signings Joe Morrell and Louis Thompson could make their debuts, although Danny Cowley has suggested that the latter might need some time to reach full match fitness. Jayden Reid (knee) is a long-term absentee for the Blues, while fellow summer signing Liam Vincent (shin) is also sidelined. The visitors will be without the suspended Billy Sass-Davies, while recent arrival Terell Thomas could be thrown straight into the side. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 7 wins Crewe: 7 wins 6 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 5 wins Crewe: 4 wins 1 draw CASHLESS STADIUM Please note that Fratton Park is now a cashless stadium and supporters will need to use contactless payment methods when purchasing tickets, food and drink. MINUTE’S APPLAUSE A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off, giving everyone inside Fratton Park a chance to pay tribute to all those supporters – as well as former players and managers – who have passed away over the past 17 months. OFFICIALS Referee: Will Finnie Assistants: Darren Wilding and Damith Bandara Fourth Official: Stuart Butler BETTING Pompey are the 87/100 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 16/5.
I'm going to the match, managed to get tickets which is good. It'll be my first trip to the Park since August 10th 2019, as I'm only down south over the summer. It'll be good to be at Portsmouth again for the first time in so long, and I'll be interested to see if there are any noticeable changes to Fratton Park over the last two years. When the applause take place, I'm going to pay tribute to my mum who wasn't a Portsmouth supporter but passed away last October.
Crewe Alexandra Line Up:- 1 Jaaskelainen 2 Ramsay 21 Daniels 6 Offord 3 Adebisi 20 Lundstram 4 MacDonald 16 Murphy 19 Dale 12 Mandron 11 Ainley Substitutes 5 Thomas 7 Long 9 Porter 14 Finney 15 McFadzean 23 Johnson 31 Richards
Attempt missed. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild. 7 minutes.
please log in to view this image Portsmouth FC @Pompey · 19m please log in to view this image A minute's applause was held before kick-off in memory of all those fans, and former players and managers who have passed away in the 17 months since fans were inside Fratton Park in significant numbers #Pompey please log in to view this image
So close to an opener. Lee Brown cuts the ball back for Marcus Harness, who's brilliantly denied by Jaaskelainen from point-blank range. Ronan Curtis then sends it back into the mixer, but Ryan Tunnicliffe can only nod over the bar. 21 minutes.
Half-Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ......Away Team: Crewe Possession: Home 63% Away 37% Shots: Home 6 Away 1 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 0 Corners: Home 3 Away 1 Fouls: Home 7 Away 4
