Pompey’s gruelling set of fixtures continues with a midweek trek up to Accrington tonight (7.45pm kick-off). It is the penultimate evening match of the season currently scheduled for the Blues, with next month’s journey to Oxford almost a local affair by comparison. The home side will be desperate for points in their battle to beat the drop and are only one place – and two points – above the League One drop zone. John Coleman’s men do, however, possess two games in hand on all the sides occupying a relegation berth. Stanley drew on the road at Charlton on Saturday, with Shaun Whalley’s opener cancelled out by Steven Sessegnon. They did come out on top in their last Crown Ground contest, although had to battle from behind to beat bottom club Forest Green, who played more than half the game with just 10 men. This fixture was due to take place in December, only to be postponed because of a frozen pitch, with the sides due to meet again on the south coast in April. It finished 2-2 in last season’s corresponding clash, when goals from Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness bookended Harry Pell and Matt Butcher strikes. TEAM NEWS Ronan Curtis (knee), Marlon Pack (knee), Jayden Reid (knee), Clark Robertson (hip) and Zak Swanson (groin) are still missing for Pompey. Accrington have Lukas Jensen and Sean McConville both available after suspensions, but Ryan Astley, Liam Coyle, Ethan Hamilton, David Morgan, Joe Pritchard and Jay Rich-Baghuelou are all long-term absentees. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 7 wins Accrington: 4 wins 8 draws On the road Pompey: 2 wins Accrington: 2 wins 6 draws TICKETS Pompey fans will be able to purchase tickets at Accrington this evening, with around 550 already snapped up. Click here for a guide to visiting the Crown Ground that has been produced by the home club. OFFICIALS Referee: David Rock Assistants: Robert Atkin and Christopher Ward Fourth Official: Matt Corlett 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 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 updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story. 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).
Half time, and it's 0-1 to Pompey, with a Joe Pigott headed goal in the 13th minute. Accies down to ten men in the 10th minute, when their keeper Lukas Jensen came well out of his area to chop Paddy Lane to the ground when he was running towards goal. They brought on sub keeper Toby Savin for an outfield player, and the first thing he did was to pick the ball out of the back of his net, after the Pompey fee kick was played wide to Paddy Lane whose cross was nodded in by Joe Pigott. Accies manager John Coleman the collided with the linesman flooring both of them !! Accies have played fairly well, but their shooting is abysmal (hope that continues!)
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Accrington ..........Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 49% Away 51% Shots: Home 11 Away 4 Shots on Target: Home 1 Away 1 Corners: Home 3 Away 1 Fouls: Home 7 Away 8
Final score - 1-3 to Pompey. Three points picked up, good day at the office. We went 0-2 up in the 57th minute, with a lovely goal by Reeco Hackett from a Joe Rafferty cross. In the 67th minute, Pompey were also down to ten men when Joe Pigott was alleged to have fouled Accies keeper Toby Savin who had dived at his feet ! To my mind it should have been a yellow card but the ref was "influenced" by the half a dozen Accies players who surrounded him. We went 0-3 up in the 81st minute with Colby Bishop's 20th goal of the season. The goal was applauded byboth Pompey and Accies fans. In the 89th minute, Accies pulled the score back to 1-3 with a consolation headed goal by Korede Adedoyin. We had yellow cards for joe Morrell for a foul in the 46th minute, and Dane Scarlett for kicking the ball away in the 90 + 5th minute. Manager John Mousinho was booked in the 47th minute. Accies had three more yellow cards given to Harvey Rodgers for fouling Paddy Lane in the 49th minute, Buba Fernandez for fouling Colby Bishop in the 61st minute, and then Tommy Leigh for a foul on Joe Morrell in the 73rd minute. We utilised all five subs in the second half - Owen Dale on for Paddy Lane / Ryan Tunnicliffe for Joe Morrell / DiShon Bernard for Joe Rafferty / Michael Jacobs for Louis Thompson / Dane Scarlett for Colby Bishop. Accies played well, with really good passing, but the final ball into the box and their shooting pretty poor.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Accrington .......Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 53% Away 47% Shots: Home 20 Away 11 Shots on Target: Home 4 Away 7 Corners: Home 7 Away 4 Fouls: Home 12 Away 18
Heavy snow as the match commenced tonight. Pompey fans were in the roofless stand, so must have got soaked. Fortunately for them, it didn't last too long ! please log in to view this image
i have watched the replays of the Sheffield Wednesday and Carrington Stanley games in quick succession. In the former game we played some very attractive football and did everything right except create chances! Against 'Stanly we created chances - and took some of them - but were otherwise unimpressive and perhaps a little lucky. I thought both red cards were harsh.
