After successive draws, Pompey know they need to start winning games in order to keep alive their faint play-off hopes. So three points will certainly be the target when John Mousinho takes his side to Shrewsbury on Saturday (3pm kick-off). The hosts were also in the hunt for a top six spot – helped by a six-match winning run at the start of 2023. But they have fallen away over the past few weeks and lost their past four fixtures – including a 6-0 hammering at Charlton. It leaves the Shropshire outfit sitting just a couple of places behind the Blues in 11th position, but with eight fewer points. Former Pompey boss Steve Cotterill has still overseen plenty of progress, however, after guiding the Shrews to 18th spot last term. It finished 1-1 when the sides clashed on the south coast back in October, with Zak Swanson cancelling out Elliott Bennett’s opener. But the Blues emerged 2-1 winners in the previous season’s Montgomery Waters Meadow meeting, courtesy of goals from Aiden O’Brien and Louis Thompson. TEAM NEWS Paddy Lane could be available again after making a faster than anticipated return to full training following a hamstring injury. Michael Jacobs and Connor Ogilvie will also hope to be in contention, having missed the Morecambe game with knocks. But Ronan Curtis (knee), Jayden Reid (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) remain sidelined and Joe Morrell serves the second game of a four-match ban. Shrewsbury are without Tom Bayliss (ankle), George Nurse (knee), Rekeil Pyke (Achilles) and Dan Udoh (knee), while Christian Saydee (knee) remains a doubt. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 17 wins Shrewsbury: 10 wins 5 draws On the road Pompey: 5 wins Shrewsbury: 8 wins 2 draws TICKETS Pompey fans can still secure their seat for the game. Click here for more details. OFFICIALS Referee: Tom Nield Assistants: Kevin Morris and Conor Brown Fourth Official: Billy Smallwood MATCH COVERAGE Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 2pm on Saturday. Overseas subscribers and match pass holders can watch all the action live, with accompanying commentary. 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 updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story. There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Sunday. Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online).
Attempt missed. Sean Raggett header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Rafferty with a cross following a corner. 16 mins.
Attempt blocked. Joe Pigott right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marlon Pack. 17 mins.
Attempt missed. Connor Ogilvie header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Reeco Hackett with a cross following a corner. 19 mins.
Meanwhile, Conor Chaplin has scored two already while our football remains about as productive as that of a castrated male dog!
All that experience and he manages to.get a yellow card with.78 minutes left? Feel.we will be reduced to 10 men eventually in this match!
Break in play, with the referee going off with a thigh injury, to be replaced by the 4th official. 32 minutes.
All.our teams seem to be doing poorly! Havant & Waterlooville, Farnboro, Bournemouth, SFC at the moment. There seems to.be a malaise of bad football in county of Hampshire!
Ryan Tunnicliffe tees-up Joe Pigott in the box and after his effort is spilled by Maroši, Moore flings himself in the path of Reeco Hackett's follow-up. 42 minutes.
Half time whistle goes, and it's 0-0. We have had a few chances, but basically it has been a poor first half. Let's hope the second half is better
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Shrewsbury ..........Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 46% Away 54% Shots: Home 4 Away 5 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 1 Corners: Home 3 Away 3 Fouls: Home 6 Away 6
