It has been a pretty successful 2023 for Pompey, with John Mousinho guiding the team to the top of the table. But after a frustrating conclusion to the calendar year, they will be hoping to start the new one with victory over Stevenage at Fratton Park on Monday (3pm kick-off). The Blues have seen their lead at the summit cut after collecting just two points from a trio of games over Christmas. Their next opponents have not been quite so busy, with Friday night’s scheduled home clash with Cambridge called off due to a power failure. Boro have, however, collected one more point than Pompey during the festive period, with a 2-1 defeat at Barnsley followed by a 3-0 victory against Northampton on Boxing Day. It leaves Steve Evans’ men sitting fifth in the League One standings and in contention for a second successive promotion. They finished as runners-up behind Leyton Orient last term to end a nine-year stay in English football’s basement. It was goalless when the sides met at Broadhall Way back in August, with Joe Rafferty and Jake Forster-Caskey both dismissed following a clash. The most recent Fratton contest was an EFL Trophy tie last December and the hosts triumphed 3-0, courtesy of goals from Jay Mingi, Josh Koroma and Joe Pigott. TEAM NEWS Pompey are still without Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Tom Lowery (calf), Connor Ogilvie (ankle), Regan Poole (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin). Their opponents have a quintet of former Blues players to call upon, with brothers Louis and Nathan Thompson, along with Dan Butler, Ben Thompson and Harvey White, now at Stevenage. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 4 wins Stevenage: 5 wins 4 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 2 wins Stevenage: 1 win 2 draws TICKETS Fratton Park is completely sold out in all home sections of the ground. If you are coming to the game, click here to read our matchday guide and find out what is happening around the ground. OFFICIALS Referee: Charles Breakspear Assistants: Shaun Farrer and Alex Bradley Fourth Official: Declan O’Shea 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 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 Tuesday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online).
Stevenage Starting Line Up:- 1 Taye Ashby-Hammond 2 Luther Wildin 6 Dan Sweeney 5 Carl Piergianni 3 Dan Butler 23 Louis Thompson 17 Finley Burns 9 Elliott List 10 Nick Freeman 11 Jordan Roberts 19 Jamie Reid Substitutes 4 Nathan Thompson 7 Alexander MacDonald 8 Jake Forster-Caskey 12 Krisztian Hegyi 20 Aaron Pressley 24 Ben Thompson 29 Kane Hemmings
Important game. Is this blip going to be a blip or are we choking again? This game will perhaps answer this question. Hopefully it's the former
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ...........Away Team: Stevenage Possession: Home 55% Away 45% Shots: Home 12 Away 9 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 5 Corners: Home 1 Away 5 Fouls: Home 14 Away 20
Pompey ensured it was a happy new year by returning to winning ways with victory over Stevenage at Fratton Park. They controlled the first half and took an early lead through Paddy Lane, only for Louis Thompson to nod the visitors back on level terms. But a neat finish from Colby Bishop made it 2-1 before the interval and that is the way the scoreline stayed. And a disappointing afternoon was made worse for Boro in stoppage-time as Nathan Thompson and assistant boss Paul Rayner were both deservedly dismissed. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that were held to a draw at Exeter on Friday evening. Joe Morrell and Abu Kamara were both restored to the starting line-up, as Terry Devlin and Gavin Whyte moved to the bench. Former Pompey duo Dan Butler and Louis Thompson were both selected by the visitors, with Nathan Thompson and Ben Thompson on the bench. There was an immediate sign of improvement from the hosts on their previous matches over the festive period. They passed the ball around neatly and looked to exploit any gaps they could find in the Boro back-line. And the deadlock was almost broken when Bishop lifted a pass towards Alex Robertson, whose close-range header was pushed over the bar by Taye Ashby-Hammond. The Blues did go ahead on 12 minutes through LANE, with the forward starting and finishing the move. He stole the ball from Dan Sweeney and received it back via Bishop and Robertson before hitting a first-time shot into the bottom corner. The advantage might have been doubled when Bishop’s flick then sent Kamara racing through on goal. He did well to hold off the challenge of Butler, but with just Ashby-Hammond to beat, could only hook wide. Pompey were then indebted to Will Norris for preserving their lead, with the keeper making a superb save to deny Jordan Roberts from point-blank range. But Stevenage were level on 26 minutes, as Thompson came back to haunt his former club by converting Jamie Reid’s cross with a fine header. The hosts quickly recovered from that setback, however, regaining control and probing their opponents. So it came as no surprise when they went back ahead before the break, as Lane sent in a low centre that was converted by a deft BISHOP back-heel. Half Time: Pompey 2 Stevenage 1 The visitors made a triple switch at the start of the second half, with the other two Thompsons among those to be introduced. But Pompey were still looking to get on the attack and when Morrell was brought down, Marlon Pack bent the free-kick narrowly past the post. They were not looking quite as fluent as before the break, although were still pretty much in control of the contest. And there was an excellent chance to provide a cushion just past the hour mark, when Ashby-Hammond’s clearance flew straight to Kamara. He raced through on goal, but the keeper recovered to make the save and Nathan Thompson then flung himself in front of Morrell’s follow-up effort. Stevenage were not causing too many problems at the other end, although Reid diverted Nick Freeman’s cross into the side netting. But they had a chance to level when Reid broke through, only for Norris and Conor Shaughnessy to combine and make a block. A follow-up shot appeared to hit the defender’s hand, although it was down by his side and referee Charles Breakspear ignored Boro’s penalty appeals. With the visitors starting to look more threatening, Mousinho freshened things up by replacing Lane with Devlin. And another Blues switch soon followed on 83 minutes, as Christian Saydee was brought on for Robertson. The display of six additional minutes gave Stevenage hope of salvaging point, but they were reduced to 10 men in stoppage-time. Nathan Thompson – who had already been booked – had his foot far too high and caught Saydee in the face, earning a straight red card. Rayner had been shown a yellow at the break for dissent and his non-stop complaints also led to a sending off. Kamara was denied the chance to wrap things up by a last-gasp Ashby-Hammond save, but Pompey had already done enough to ensure they started 2024 with a win. Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Pack (c), Morrell; Kamara, Robertson (Saydee 83 (Stevenson 90+8)), Lane (Devlin 78); Bishop Goals: Lane 12, Bishop 33 Booked: Pack, Rafferty, Norris Subs not used: Schofield, Towler, Whyte, Scully Stevenage (4-2-3-1): Ashby-Hammond; James-Wildin, Sweeney (N.Thompson 46), Piergianni (c), Butler; L.Thompson (Hemmings 60), Burns (B.Thompson 46); List (Forster-Caskey 46), Freeman, Roberts (MacDonald 87); Reid Sent off: N.Thompson Goals: L.Thompson 26 Booked: L.Thompson, Sweeney, Freeman, Roberts, Piergianni, N.Thompson Subs not used: Hegyi, Pressley Referee: Charles Breakspear Attendance: 18,891 (592 away fans)
Phew, we needed that. Let's build on from that now. I missed the game as I was seeing Wonka. Good film.
Happy New Year Wooperts and thank you for your great commentary. Nice to see a team getting more yellow cards than us. Oñe observación is that we generally do notvwin when getting lots of yellow cards in a Match, re Bristol Rovers this season.
please log in to view this image Disgusting kung fu kick from Nathan Thompson on Christian Saydee late in the game. Minutes earlier he smashed into Will Norris when he went up to catch the ball knocking him off the pitch. He received a straight red card for his assault on Saydee. Stevenage's manager Steve Evans said after the match that the referee was 'absolutely horrendous'. His assistant manager was sent off in the second half for his use of foul language. What a couple of charmers they are......
