Portsmouth vs Walsall preview Portsmouth forwards Gareth Evans and Jamal Lowe will both be available to face Walsall despite picking up knocks in the win at Scunthorpe. The pair had to be replaced during the 2-1 win at Glanford Park which saw Pompey stretch their lead at the top of Sky Bet League One to four points. Striker Joe Mason's groin injury is improving but he will not be fit to return until the weekend at the earliest. The game is Portsmouth's first in the league at Fratton Park for more than a month due to cup fixtures and the international break. Walsall will be looking to bounce back from conceding two late goals at home to Sunderland on Saturday in a game which the Saddlers drew 2-2. Manager Dean Keates will be looking for more of the same from striker Josh Gordon who scored his first goal for the club against the Black Cats. Adam Chambers could return before Christmas from a broken foot suffered on the opening day of the season, but is unlikely to feature on Tuesday. Joe Edwards (knee) and Kory Roberts (broken leg) are both sidelined for Walsall. Portsmouth have only lost once in their last nine home games against Walsall (W5 D3), back in September 2012 (1-2). Walsall have won two of the last four meetings between the two sides (D1 L1), though did lose their most recent game against Pompey in March of this year (0-1). Table-topping Portsmouth have won only one of their last five home league games, drawing three and losing one. After winning four and drawing two of their opening six away league games this season, Walsall are winless in their last three on the road, failing to score each time (D1 L2).
I confess to being nervous about this game. If PFC can win this, then confidence levels Will soar as we approach matches against the strongest sides in the división - Charlton, Barnsley and Sunderland. Let´s make the 50+ a target before Christmas, 60 by the time we reach FA Cup 3rd round weekend. By my reckoning, PFC would then need around 28 points to be almost assured of promotion (going by totals achieved in previous seasons, althought there are exceptions).
Wow! Looking forward to Wooperts´ analysis of the game. Reading between the lines it sounded like a good performance based on some solid defence and attacking players who can seize an opportunity. A very professional performance without needed to scale the heights.
The last time we were in this position, 1982/83 we had a team of glaticos, a team that cost more to assemble then, than the current squad. I imagine there isn´t a lot of difference in the salaries paid to members of that team and the current one. Much of the 82/83 squad were bought from higher level clubs at the time - Dillon, Morgan, Biley, Tait. Add to that the purchases of Rafferty and Doyle, and we can see it was an expensive squad. What a contrast with the season´s squad with players taken from non-league, Irish league and also one or two from clubs at our current level. Those from a higher level were fringe players at their previous ones - Walkes, Clarke. I take a lot of pride in the current side and so pleased to see the front three doing so well. PS: The cost of the current PFC squad also contrasts with that of Southampton´s 2010/11 squad. Rickie Lambert´s transfer alone cost more than the entire cost of this Pompey squad. Maybe someone on here can compare the cost of Pompey´s squad with that of others in the same división.
Walsall 1 Roberts 6 Devlin 34 Martin 5 Guthrie 3 Leahy 28 Wilson 15 Kinsella 4 Dobson 11 Ginnelly 29 GordonCook 16 Ferrier Substitutes 8 Morris 9 Andy Cook 13 Dunn 20 Johnson 27 Fitzwater 30 Osbourne 31 Conor Ronan
Despite the hassle getting off the I.O.W. due to the rough weather with both the hovercraft and catamaran suspended before the game, I was finally able to get the cat over, as the wind dropped suddenly. Boy was I pleased I went ! We played really well throughout the match. We defended superbly, everyone played their part, and despite our 2-0 win, it could so easily have been by four or five goals. Oli Hawkins headed us ahead in the 25th minute from a Ronan Curtis cross. We should have had a stonewall penalty when Gareth Evans was hauled to the ground by one of their defenders as he broke into the box !! Second half, Ronan Curtis scored after yet another attack. We could have had another penalty when Jamal Lowe was unceremoniously shoved to the ground ! There was a brilliant shot from Nathan Thompson which was heading for the roof of the net, until their keeper tipped it over the bar at full stretch. Little Conor Ronan who was on loan to us from Wolves last season, came on as a second half sub for Walsall and was probably their best player on the night. The attendance was 16,794 which included around 300 away fans. Three more points, another clean sheet, and four points clear of Sunderland, and nine points ahead of Barnsley.
Much has been said so far this season about Ronan Curtis - and rightly so, he's been a great signing - but I think a moment should be taken to appreciate Ollie Hawkins who currently the man in form. In the last 8 games - League and Cup competitions - Hawkin's had scored 6 goals, which is the best return of any of our players over the same period.
Team .............P GD Pts 1 Portsmouth 19 17 44 2 Sunderland 19 21 40 3 Luton .........20 18 38 4 Peterborough 20 12 38 5 Barnsley .....19 15 35 6 Charlton .....19 9 34 7 Doncaster ...20 4 32 8 Blackpool 19 5 31 9 Coventry 20 -2 29 10 Wycombe 20 1 28 11 Accrington 20 -2 28 12 Fleetwood 20 7 27 13 Walsall 20 -7 27 14 Southend 20 -1 26 15 Shrewsbury 20 -2 24 16 Burton 19 -3 24 17 Rochdale 20 -11 23 18 Gillingham 20 -5 21 19 Oxford Utd 20 -6 21 20 Scunthorpe 20 -13 21 21 Bristol Rovers 20 -4 17 22 Plymouth 20 -16 16 23 Wimbledon 20 -16 14 24 Bradford 20 -21 14
We now have four players - Jamal Lowe, Ronan Curtis, Gareth Evans and Oli Hawkins - as joint top scorers this season with 7 goals apiece.
