Tomorrow marks the beginning of a nine month slog to get out of League Two with a trip to St. James' Park to play early relegation candidates Exeter City.
Team News
Andy Awford is mulling over whether to include Ricky Holmes and Ryan Taylor in his starting line-up after they missed the last couple of pre-sason friendlies but they are both set to play. Patrick Agyemang is out with a hamstring injury whilst Danny East, Wes Fogden and Tom Craddock are also on the treatment table.
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale has had to register himself as a player as his squad has been hit with a sickness bug. Pat Baldwin, Danny Butterfield, Arron Davies and David Wheeler have all been affected whilst Liam Sercombe and Scot Bennett face fitness tests.
The Match
The optimism is high amongst Pompey fans once again but there is definitely an air of caution this time after last season and the opening day humbling by Oxford United.
Andy Awford couldn't possibly have picked more ideal opponents than Exeter tomorrow if he had the chance. The Grecians squad has been hit by a bug, are currently under a transfer embargo due to financial difficulties and their C.E.O. has just stepped down with the chairman leaving last month.
This makes Exeter a team ripe for relegation and whilst Awford has said that tomorrow's result won't decide what happens this season, if Pompey are serious about challenging for promotion then this is a game that they have to look to win. The season may be marathon and not a sprint but how many marathon runners have finished well after tripping up on a pothole after crossing the start line?
Whilst this statistic gets repeated almost every year on Fratton Faithful now Pompey haven't won on the opening day since 2006. That's eight years now since goals from Svetoslav Todorov and Kanu (who should have had a hat-trick had he not fluffed his penalty) saw Blackburn beaten 3-0 at Fratton Park.
This is a good a time as any to set that record straight given the home side's problems as long as Pompey can keep things tight at the back which is easier said than done given the pre-season performances as well as those at the back end of last season. It makes you wonder if Paul Robinson will be handed a debut at centre back to organise the defence.
One player who will be handed his debut is James Dunne who'll have an important role protecting the back four alongside Danny Hollands who might be a good bet to score tomorrow given his exploits at the end of last season and this pre-season.
If Awford decides to play a 4-3-3 tomorrow as expected then Nigel Atangana should complete the midfield trio whilst Holmes and Taylor are almost certain to be risked going by the manager's comments after the Charlton match. Jed Wallace should join the attack which looks more than capable of putting a couple of goals past the weakened Grecians.
Having said that, it would be stupid to underestimate Exeter given the fine margins between winning and losing games in League Two. There could be a case that our defence concedes and early goal and crumbles, leaving the Pompey fans frustrated once again.
However, with the array of attacking players at Pompey's disposal there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful not just for tomorrow, but for the season ahead too.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Exeter
GK: Christy PYM
RB: Danny BUTTERFIELD
CB: Pat BALDWIN
CB: Jordan TILLSON
LB: Craig WOODMAN
RM: Liam SERCOMBE
CM: Matt OAKLEY
CM: Matt GRIMES
LM: Aaron DAVIES
CF: Jamie REID
CF: Tom NICHOLLS
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RB: Adam WEBSTER
CB: Ben CHORLEY
CB: Jack WHATMOUGH
LB: Nicky SHOREY
CM: James DUNNE
CM: Danny HOLLANDS
CM: Nigel ATANGANA
RWF: Jed WALLACE
LWF: Ricky HOLMES
CF: Ryan TAYLOR
Last Time: Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 1 (League Two - 08/02/2014)
Jake Jervis gave Richie Barker's side an early lead by tapping the ball home but other opportunities to win the match were missed and Pompey were punished at the death when Liam Sercombe's deflected strike flew past Trevor Carson in the last minute to further frustrate the Portsmouth fans.
My Prediction
The defending in pre-season suggests that a clean sheet is unlikely but Pompey have enough going forward to take advantage of Exeter's current problems and should hopefully have enough to win this opening day clash.
Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 2