Pompey will be looking to maintain their impressive home form when they welcome Stoke to Fratton Park this evening (7.45pm kick-off). Saturday's 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough means the side have now collected 16 points form the last 18 available on the south coast. They also know that another win tonight would see them leapfrog their opponents and climb all the way up to 18th spot in the Championship standings. But the Potters have looked tougher to beat since the decision was made to dispense with services of boss Narcis Pelach at the end of December. He had only been in charge of the team for 19 matches, having replaced Steven Schumacher in September, with one of the few high points being a 6-1 rout of Pompey in Staffordshire. City are now unbeaten in their past five games and current manager Mark Robins oversaw a 1-1 draw at West Brom at the weekend. They recovered from the blow of having striker Tom Cannon recalled by parent club Leicester, with Nathan Lowe returning from his own prolific loan spell at Walsall to find the target. The sides were in the Premier League when this fixture last took place at Fratton Park in February 2010, with Stoke winning 2-1. But the Blues triumphed 4-0 in a League Cup contest earlier that season, courtesy of Frederic Piquionne's brace and goals from Danny Webber and Kanu. TEAM NEWS Ibane Bowat (knee), Jacob Farrell (knee), Paddy Lane (knee), Mark O'Mahony (hip), Regan Poole (hamstring) and Kusini Yengi (knee) are all currently sidelined. But Conor Shaughnessy has an outside chance of being involved after returning to full training following calf problems. Eric Bocat (calf), Sam Gallagher (hamstring), Ben Gibson (illness), Lynden Gooch (knee), Bosun Lawal (back), Million Manhoef (knee), Ben Pearson (hamstring) and Sol Sidibe (back) are all expected to miss out for Stoke But Pompey’s League Two title-winning full-back Enda Stevens could feature for the visitors against his former club. VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Callum Lang ahead of the big game. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 27 wins Stoke: 26 wins 14 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 19 wins Stoke: 7 wins 8 draws Last Home Meeting Pompey 1 (Piquionne) Stoke 2 (Huth, Diao) Premier League February 20 2010 TICKETS Tickets are still available, so click here to secure your seat for the game. Click here to read our matchday guide to find out what is happening around the ground ahead of the game. OFFICIALS Referee: Josh Smith Assistants: Sam Lewis and Hugh Gilroy Fourth Official: James Bell Smith last took charge of Pompey when they beat Reading 4-1 at Fratton Park in League One last February, booking four home players and three from the opposition. He has taken charge of 23 games so far this season, showing a total of 90 yellow cards and just the one red. MATCH COVERAGE Supporters in the UK can watch the game live via the Sky Sports+ app. Those based overseas can see all the action on Pompey+, either through a monthly/annual subscription or by purchasing a match pass. The matchday show is live before the game for Pompey+ subscribers and overseas fans with a video subscription/match pass. George Wedlake will be joined by Andy Awford and Paul Hardyman in the Fratton Park studio. Fans can get involved by sending messages and voicenotes to our Pompey+ WhatsApp channel* on +44 7457 413694 or via this link. Please note that the half-time and post-match shows are only available to watch for fans in regions where the game is being shown live on Pompey+. Audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham is available for Pompey+ subscribers or those who purchase an audio subscription/match pass. Click here for more details about using Pompey+, including the answers to some frequently asked questions. Locally-based fans who are not going to the game can listen, as always, via BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online). *Please note that the WhatsApp service is only for sending messages to appear on the matchday show. The club will not be able to reply to any messages.
Pompey to pay tribute to Alec Lumb, who sadly passed away last Saturday as the match against Middlesbrough got underway. There will be a minutes applause before the Stoke game. R.I.P.
Stoke City Starting Line Up:- Number1, V. Johansson (c), Captain Number33, J. Wilson-Esbrand Number16, B. Wilmot Number26, A. Phillips Number22, J. Tchamadeu Number12, T. Seko Number8, L. Baker Number11, L. Koumas Number6, W. Burger Number24, A. Moran Number14, N. Ennis Substitutes:- Number10, Bae Jun-Ho Number13, J. Bonham Number7, André Vidigal Number18, B. Lawal Number50, D. Lipsiuc Number35, N. Lowe Number5, M. Rose Number3, E. Stevens Number37, E. Tezgel
Callum Lang right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Freddie Potts. 1st minute.
1-0 up, as Colby Bishop tucks his penalty away, with a right footed shot to the top left corner 5 minutes
2-0 up now in the 9th minute. Callum Lang header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by keeper Nicolas Schmid !
Josh Murphy right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Lang.. 41 minutes.
