Pompey travel to Nottinghamshire tomorrow looking to build on last week's excellent win over Morecambe to really spark their campaign into life.
Team News
Simon Ferry is a slight doubt for this game after he suffered a toe injury during the Morecambe game last week. Johnny Ertl has served his suspension and is ready to replace him although may return to the starting XI anyway.
Jack Maloney has been loaned to Aldershot, Ashley Harris was set to join him but that was cancelled due to a groin injury whilst no deal has been completed for Shaun Cooper yet despite him training with the team on Thursday.
Mansfield manager Paul Cox has no new injury worries with Ian Deaking and Keiran Murtagh the only long-term casualties. Former Havant & Waterlooville midfielder Ollie Palmer is set to play against Pompey after scoring against Wycombe last week.
The Match
The first half demolition job of Morecambe last Saturday proved that Portsmouth are capable of tearing teams apart when they're on form, but this should be a much sterner test of Pompey's promotion credentials.
For the last few seasons, Pompey's inability to win away from home consistently has been instrumental in the club's downfall but if a promotion charge is on the cards then winning at places like Mansfield has to be paramount.
Guy Whittingham's main selection dilemma will be to decide whether to bring his skipper back into the side should Simon Ferry be fit. Johnny Ertl may have been Pompey's player of the season last year but Padovani has stepped in and performed well in his absence and deserves to keep his place in the team.
The two wingers and the frontmen were outstanding last Saturday and should give the Stags defence plenty of problems tomorrow. It'll also be interesting to see how the defence copes having gradually improved as the season has progressed.
Pompey have the superior team on paper, especially in attack so the main question is can Guy Whittingham prove some of his critics wrong and out-think his managerial counterpart?
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Mansfield
GK: Alan MARRIOTT
RB: Ritchie SUTTON
CB: John DEMPSTER
CB: Martin RILEY
LB: Lee BEEVERS
RM: Chris CLEMENTS
CM: Sam CLUCAS
CM: Jamie McGUIRE
LM: James JENNINGS
CF: Ben HUTCHINSON
CF: Ollie PALMER
Pompey
GK: Phil SMITH
RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL
CB: Sonny BRADLEY
CB: Joe DEVERA
LB: Marcos PAINTER
RM: Jed WALLACE
CM: Romain PADOVANI
CM: Simon FERRY
LM: Andy BARCHAM
CF: Patrick AGYEMANG
CF: David CONNOLLY
Last Time: Mansfield Town 1 Portsmouth 2 (League Cup Second Round - 19/09/2006)
Portsmouth arrived at Field Mill top of the Premier League having not conceded a goal and took control of this match thanks to two screamers from Manuel Fernandes and Matthew Taylor.
Danny Reet became the first player to score against new-look Pompey late on but Harry Redknapp's team did enough to see the game through.
My Prediction
This should be a much tougher match than the Morecambe game but I'm backing Pompey to build on last week's win with a narrow victory.
Mansfield Town 1 Portsmouth 2