Next Up: Portsmouth v Exeter City

City at least avoided a fourth straight home defeat on Tuesday night, the late fightback ensuring Paul Tisdale’s side remains in touching distance of the playoffs going into a Valentine’s Day tussle against arguably the division’s underachievers. Paul Tisdale still has a number of injuries to contend with, while the performances from the bench of Christian Ribeiro, David Wheeler and Clinton Morrison might be enough to convince Tisdale to give them a start at Portsmouth. Tisdale was very critical of City’s defending on Tuesday night, with Craig Woodman, who scored an own goal of bizarre beauty, bearing the brunt, and Tisdale may look to take Woodman out of the firing line in favour of Jamie McAllister.

Having finally overcome the debt crisis that saw them drop from the Premier League to the doldrums of League Two, Portsmouth were expected to challenge at the top end of the table. However, Andy Awford’s side have struggled to perform consistently and go into Saturday’s match in 16th place in the table, still looking nervously over their shoulder. Their solitary win since November was last Saturday against whipping boys Hartlepool, and they have just two wins from their last fifteen in all competitions including a defeat at Conference side Aldershot in the FA Cup.

Pompey will expect to call on three former City players – Paul Jones, James Dunne and one time loanee Ryan Taylor, while expensive striker Matt Tubbs finally registered his first goal for the club at the sixth attempt in the win over Hartlepool.

Portsmouth’s iffy campaign could have been predicted following the opening day of the season, when they were the visitors to the Park to take on a City side in complete disarray, with an injury and illness crisis so deep that Tisdale was forced to name himself on the bench at the age of 41. City were ahead 1-0 at half time through Tom Nichols, before Jed Wallace equalised in the second half.

The corresponding fixture last season saw Portsmouth cruise into a 3-0 lead (Holmes and two from Bird) before goals from Coles and O’Flynn ensured a grandstand finish. Portsmouth have a clear head to head lead in Football League matches with 10 wins to City’s 2 (7 draws).

Match officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2015/02/12/match-officials-portsmouth-v-exeter-city/

Fratton Park Ground Guide: http://www.exeweb.com/2013/10/25/the-things-you-need-to-know-fratton-park/

Highlights of last seasons game

 

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