Pompey return to Fratton Park to take on relegated Colchester United looking to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat at Morecambe.
Team News
Paul Cook has no new injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's match but Danny Hollands has opted to sign for Crewe. He may be tempted to make changes following Tuesday's defeat to Morecambe.
U's boss John McGreal is likely to name an unchanged side from the team that beat Grimsby 3-2 on Tuesday with midfielder Owen Garvan out injured.
The Match
Tuesday's defeat at Morecambe caused some Pompey fans to boo their team off as they continue to be disgruntled about the slow start to the season.
Whilst the stats may have conveyed a dominating Portsmouth performance the damage had been done by some woeful defending in the first half coupled with an impotent showing up front until the latter stages of the game when Barry Roche once again thwarted Pompey's plans of taking a result back from Lancashire.
A quick start where the pressure is constantly applied is what's required tomorrow against a Colchester team that, like Crewe, has started the season well despite relegation from League One last season. An early goal would certainly help settle the nerves and the U's do have a knack of conceding but they are also capable of scoring plenty, too.
That's if they choose to attack, of course. John McGreal may have looked at how Carlisle managed to come away from Fratton Park with a draw on opening day and then decided to play in a similar fashion. They are likely to play a containing game that will catch Pompey on the break with their pace up front.
This could be a worry given that the back four have suffered too many lapses in concentration so far this season and that has been costly. Burgess and co. will really have to be on their game tomorrow.
As far as team selection goes, we know the manager isn't going to depart from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation so it's just a case of who, if anyone, gets replaced.
Michael Smith's performance at Morecambe was improved over his previous two but Curtis Main made more of an impact and now it's surely time for him to start? Milan Lalkovic will probably end up replacing Kyle Bennett and hopefully Conor Chaplin will at least make the bench this time. What has he got to do to get a run in the team?
Let's hope that this team gels sooner rather than later because the lack of a plan B and the opposition's "park the bus" tactics will make for a frustrating afternoon otherwise.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: David FORDE
RB: Drew TALBOT
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Adam BARTON
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny ROSE
RM: Gary ROBERTS
AM: Carl BAKER
LM: Milan LALKOVIC
CF: Curtis MAIN
Colchester
GK: Sam WALKER
RB: Richard BRINDLEY
CB: Tom EASTMAN
CB: Luke PROSSER
LB: Lewis KINSELLA
CM: Tom LAPSLIE
CM: Doug LOFT
AM: Kurtis GUTHRIE
RWF: Drey WRIGHT
LWF: Brennan DICKENSON
CF: Chris PORTER
Last Time: Portsmouth 2 Colchester United 3 (League One - 02/02/2013)
A frantic start saw Gavin Massey open the scoring in the second minute only for Jed Wallace to strike an immediate equaliser. However, Sam Sodje fouled Freddie Sears in the box, the striker converted the resulting penalty and Massey added a third soon after as the home crowd turned sour.
The visitors had numerous chances to make the scoreline humiliating but James Keene gave Pompey fans hope by pulling one back. A late equaliser never came as Guy Whittingham's men were booed off.
My Prediction
I have a bad feeling about this one. Colchester will play for a draw knowing how to frustrate a rigid Pompey side that can only play one way.
Portsmouth 1 Colchester United 1