It is usually a tight affair when Pompey and Plymouth face off in competitive action. In fact, of the 11 most recent meetings between the two dockyard clubs, eight of them have finished all square. So it will not be a surprise to witness another close encounter when the latest contest takes place at Home Park this evening (7.45pm kick-off). Argyle currently have the upper hand in the race for the play-offs, occupying sixth spot and with a seven-point advantage over their visitors. Steven Schumacher’s men might even still have one eye on automatic promotion as they bid to return to the Championship for the first time in 12 years. They are looking to extend a three-match winning run, with Macaulay Gillesphey’s header just before the break enough to see off Bolton at the weekend. It finished 2-2 when the sides met at Fratton Park earlier in the campaign, with Lee Brown and Sean Raggett on target for the hosts. And that was the same scoreline in last season’s Devon clash, with the Blues not quite able to hold on after John Marquis and Tom Naylor had seen them battle from behind to lead. TEAM NEWS Pompey will hope to have Michael Jacobs available again after the midfielder returned to training following a knee injury. Marcus Harness completes a three-match ban this evening, while Kieron Freeman (ankle), Reeco Hackett (knee), Jayden Reid (knee) and Shaun Williams (back) are all still sidelined. Plymouth are currently without George Cooper (knee), Brendan Galloway (knee), Alfie Lewis (thigh) and Dan Scarr (hamstring). Former Blues defender James Bolton has been a regular for Argyle after suffering an injury-hit start to the campaign. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 28 wins Plymouth: 25 wins 17 draws At Home Park Pompey: 10 wins Plymouth: 15 wins 10 wins TICKETS Tickets are no longer available to purchase for Pompey fans. Fans collecting tickets at Home Park this evening should visit the away turnstiles (numbers B20-25). OFFICIALS Referee: Sam Purkiss Assistants: Mark Derrien and Grant Taylor Fourth Official: Daniel Flynn 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 Mark Kelly as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game. 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 BBC Radio Solent or Express FM. BETTING Plymouth are the 7/5 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 7/4.
0-0 at half time. No goals, but three yellow cards. Mahlon Romeo in the 33rd minute for throwing the ball away, Louis Thompson in the 34th minute for a foul on Camara, and the in the 43rd minute to Sessegnon for throwing the ball away after fouling one of our players. Classy (not) chant from the Argyle fans telling Pompey to Fu*k off.
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Plymouth ...........Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 48% Away 52% Shots: Home 7 Away 3 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 0 Corners: Home 1 Away 4 Fouls: Home 7 Away 5
Just seen the full time score. Not good reading! No shots on target? Plymouth must have a very organised defence for that to happen. Oh well, on to Saturday and lets hope Pompey throw the enitre might of the Royal Navy at Wycombe and somehow get a big victory!!
Final whistle after 7 minutes added on by the referee. 1-0 to Argyle, with a goal by Ryan Hardie in the 65th minute, following a rare Louis Thompson error. Three Pompey subs in the second half, being Clark Robertson for Denver Hume, Ryan Tunnicliffe for Louis Thompson, and Tyler Walker for Aiden O'Brien. Yellow card shown to Argyle keeper Cooper in the 95th minute, for kicking the ball away when we had won a corner / continuous time wasting from the 65th minute onwards.
Looks a tidy ground but the Mayflower stand looks a bit odd. I don't know why Plymouth didn't complete that side along the entire length.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Plymouth ...........Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 43% Away 57% Shots: Home 19 Away 11 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 0 Corners: Home 4 Away 10 Fouls: Home 10 Away 9
