Pompey take on Carlisle United at Brunton Park tomorrow looking for their first win in five league games.
Team News
Paul Cook has no new injury worries with Jack Whatmough pencilled in for a return to the squad on December 1st. Gary Roberts, Matt Tubbs, Paul Jones and Jayden Stockley all remain injured.
Keith Curle can welcome Jabo Ibhere back to his side after missing him for a month whilst midfielder Luke Joyce and defender Michael Raynes are also available after serving their suspensions.
The Match
Despite the torrid weather up north during the week tomorrow's game will still go ahead thanks to the superb work of the Carlisle ground staff. Pompey fans will be hoping that their team returns to winning ways after a stuttering run of form as it's a long way back from Cumbria, especially if you've just seen your team get beaten.
Paul Cook will be wondering whether to stick with the 4-4-2 he tried against Wimbledon last Sunday or revert back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 that worked so well for him at the start of the season.
The latter could be suggested not because he has given up hope on a conventional 4-4-2 working somewhere down the line but Carlisle's erratic all-out-attack style of play calls for a more conservative approach to the game where it may be wiser to soak up their attacks and then hit them on the break.
Keeping the ball out of the net is going to be difficult given that Jabo Ibhere has scored eight league goals and can hold the ball up for others. Derek Asamoah is also a threat whilst the Cumbrians are also useful when it comes to set-pieces. It will be a surprise if Pompey leave Brunton Park with a clean sheet tomorrow.
Therefore Portsmouth are going to have to find some way of outscoring the hosts and that could prove difficult given how few chances the team has created recently. A severe lack of creativity in midfield and some inconsistent play from the wingers has seen the striker(s) starved of service in recent weeks and something needs to change.
Hopefully Cook has been working on various routines in training in an attempt to increase the amount of chances his side creates without sacrificing too much at the back where Carlisle could take advantage due to the sheer numbers they throw forward.
It should be an entertaining and unpredictable game for those braving the journey tomorrow but given the respective form of both teams there is absolutely no way of knowing just how this one is going to turn out.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Carlisle
GK: Mark GILLESPIE
RB: David ATKINSON
CB: Michael RAYNES
CB: Mark ELLIS
LB: Danny GRAINGER
CM: Jason KENNEDY
CM: Gary DICKER
CM: Luke JOYCE
RWF: Derek ASAMOAH
LWF: Alex GILLIEAD
CF: Jabo IBHERE
Pompey
GK: Brian MURPHY
RB: Ben DAVIES
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Adam WEBSTER
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Nigel ATANGANA
RM: Gareth EVANS
AM: Adam McGURK
LM: Kyle BENNETT
CF: Marc McNULTY
Last Time: Carlisle United 2 Portsmouth 2 (League Two - 03/04/2015)
Kyle Dempsey gave the hosts the lead after just one minute but Pompey soon took control and had the lead before the break thanks to a screamer from Jed Wallace and a tap in from Tubbs. It seemed like Andy Awford's men would hold on for all three points but Charlie Wyke's strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time ensured it wasn't such a Good Friday for Pompey fans.
The Match
This should be an open game with an unpredictable result. One to leave off your coupon, that's for sure.
Carlisle United 2 Portsmouth 2