Wembley fever has swept Pompey, with more than 40,000 tickets snapped up for the Checkatrade Trophy final. But the Blues have to put that excitement behind them and focus on trying to collect League One points at Shrewsbury on Saturday. Kenny Jackett’s side are just four points adrift of the automatic promotion places and can move above third-placed Sunderland, who are not in action his weekend. Their opponents, meanwhile, are one of a number of sides involved in an incredible battle to beat the drop. Any of the teams currently in the bottom half of the table could conceivably go down, with the Shrews currently in 18th position. Sam Ricketts’ outfit are just a couple of points above the relegation places with eight games left to play. The Shropshire side were in the top two for most of last term as they came close to snatching a Championship spot, but ended up losing to Rotherham at Wembley in the play-offs. It finished all square when Shrewsbury visited Fratton Park back in September, with a Brett Pitman penalty cancelling out Greg Docherty’s opener. TEAM NEWS Viv Solomon-Otabor (calf) will miss out for Pompey after going off injured in last week’s win over Scunthorpe. Also missing for the visitors are Andy Cannon (thigh), Ronan Curtis (finger), Dion Donohue (groin), Bryn Morris (knee) and Jack Whatmough (knee). Shrewsbury have doubts over defenders James Bolton, Luke Waterfall and Ro-Shaun Williams, while Ryan Sears is on international duty with Wales U21s. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 12 wins Shrewsbury: 9 wins 3 draws At Shrewsbury Pompey: 2 wins Shrewsbury: 7 wins 2 draws BETTING Pompey are the 7/5 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while the hosts can be backed at 19/10.
Shrewsbury 15 Arnold 22 Waterfall 2 Williams 13 Bolton 6 Beckles 8 Docherty 42 Grant 29 Norburn 23 Golbourne 7 Whalley 12 Okenabirhie Substitutes 1 Mitchell 4 Edwards 5 Sadler 11 Campbell 20 Amadi-Holloway 28 Laurent 50 Payne
Attempt saved. Greg Docherty (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. 10th minute.
Attempt saved. Fejiri Okenabirhie (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. 13th minute.
Attempt saved. Shaun Whalley (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. 17th minute. All Shrewsbury at the moment !!
Attempt missed. Anthony Grant (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. 19th minute.
Attempt missed. James Bolton (Shrewsbury Town) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a set piece situation. 27th minute.
Attempt saved. Gareth Evans (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. 29th minute. Our first shot on target !
Ben Close is not far wide at all with a stunner from edge of box. Omar Bogle had just escaped defenders but timed his header wrong in box. 34'
0-1 to Pompey Midfielder Ben Close with his 6th goal of the season, a nice right foot shot. Lee Brown (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. 40th minute. Against the run of play, but who cares
Half time whistle. 0-1 to Pompey. Shrews started the match by far the better team, but for the last 20 minutes PFC have come well and truly into the game, after Kenny Jackett cleverly switched Brett Pitman to the left wing, Jamal Lowe to the right wing, and Gareth Evans to play just behind Omar Bogle. Should be an interesting second half.......