Pompey take on Carlisle United at Fratton Park tomorrow looking for another win as the race for promotion enters the final furlong.
Team News
Ryan Fulton is available again after returning from international duty but Bolton loanee Conor Wilkinson sustained a groin injury whilst playing for Ireland U-21's and will miss the game.
Keith Curle will be without defender Alex McQueen and midfielder Steven Rigg due to injury whilst at least one of his loan players will not make the matchday squad due to the rule of only being able to have five at one time. Hallam Hope missed out last time and could well do again.
The Match
Whilst some fans were undoubtedly annoyed with Easter Monday's postponement, it may well have been a blessing in disguise as Pompey would have undoubtedly struggled to play their natural game on such a sodden pitch and it gave them an extra two days rest over their opponents tomorrow.
The Cumbrians still harbour hopes of a play-off position and ended a run of four straight draws with a 3-2 win over high-flying Bristol Rovers.
They play a very expansive game when at their best but this should play directly into Pompey's hands. They have attempted to play a more condensed game away from home but it ultimately doesn't work and so we can expect them to try and attack tomorrow.
Cook is likely to select the same eleven that started against Notts County on Good Friday, only expect Paul Jones to make way for Fulton despite keeping a clean sheet against the woeful Magpies. We need to see more from Michael Smith as a goal threat and the same could be said for Adam McGurk who has also flattered to deceive this season.
So long as there is no complacency and lack of concentration, the superior quality of Cook's players should have enough to breach the brittle Carlisle rearguard on more than one occasion and ultimately win the game to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
As for who may drop points in the promotion race tomorrow, it seems Plymouth may be the most likely as they travel to Exeter for the Devon derby. Oxford aren't in league action as they play Barnsley in the JPT final whilst Accrington and Rovers host Cambridge and Crawley respectively and they will be expected to take maximum points from those games.
Therefore it's imperative that Pompey also take maximum points not just tomorrow but for the majority of the rest of the season, too.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Ryan FULTON
RB: Ben DAVIES
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Matt CLARKE
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny HOLLANDS
RM: Adam McGURK
AM: Gary ROBERTS
LM: Kyle BENNETT
CF: Michael SMITH
Carlisle
GK: Mark GILLESPIE
RB: Tom MILLER
CB: Michael RAYNES
CB: Mark ELLIS
LB: Macaulay GILLESPHEY
CM: Jason KENNEDY
CM: Gary DICKER
CM: Luke JOYCE
RWF: Jack STACEY
LWF: Alex GILLIEAD
CF: Jabo IBHERE
Last Time: Portsmouth 3 Carlisle United 0 (League Two - 01/11/2014)
Craig Westcarr pounced on a goalkeeper spill in the first minute to ensure Pompey took total control of this match with Miles Storey's goal doubling the lead before the break. Danny Hollands volleyed in a third towards the end of the game to seal the win over the hapless Cumbrians.
My Prediction
I'm backing Pompey to win an open game of football due to the superior players at the back rather than going forward. They should score more chances than the Carlisle players do.
Portsmouth 3 Carlisle United 1