Pompey will be aiming to continue their fine run of form when they host Cambridge this evening (7.45pm kick-off). John Mousinho’s men have bounced back from some disappointing results over the new year period and are now unbeaten in five matches – winning four of them. Their next opponents are sitting 16th in the League One standings and looking to increase a four-point gap to the drop zone. United were beaten on home soil by struggling Cheltenham at the weekend, but had not lost any of their previous quartet of fixtures. Neil Harris is the man charged with keeping them away from danger, having replaced Mark Bonner back in December. And fans will be keen to avoid a repeat of last season, when survival was only secured on the final day. Cambridge beat Forest Green on home soil, but still needed to rely on both Morecambe and MK Dons dropping points to seal another campaign in the third tier. It finished goalless when the sides met at Abbey Stadium back in October, but Pompey have an excellent record against their opponents on the south coast. They won 4-1 in the most recent Fratton contest in August 2022, courtesy of goals from Colby Bishop, Ronan Curtis, Michael Jacobs and Connor Ogilvie. TEAM NEWS Zak Swanson has recovered from a groin injury, but tonight’s match comes too soon for the right-back. Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Terry Devlin (knee), Josh Dockerill (knee), Tom McIntyre (ankle), Joe Morrell (knee), Regan Poole (knee), Alex Robertson (hamstring) and Ben Stevenson (knee) are all still out. Gassan Ahadme (foot) and Brandon Haunstrup (ankle) will not be able to feature for Cambridge against their former club, but ex-Blues Adam May and Michael Morrison are available. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 16 wins Cambridge: 3 wins 5 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 9 wins Cambridge: 1 win 1 draw TICKETS Secure your seat online here or from the Anson Road ticket office, with most of the available seats located in the Milton End. Subject to availability, tickets can also be bought from the Fratton End booth this evening. If you are coming to the game, click here to find out what is happening around the ground ahead of kick-off. Please be aware that engineering works mean buses replace trains between Portsmouth and Southampton, so check before you travel. 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 Lee Bradbury 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 key updates throughout the game on Twitter and a detailed blog via the match centre. 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).
Cambridge United Starting Line Up:- 1 Jack Stevens GK 26 James Gibbons DF 3 Danny Andrew DF 6 Ryan Bennett DF 5 Michael Morrison (C) DF 8 George Thomas MF 14 Sullay Kaikai MF 24 Jordan Cousins MF 10 Jack Lankester MF 7 James Brophy MF 18 Lyle Taylor FW Substitutes:- 25 Will Mannion 2 Liam Bennett 16 Zeno Rossi 4 Paul Digby 19 Adam May 27 Macauley Bonne 21 Elias Kachunga
Two changes for Pompey's starting line up, with Kusini Yengi replacing Colby Bishop, and Abu Kamara in for Callum Lang. Both Bishop and Lang drop to the bench. Ex Pompey midfielder Adam May is named on Cambridge's bench, and another ex player Michael Morrison starts in defence, and skippers the side.
Final whistle, and it's an excellent 3-1 home win against a useful (but somewhat aggressive/dirty!) away team. 1-1 at half time, but we played really well in the second half, and our third goal from Abu Kamara was sublime, as he received a pass from Paddy Lane on the right wing, moved forward and chipped a lovely ball over their keeper into the far top corner of the net. Bad news is the injury; possibly a hamstring; for Tom Lowery. Hope it isn't too bad. His replacement Owen Moxon had a very good game, as did Kusini Yengi up front, having won the penalty when brought down in the box, he got up and sent the Oxford keeper the wrong way with his shot. Good goal also for Myles Peart-Harris - his first for the club from a cross by Paddy Lane.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .............Away Team: Cambridge Possession: Home 64% Away 36% Shots: Home 9 Away 10 Shots on Target: Home 4 Away 2 Corners: Home 5 Away 8 Fouls: Home 13 Away 15
So Paddy Lane returns the favour given to him by Kamara on Saturday. I was slightly nervous about this as these kind of fixtures at home have proved very tricky to Pompey! I will keep my fingers crossed that we can secure all three points on Saturday to put us 72. I just want us to beat them as a guy I know is quite cocky about Reading win, Looking at the way things are beginning to shape up, it looks like the autos are between us, Bolton and Derby! So our fixtures against them are pivotal.
Pompey fought from behind to beat Cambridge and give their League One promotion hopes another boost. A Danny Andrew header was adjudged to have crossed the line, but Kusini Yengi levelled from the penalty spot before the break. Myles Peart-Harris then completed a neat passing move to give the Blues the lead, while a fine Abu Kamara strike made sure the points would be remaining on the south coast. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that won on the road at struggling Carlisle at the weekend. Yengi and Kamara were both added to the forward line, as Colby Bishop and Callum Lang dropped to the bench. Pompey looked to make a fast start, with Yengi and Peart-Harris swapping passes as they advanced down the pitch before Andrew was able to hack the ball behind. Sean Raggett then got on the end of a Paddy Lane corner, but his header was diverted from its intended target by Lyle Taylor. Cambridge looked to capitalise on a rare defensive mix-up at the other end, with Joe Rafferty managing to get in the way of Jack Lankester’s effort. The hosts were soon back on the attack, with Conor Shaughnessy beating two men and threading a pass through for Lane, whose low ball across the face of goal was scrambled clear. But it soon began to turn a bit flat, with the Blues struggling to turn their possession into genuine openings in the final third. And they were dealt a blow when Tom Lowery pulled up injured off the ball, with January arrival Owen Moxon on to replace him. There was more bad news on 38 minutes, when Andrew got on the end of Sullay Kaikai’s corner and headed towards goal. Will Norris clawed the ball away, but an assistant’s flag was raised to suggest it had crossed the line, not that Pompey’s furious keeper was convinced. There was an almost an immediate response, with Yengi fizzing a fierce low drive narrowly past the post. An equaliser did arrive before the break, however, after Ryan Bennett lunged in on Yengi inside the box. Referee Sam Allison pointed straight to the spot and the defender was perhaps lucky to escape further punishment, having been booked earlier in the contest. Cambridge keeper Jack Stevens did his best to delay the penalty, but YENGI kept his composure and slammed the ball straight down the middle. Half Time: Pompey 1 Cambridge 1 The hosts were hoping for a bit more forward fluidity following the restart, but were still finding their opponents a tough nut to crack. United were defending resolutely, with four men immediately around Peart-Harris when he burst into the area. They kept plugging away, though, and the ground came alive when a passing move finally came off just before the hour mark. Moxon found Peart-Harris and his pass was neatly controlled by Yengi, who laid the ball off for Lane inside the box. The Northern Ireland international sent a low delivery across the face of goal and PEART-HARRIS slid in to open his Blues account. Cambridge tried to hit back at the other end, although Kaikai could only find the side netting after tricking his way past Rafferty. And Pompey soon had a cushion thanks to a moment of magic from KAMARA, who collected Lane’s pass, cut onto his left and hit a dipping shot that crashed into the net off the underside of the bar. That was the cue for a couple of changes, as Yengi and Peart-Harris made way to standing ovations, replaced by Bishop and Lang. The hosts were still looking to cause problems, although the urgency had understandably dissipated somewhat. Mousinho brought on a couple more players for the closing stages, with Josh Martin and Jack Sparkes introduced for Kamara and Lane. And the closing stages passed by without much incident, as the Fratton faithful celebrated another valuable victory. Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Lowery (Moxon 36), Pack (c); Kamara (Martin 85), Peart-Harris (Lang 72), Lane (Sparkes 85), Yengi (Bishop 72) Goals: Yengi 44 (pen), Peart-Harris 59, Kamara 71 Booked: Norris, Sparkes Subs not used: Macey, Towler Cambridge (4-1-4-1): Stevens; Gibbons (L.Bennett 72), R.Bennett, Morrison, Andrew; Cousins (May 76); Kaikai (Bonne 76), Lankester, Thomas (Kachunga 72), Brophy (Digby 76); Taylor Goals: Andrew 38 Booked: R.Bennett, Lankester, Stevens, Gibbons, Morrison Subs not used: Mannion, Rossi
These Tuesday night games better suit the antipodean timetable - kick off is 6.45 am! I thought Pompey started very strongly having been recently accused of taking 20 minutes to get into the game. The game started at a fast pace, dictated by Pompey but, to their credit, largely matched by Cambridge. I was uncertain that the ball had crossed the line for the Cambridge goal. Had the decision been otherwise Norris would have been credited with an excellent save! I was also a little uncertain that the penalty should have been awarded so the two dramas balanced one another out. Our two 2nd half goals were a joy to watch. I was surprised that Bishop was rested and that Pearl-Harris was preferred to Lang. In the event Yengi played well and it was evident that the no 10 roll is the best position for Pearl-Harris although it is a close match for the position between him and Lang. Both provide pace which is very pleasing. The big 'downer' was Tom Lawry's injury. He has been excellent since returning. Moxan looks competent but there have not been signs he can inject the energy that Lowry has. Onward to Saturday!! PUP
