Luton vs Portsmouth Preview

Last updated : 27 December 2014 By Jim Bonner

Pompey travel to Luton knowing that a defeat will almost certainly be the end of Andy Awford's reign as manager.

Team News

Dan Butler is banned after his sending off against Wimbledon with Nicky Shorey likely to replace him and Awford is likely to make other changes to his underperforming side.

Luton boss John Still may make changes to his side due to the number of games they have played recently but ex-Pompey loanee Paul Benson will miss out with a broken leg.

The Match

If this truly is Andy Awford's last game to save his job then there could hardly be a more difficult fixture for him to get a result from given that Luton have won their last nine fixtures at Kenilworth Road with many of those victories being convincing, too.

It'll be interesting to see how Awford approaches this game as he would certainly take a draw if it were offered to him. It's likely a similar side to the one which drew with Cheltenham will be picked with the emphasis on attempting to contain Luton.

Shorey will replace Butler but that's unlikely to be an improvement but Adam Webster could well be dropped on the other flank given his less-than-stellar performance on Boxing Day although given that Matt Fish wasn't even in the squad yesterday it's anyone's guess as to who the manager picks.

That could well go for any of the other players who started on Boxing Day given how poorly they performed. Whoever is picked, it is very difficult to see any result other than a convincing Hatters victory tomorrow.

Whilst "anything can happen in football" there is simply no faith in this current Pompey team to go to a place where the home side have won every game on their own turf since September 13th and pick up any result given their recent form and lack of confidence.

The only way Pompey will get anything from this game is by getting extremely lucky as they currently lack the effort or quality to match the opposition on the pitch whilst the manager seems clueless off it.

And if or when Portsmouth are beaten tomorrow, that will surely be the end for Andy Awford as manager which would be an extremely sad end to a tenure which seemed so promising at the start.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Luton

GK: Mark TYLER

RB: Michael HARRIMAN

CB: Steve McNULTY

CB: Luke WILKINSON

LB: Scott GRIFFITHS

RM: Shaun WHALLEY

CM: Nathan DOYLE

CM: Andy DRURY

CM: Luke ROONEY

LM: Jake HOWELL

CF: Mark CULLEN

Pompey

GK: Paul JONES

RB: Joe DEVERA

CB: Jack WHATMOUGH

CB: Paul ROBINSON

LB: Nicky SHOREY

DM: Danny HOLLANDS

DM: Marcus BEAN

RM: Jed WALLACE

CM: Nigel ATANGANA

LM: Lee HOLMES

CF: Ryan TAYLOR

Last Time: Luton Town 3 Portsmouth 1 (Division One - 30/09/1995)

Paul Walsh scored the only goal for Pompey in this match as Terry Fenwick's side ended this season by avoiding relegation on goal difference whilst Luton finished bottom of the division.

My Prediction

I honestly can't think of any way how Pompey are going to win this match unless fate intervenes and saves Andy Awford's job. This is likely to be a painful experience.

Luton Town 3 Portsmouth 0