Despite not playing last weekend and losing on Tuesday night, Pompey remain fourth in the League One standings. But they will be looking for an instant return to winning ways against Blackpool in order to keep pace with the top two. Their opponents are 14th in the table and eight points adrift of the play-off places, with as many as three games in hand on the sides around them. Neil Critchley’s men have won three of their past four fixtures – a run that began with a 5-0 rout of Wigan. That result is one of four victoriess on the road for the Seasiders, who have also collected a maximum haul at Burton, Peterborough and neighbours Fleetwood. They also caused an FA Cup upset last month by knocking out Premier League side West Brom on penalties at Bloomfield Road, only to exit at the hands of Brighton in the fourth round. The Covid-19 pandemic meant that there was no south coast meeting between the teams last season. Blackpool won 1-0 on their most recent visit to Fratton Park in January 2019 and also triumphed by the same scoreline on their own patch a few months ago. TEAM NEWS Pompey have no new injury concerns, although Alex Bass (leg) and Michael Jacobs (hamstring) are still sidelined. Blackpool defender Marvin Ekpiteta will miss out after being sent for a scan on a troublesome hamstring problem. Keshi Anderson (knee), Daniel Gretarsson (hamstring) and CJ Hamilton (hamstring) are all unable to feature, while Gary Madine (groin) is a doubt. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 22 wins Blackpool: 28 wins 23 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 15 wins Blackpool: 11 wins 10 draws OFFICIALS Referee: Sam Allison Assistants: Justin Amey and Simon Shaw Fourth Official: Adrian Tranter BETTING Pompey are the 11/10 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 5/2.
Half time score is 0-0. One good chance for them blocked superbly by Charlie Daniels, and then a shot from Rasmus Nicolaisen blocked on the goal line. Two Blackpool players booked in the first half. Shocking sliding challenge by Garbutt on Ronan Curtis. Only a yellow card, could easily have been a red ! Will be interesting to see if Pompey make any half time changes. Interestingly, Kenny Jackett is at the ground, sitting at the back of the dugout.
Half-Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .......Away Team: Blackpool Possession: Home 57% Away 43% Shots: Home 4 Away 4 Shots on Target: Home 0 Away 1 Corners: Home 4 Away 2 Fouls: Home 6 Away 9
Final whistle. 0-1 to Blackpool with a breakaway goal in the 82nd minute from Jerry Yates. They came for a point, and went away with all three - well done to them !! We brought on George Byers for Marcus Harness in the 61st minute, and then a double substitution in the 77th minute (probably 10 minutes too late) with Ellis Harrison and Jordy Hiwula replacing John Marquis and Ryan Williams. Another lacklustre Pompey performance today, as we had no idea how to deal with Blackpool's spoiling tactics. Total waste of £10 to iFollow as well !!
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ..........Away Team: Blackpool Possession: Home 55% Away 45% Shots: Home 6 Away 6 Shots on Target: Home 0 Away 3 Corners: Home 6 Away 4 Fouls: Home 14 Away 13
Thank you Wooperts;s for your comments. A lacklustre perfornance I gather. No shots on target which is quite a damning statistic. What is up with our strikers? And the midfield failed to get behaind the Blackpool defence? Oh well, it is done and dusted. Need to find someone to score goals on a regular basis to maintain our position in the table otherwise we are going to end up outside the play-offs.
Thinking ahead!! What are the odds of Eddie Howe turning up at Fratton Park next season? KJ will have completed 4 years, which imust be the longest stint by any manager since George Smith. It is almost uniique for someone to spend that long at the same club. He may well decide that is enough and fresh input is needed, particularly if the promotion push goes pear-shaped.
Unfortunately, I don't think we can afford the kind of wages that people like Eddie Howe or Frank Lampard would demand !! Eddie Howe would be a brilliant choice to bring in. Kenny has done well in the (almost) four years he has been at Fratton Park, getting us into the play offs every season, plus two Wembley appearances in the EFL Trophy, with one victory, and possibly/hopefully another win this year, but I now believe his tenure has run it's course. We probably need a shake-up of the playing squad as well. We have the nucleus of a decent squad with around nine or ten players well worth hanging on to, and sell or release the rest. We will have to wait and see what the Eisner family decide to do when Kenny's contract comes up for renewal.
