Pompey already know they will head the League One table at Christmas, but attention switches to cup progress this evening. A place in the last 16 of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy – and a home tie with Oxford – lies in wait when AFC Wimbledon visit Fratton Park (7.45pm kick-off). It will be the third successive campaign that the sides have met in this competition, although the previous two contests were both in the group stage. The Blues won a bonus point shoot-out following a 1-1 draw on the south coast last season, with Ronan Curtis on target. John Mousinho’s men reached this stage by topping Group E, while their opponents were runners-up behind Wycombe in Group C. Like their hosts, the main priority for the Dons this term will be trying to secure promotion and they currently sit seventh in League Two. A goalless draw at Salford on Saturday meant that they have kept clean sheets in each of their past three games. Johnnie Jackson’s side also remain in the FA Cup, with thumping wins against Cheltenham and Ramsgate securing a home tie with Ipswich in the new year. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, there will be no extra-time and the tie will head straight to penalties. TEAM NEWS Pompey are missing Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Connor Ogilvie (ankle) and Regan Poole (knee). And Sean Raggett is serving a one-match ban after being sent off at Leyton Orient in the final group stage fixture. Former Blues players Alex Bass – who is on loan from Sunderland – and Lee Brown could feature for the visitors. HEAD TO HEAD* Overall Pompey: 20 wins Wimbledon: 15 wins 11 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 13 wins Wimbledon: 4 wins 6 draws *Includes matches against Wimbledon FC TICKETS & TRAVEL Secure your ticket online here, with seats now available in the Fratton End due to strong sales. The Anson Road ticket office is also open, while the booth behind the Fratton End will be selling tickets this evening. Please note that there is a price increase for tickets purchased on the day of the game. Season ticket holder seats were not reserved for this game. They will need a match ticket and cannot use their season card. No programme has been produced for this fixture, while the Victory Bar and FanZone are not open tonight, but the shipping container in the Fratton End will be selling refreshments as usual. If you are driving to the game, please note that the southbound lane of the Eastern Road remains closed due to a burst sewer and is not expected to open again until Wednesday at the earliest. OFFICIALS Referee: Craig Hicks Assistants: Mark Derrien and Andy Bennett Fourth Official: Farai Hallam 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 Wednesday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online).
Apologies for the belated Match Day thread, as been busy today. Pompey trail 1-3 at half time, with Kusini Yengi heading home Denver Hume's left wing cross in the 43rd minute. Poor play from us in the first half, with both Riley Towler and Terry Devlin giving the ball away to the visitors. They scored twice after Devlin's errors.
Wombles went 1-4 up in the 48th minute with a Pell goal. Pompey pulled back to 2-4 in the 58th minute with a first Pompey goal from Gavin Whyte from a Terry Devlin pass.
Final whistle. 2-5 to the away team. Not surprising really, with nine changes to the starting line up for us. At least we can now concentrate on the league, utilising our strongest side.
Pompey exited the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after being beaten 5-2 by AFC Wimbledon in the round of 32. A much-changed side were punished for some sloppy play by their League Two opponents at Fratton Park. Aron Sasu, Josh Davison and Alex Pearce all struck before Kusini Yengi reduced the deficit just before the break. Harry Pell then netted a fourth for the Dons following the restart and although Gavin Whyte grabbed a first Blues goal, Ali Al-Hamadi wrapped things up for the visitors late on. John Mousinho made nine changes from the side that extended their advantage at the League One summit by winning at Shrewsbury on Saturday. Yengi and Joe Rafferty were the only players to retain their place, with the latter fielded in an unfamiliar centre-back role and wearing the captain’s armband. Josh Martin, Christian Saydee and Whyte were all handed attacking roles, while Ben Stevenson and Terry Devlin occupied the engine room. The defence was completed by Zak Swanson, Ryley Towler and Denver Hume, in front of keeper Ryan Schofield. Koby Mottoh and Harry Jewitt-White were both named on an otherwise experienced bench that included leading marksman Colby Bishop. It was, to be blunt, a first half to forget for the hosts, who looked vulnerable at the back – which their opponents were quick to capitalise on. Pearce had already nodded a James Tilley corner over the bar when they broke the deadlock on 11 minutes. Sasu caught Devlin in possession and advanced forward before bending in a shot that Schofield could not keep out. It almost got worse a few minutes later, as Charlie Lakin stole the ball from Stevenson, only for the midfielder to shot wastefully wide. But the Dons did double their advantage midway through the half after Devlin had lost the ball again, this time to Lakin. He slotted a long pass through to Davison, who raced clear to slot the ball home and leave Fratton Park stunned. AFC Wimbledon were not done there, though, and when Schofield failed to collect a Tilley corner, Pearce fired home. But the keeper was at his best moments later, getting down low to his left to smartly keep out Tilley’s effort. Pompey finally started to regain their composure as the interval approached and referee Craig Hicks played a smart advantage after Saydee had been fouled. Devlin collected the ball slipped a neat pass through to Yengi, whose low shot was cleared from the line by former Blues defender Lee Brown. But YENGI did provide the hosts with a lifeline on 43 minutes, getting on the end of Hume’s cross to head into the net. Half Time: Pompey 1 AFC Wimbledon 3 There was a change at the break, with Yengi making way and the fit-again Anthony Scully making a welcome return. But hopes of a fightback were dealt a blow when the Dons restored their advantage within three minutes of the restart. Rafferty was penalised for fouling Sasu on the edge of the box and Pell’s low free-kick went straight through the wall and into the net. Pompey kept fighting, however, and found another goal when Devlin caught Ryan Johnson dithering and cut the ball back for WHYTE to fire home and open his account for the club. They had suddenly found a new gear and were starting to attack their opponents with menace, roared on by an enlivened crowd. The Dons then almost took advantage of a fortunate bounce at the other end of the pitch, but Schofield did well to deny Davison. Mousinho brought on some fresh legs on 68 minutes, with young Jewitt-White on in place of Swanson at right-back. They were still causing the visitors some problems, but the final ball to test Nik Tzanev was not quite there. Two more attacking changes followed, as Bishop and Mottoh were brought on for Rafferty and Martin. But they could not score again and it was AFC Wimbledon who had the final say when Josh Neufville squared for fellow substitute Al-Hamadi to net from a few yards out. Pompey (4-2-3-1): Ryan Schofield; Zak Swanson (Harry Jewitt-White 68), Joe Rafferty (c) (Colby Bishop 79), Ryley Towler, Denver Hume; Terry Devlin, Ben Stevenson; Gavin Whyte, Christian Saydee, Josh Martin (Koby Mottoh 79); Kusini Yengi (Anthony Scully 46) Goals: Yengi 43, Whyte 58 Booked: Rafferty, Hume, Towler Subs not used: Will Norris, Jack Sparkes, Abu Kamara AFC Wimbledon (4-4-2): Tzanev; Ogundere, Pearce (c), Johnson, Lee Brown; Tilley (Reeves 69), Lakin, Ball, Sasu (Neufville 75); Davison (Al-Hamadi 75 (Biler 90+7)), Pell (Bugiel 75) Goals: Sasu 11, Davison 22, Pearce 28, Pell 48, Al-Hamadi 89 Booked: Johnson, Pearce, Tilley Subs not used: Bass, Currie Referee: Craig Hicks
Thank you Wooperts! Sounds like a game Pompey didn't want to play given the hammering meted out by Wimbledon. Had those players been motivated, I am sure the outcime would have been a lot closer
If we win on Saturday, it seems we are doing it like Plymouth last season. After a tonking, they bounced back immediately. Hopefully, we can do the same!
