Pompey fans will make the long trek up to Victoria Park tomorrow to watch their side take on struggling Hartlepool United.
Team News
Michael Drennan could be handed his first start since returning to Pompey on loan from Aston Villa whilst Nigel Atangana is poised to return after playing 45 minutes for the reserves in a 2-2 draw with Luton during the week, where he netted the second goal. Ryan Taylor could also return but Ben Chorley is still ruled out with a calf injury.
On-loan Middlesbrough striker Charlie Wyke could return to the Pools side after recovering from a concussion whilst Boro team-mate David Atkinson could also make his first start having just been loaned from the Championship club. Stuart Parnaby is ruled out with a damaged knee.
The Match
Pompey's start to this season has been reasonable but nothing better than that. Tomorrow's fixture may well serve as a standard as to which Andy Awford's men are judged over the season.
Hartlepool have only won twice all season and really struggle to score goals with many of their defeats coming without them having found the back of the net. If Pompey are serious about mounting a promotion push then this is the type of match that they should be winning.
Having said that, the Pools two wins this season have been against AFC Wimbledon and Shrewsbury who are both tipped to do well this season. Ryan Brobbel is one to watch for them on the wing whilst Jack Compton on the other flank will have a point to prove against his former club.
Marlon Harewood is also capable of scoring goals at League Two level so it would be silly to take this match for granted, especially considering Pompey's weak defence and lack of goals from their own strikers.
Drennan may well start tomorrow to try and remedy that problem and although his goalscoring record isn't fantastic, he does bring some energy to a forward line which looks static at times. And what does Miles Storey have to do to be selected from the start in a game? A lively front two of Drennan and Storey could pose a huge problem for the Hartlepool defence.
Awford has to make a decision on what system he wants to use, too. He has favoured the 3-5-2 at home but he may well have other plans for his team when playing away from home. Personally, my opinion is that he should set his side to attack teams away from home where they are less likely to be cautious and be Wycombe-esque in their time wasting in front of their own fans.
A defeat tomorrow would be a major setback and have the fans asking serious questions about what this season holds and just how bad it might get. However, you have to be confident that Pompey can get a result against a side as hapless as Hartlepool.
Let's hope Jeff Stelling is miserable once again come 5:45pm tomorrow.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Hartlepool
GK: Scott FLINDERS
RB: Michael DUCKWORTH
CB: Matthew BATES
CB: Scott HARRISON
LB: Neil AUSTIN
RM: Ryan BROBBEL
CM: Brad WALKER
CM: Tommy MILLER
LM: Jack COMPTON
CF: Marlon HAREWOOD
CF: Charlie WYKE
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RWB: Alex WYNTER
CB: Joe DEVERA
CB: Jack WHATMOUGH
CB: Paul ROBINSON
LWB: Dan BUTLER
CM: James DUNNE
CM: Danny HOLLANDS
CM: Jed WALLACE
CF: Michael DRENNAN
CF: Craig WESTCARR
Last Time: Hartlepool United 0 Portsmouth 0 (League Two - 30/11/2013)
The Pompey fans who made the long journey north were treated to one of the most boring football matches in history. Jed Wallace hit the post in a match where absolutely nothing else of note happened. The only positive was Pompey keeping a clean sheet in this yawnfest having constantly leaked goals in previous games.
My Prediction
Pompey can't keep a clean sheet and are bound to concede but there should be enough in the midfield and hopefully a reinvigorated strikeforce to score the goals to win this match.
Hartlepool United 1 Portsmouth 2