Portsmouth v Stevenage preview please log in to view this image Darren Sarll: No new worries for Stevenage boss Conor Chaplin is available after suspension to boost Paul Cook's attacking options for Portsmouth's home clash with Stevenage. However, Michael Smith starred in an impressive 3-1 win at Luton in midweek and will hope to keep his starting place. Amine Linganzi was available for Tuesday night's match after a three-game ban but failed to make it off the bench and he will hope to feature. But Cook is unlikely to make many changes after such a strong display against the Hatters. Stevenage manager Darren Sarll has no fresh injury or suspension concerns. The Boro are looking to extend their unbeaten league run to four games after beating Accrington 1-0 last weekend. Ronnie Henry, Fraser Franks, Ben Kennedy and Henry Cowans are all one yellow card away from suspension. Tyler Walker has been struggling with fitness and remains a doubt for the game. Portsmouth manager Paul Cook says he will "move heaven and earth" to get the club promoted from League Two. Cook saw his side beat Luton 3-1 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday - a performance he labelled as the "strongest of his tenure". "This is a tough club to play for and manage," he told BBC Radio Solent. "The supporters dictate that, they want success like the rest of us." Victory lifted Pompey above Luton to fourth - two points off the top three. "They (the supporters) just want us to get promoted," Cook added. "I'm going to move heaven and earth to do that. "If we don't get promoted this year, I swear I will have done my best for them. "But, we're not going to get carried away. Eighteen games in to the season and what have we won? Absolute nothing, so it's straight on to Saturday and Stevenage at home."
Portsmouth FC @officialpompey Wilkinson has his hands all over Smith whenever a #Pompey player tries to pick him out, but the referee hasn't spotted it yet (23 mins) Portsmouth FC @officialpompey The linesman finally spots a blatant foul on Smith and #Pompey get a free-kick (31 mins) Cue Ironic cheers from the crowd
Poor defeat against basically an average Stevenage side. Really should have taken our first half chances - usual story ! Despite his height, Michael Smith was held/pushed/pulled/fouled, every time the ball came towards him anywhere on the pitch. As stated earlier he received no protection from the referee or the linesmen, apart from one occasion, when the linesmen actually "noticed" the foul, and raised his flag. Two soft goals from them, and a nice goal from Michael Smith, who played very well, and was my man of the match. That's three goals in three matches. Very impressed with him, and he seems to have got his confidence back. According to the Hertfordshire Mercury, Portsmouth manager Paul Cook has revealed a half-time "incident", believed to be a changing room bust-up, led to two of the Hampshire side's players being substituted after just 45 minutes of Saturday's game against Stevenage. The game was poised at 0-0 at the break, but Stevenage scored two goals, on 70 and 74 minutes, and finished 2-1 winners at Fratton Park. Pompey boss Cook has confirmed the half-time substitutions of skipper Michael Doyle and centre-back Christian Burgess were not tactical or down to injury, and added that losing two of his more experienced players contributed to the defeat. 'There has been an incident," Cook told the post-match press conference. "I'm not going to insult Pompey fans' intelligence There was obviously a problem at half-time to make two subs like that. "It affected the changes we can make. That's the way it is. Something has gone on at half time so we had to make those changes." Read more at http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co....936999-detail/story.html?#HHxvwlQXqfFbXRZ0.99
According to Paul Cook it was the booing when 1 up the other week that did the trick with Michael Smith Wooperts. Well whatever it takes eh.
