Pompey will look to bounce back from their first league loss of the season when they host Fleetwood on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Danny Cowley’s side have dropped down to fourth spot in the League One standings, although have two games in hand on all those above them. Their opponents are sitting in 12th position and would likely accept a mid-table finish given what happened last season. A dreadful end to the campaign meant they had to rely on Gillingham losing in order to survive on the final day. Former Celtic midfielder Scott Brown was then handed his first managerial role over the summer and has enjoyed a solid start to life at Highbury Stadium. There have already been wins over current table-toppers Plymouth and highly fancied Derby to please the faithful. But the Cod Army have drawn six of their 11 league fixtures so far this term and only two clubs have managed to score a fewer number of goals (10). Fleetwood three most recent visits to Fratton Park have also ended all square, including back in February, when they raced into a three-goal lead, only for Pompey to complete a remarkable fightback. TEAM NEWS Joe Pigott (chest) and Tom Lowery (hamstring) are both in contention to return to the side, but Joe Rafferty (stomach), Jayden Reid (hamstring) and Louis Thompson (leg) all miss out. With Carlos Mendes Gomes recently returning from a hamstring injury, Fleetwood are expected to have a fully fit squad to select from. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 7 wins Fleetwood: 3 wins 3 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 2 wins Fleetwood: 1 win 3 draws TICKETS There is an extremely limited number of tickets available, which can be bought online here or from the ticket office. Please be aware that train strikes will be affecting routes across the whole country on Saturday. Click here for more information. OFFICIALS Referee: James Oldham Assistants: Garry Maskell and Alex James Fourth Official: Aji Ajibola MATCH COVERAGE Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 2pm on Saturday. Overseas subscribers and match pass holders can watch all the action live, with accompanying commentary. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either BBC Radio Solent or Express FM. BETTING Pompey are the 11/20 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 9/2.
1-0 lead with a lovely goal from Josh Koroma. 7 minutes. Keeper Lynch kicks the ball straight to Marlon Pack and Owen Dale squares for Josh Koroma to bend home a 20-yard strike
Attempt blocked. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 11 minutes.
Colby Bishop does well to win a corner that Fleetwood struggle to clear and when Owen Dale sends the ball back into the box, Michael Morrison's header flicks the outside of the post. 36 minutes.
Pompey steal possession and break forward, with Dane Scarlett finding Josh Koroma, whose shot is blocked. 40 minutes.
Josh Koroma's ball across the box takes a deflection and a diving Owen Dale can only head over at the far post. 45 minutes.
Half time. 1-1 score, but we have been unlucky with the decisions of this somewhat suspect referee. We have created so many chances in the first half, and truly deserve to be ahead.
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .............Away Team: Fleetwood Possession: Home 62% Away 38% Shots: Home 10 Away 2 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 1 Corners: Home 5 Away 1 Fouls: Home 8 Away 11
