There will be a sense of déjà vu when Pompey take on MK Dons at Fratton Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off). It is the second meeting between the League One sides on the south coast in the space of just three weeks. The Blues came out on top in the first of those, with a 3-2 victory securing progress to the third round of the FA Cup. Since then, their opponents have sacked manager Liam Manning, with the club sitting inside the drop zone and six points from safety. It comes after he almost led the Buckinghamshire outfit into the Championship last term, missing out on automatic promotion on the final day and then losing to Wycombe in the play-offs. Defender Dean Lewington has taken interim charge until a replacement can be found and oversaw Tuesday night’s Papa Johns Trophy exit at Bristol Rovers. Fans will be hoping a permanent appointment is made in time for Tuesday night’s exciting Carabao Cup clash with top-flight Leicester at Stadium MK. Pompey lost both of last season’s league meetings with the Dons, but three points this weekend could see them climb back into the top six at Christmas. TEAM NEWS Zak Swanson could return from a stomach problem, but Saturday’s game likely comes too soon for Tom Lowery (hamstring) and Louis Thompson (leg). Kieron Freeman (calf), Joe Rafferty (stomach) and Jayden Reid (knee) all remain sidelined for Pompey. Lewington will not feature for the visitors, as he requires surgery on a hamstring problem that has been pushed back to next week. Darragh Burns – who scored in MK Dons’ cup defeat at Fratton Park – (ankle) and Joshua Kayode (knee) are also out. HEAD TO HEAD OverallPompey: 5 wins MK Dons: 4 wins 2 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 4 wins MK Dons: 1 win 1 draw OFFICIALS Referee: Samuel Barrott Assistants: Justin Amey and Kevin Morris Fourth Official: Scott Williams TICKETS There is only limited availability, so act fast to secure your ticket online here or by visiting the Anson Road ticket office. Please note that Saturday’s game is not covered by a half-season ticket, which start from the Ipswich fixture after Christmas. Click here to read a guide on all the activities happening around Fratton Park this weekend. Please be aware of the rail strikes taking place around the country on Saturday and plan your journey accordingly. 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 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 Sunday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online). BETTING Pompey are the 9/10 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 14/5.
Half time. 0-1 to MK Dons. We started really well creating numerous chances but to no avail. They took the lead with their first shot in the 34th minute, headed home by Bradley Johnson from a free kick. In the 28th minute, Zak Jules was booked for chopping down Jay Mingi from behind, on the edge of the box.
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .....................Away Team: MK Dons Possession: Home 57% Away 43% Shots: Home 6 Away 5 Shots on Target: Home 4 Away 1 Corners: Home 4 Away 1 Fouls: Home 6 Away 7
Final score. 0-2 to MK Dons, with a second half goal from Jack Tucker in the 64th minute. Our formation was all wrong throughout the game, allowing them to outplay us. We had far more possession, but didn't make use of it. We made all five substitutions in the second half, with Joe Morrell/Joe Pigott/Dane Scarlett replacing Jay Mingi/Colby Bishop/Denver Hume in the 69th minute. Michael Jacobs replaced Michael Morrison in the 74th minute, and Ronan Curtis on for Josh Koroma after 85 minutes. To round off a bad day, we had three players booked, being Reeco Hackett, Owen Dale and Conor Ogilvie. In addition, Manager Danny Cowley was booked for arguing after a Pompey goal was disallowed.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .............Away Team: MK Dons Possession: Home 63% Away 37% Shots: Home 13 Away 14 Shots on Target: Home 8 Away 4 Corners: Home 6 Away 2 Fouls: Home 12 Away 8
Well where do we start with that one?! Went down today. The positives: Hume crossed well. Odd bit of decent play from Mingi and one or two others. The negatives: Firstly the actions of the stewards when there was some back and forth between the away fans and a couple of guys in the south stand - right below me. Away fans were picking on a guy in pink calling him a **** (as they're allowed to) - guy in pink repsonded with gesticulating as did a few others. All normal stuff between oposing fans. Stewards get in the crowd and throw out said man in pink very harshly - and then twice got in the away end and grabbed people. They totally overreacted and turned a minor event into a proper altercation. They were useless. And then we get a message over the tannoy telling us to respect each other and grass on each other. Also message spoken via a child telling us to be inclusive. I'm not at football to be lectured. Fed up with their Soviet Union tactics and preaching. As for the game - it was completely flat after about 20 mins and people around me of all ages stating how bored they were. Guy next to me left after half hour. Loads left at half time. Atmosphere was terrible. Bad vibes all round. Defending was ****e. Just rubbish. Formation and general tactics from Cowley were crap. Again. Small forwards and lots of crossing just doesn't make sense to me. The team is not gelling for some reason. Only second time I've left early - after the second goal. Just no chance it would change which proved to be the case. An unpleasant trip made worse by overzealous officials. Cowley, nice as he is, is out of his depth even with the limited squad he has been presented.
Thanks Wooperts and Sharpe for your thoughts. Here's a thought of mine. These players seem to do the business in the pizza trophy without too much trouble. I expect them to.perform.well at Tottenham. And just when backs are to.the wall, Pompey will win on Boxing Day. However if we continue winless over the festive period and into January, the hierarchy will need to react to keep the fans on board. As Pompey have already recruited from MK Dons to fulfil various roles, they might get the recently sacked MK Dons boss.
Eh, one of the things I dislike about football is the vitriol and swearing and downright vile stuff that you hear at times (not saying that's common at Portsmouth, but I mean like mocking deaths). I don't mind a bit of banter if it's witty or clever, but what's witty about calling someone a ****? I'd be happy to grass on someone if they're being homophobic or racist. I don't care if snitches get stitches. As for the match, sounded like it was riveting. I'll hopefully get down to a game some time in the spring (if the RMT allow me) but hopefully we're in better form by then
Morning, Yes I don't like the vile chants about death etc - doesn't compute to me. Don't care for homophobic or racist either. Have to say in the past ten years I've been going fairly regularly I've only only heard one homophobic chant and no racist ones. Its quite placid at Fratton - just an underlying aggression to those taking the micky which I like personally (seen no violence either). **** wasn't witty but it is what it is - didn't get sung by us. I don't personally like the state or my football club telling me what to think or say - I don't want a lecture at a football match. Its a football club not some government lobby. For me the match is a release from the weekly grind. The stewards reacted to that and made the situation far worse which could have resulted in a scuffle and wasn't far off. I bloody hope we're in better form when you visit! Think I'll try and get down for Ipswich as the atmosphere should be good - it was completely dead on the weekend, total apathy.
