Portsmouth take on rock bottom Northampton Town at Fratton Park tomorrow looking to build on the Boxing Day win over Dagenham.
Team News
Marcos Painter is unlikely to play after limping off on Thursday whilst Simon Ferry was also substituted due to sore hamstrings and may be rested for this match. Bondz N'Gala is available after serving his one-match-ban.
Cobblers midfielder Darren Carter is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Burton whilst Clive Platt and Matias Doumbe are long term absentees amongst others. Izale McLeod might play against his former club having been loaned by MK Dons, but limped off before half-time in their last match.
The Match
Now that Pompey have finally won a match, hopefully that will give Richie Barker's men something to build on with the worst team in the division coming to Fratton Park.
The Cobblers have struggled with injuries this season and haven't been able to replace Adebayo Akinfenwa who was prolific for them last season. Andy King has taken charge since Aidy Boothroyd was sacked but even their own fans say they've been pretty dire all season.
Thus, this is the perfect opportunity for Pompey to pull away from the relegation scrap and propel themselves into mid-table mediocrity. However, the defensive side of the team is going to need some work with Painter and Ferry likely to miss out.
With no recognised left back available with Dan Butler out for the long-term we'll see either Danny East, Yassin Moutaouakil or Joe Devera have to play there. East played well at right back so hopefully he'll stay there but the other two options won't fill fans with confidence.
Johnny Ertl is likely to replace Ferry in midfield if the Scot isn't passed fit and again, that won't fill the supporters with confidence but at least the idiots won't have a chance to boo him when he comes onto the pitch as a substitute.
Patrick Agyemang may be given a rest too, so David Connolly could start up front but the 4-2-3-1 formation is unlikely to change given that it worked quite well on Boxing Day.
This preview couldn't end without a mention for Izale McLeod who isn't the most popular former Portsmouth player around but even if his all-round game is awful, he does know where the goal is so if our leaky defence gift him a chance like the one that fell to Chris Dickson in the last game then you'd back him to score it.
But this is a game that Pompey should be looking to win to really ease the pressure as Northampton can't defend and struggle to score goals. As long as the effort is there again, then there's no reason why Richie Barker won't be celebrating another win to see out 2013.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Trevor CARSON
RB: Danny EAST
CB: Sonny BRADLEY
CB: Bondz N'GALA
LB: Joe DEVERA
DM: Therry RACON
DM: Johnny ERTL
RM: Jed WALLACE
CM: Romain PADOVANI
LM: Ricky HOLMES
CF: David CONNOLLY
Northampton
GK: Matt DUKE
RB: Kevin AMANKWAAH
CB: Lee COLLINS
CB: Paul REID
LB: Joe WIDDOWSON
CM: Gary DEEGAN
CM: Ben TOZER
CM: Danny EMERTON
RWF: Chris HACKETT
LWF: Luke NORRIS
CF: Izale McLEOD
Last Time: Portsmouth 5 Northampton Town 2 (League Cup Second Round - 23/09/2013)
Pompey's first League Cup tie as a Premiership side was won in style as Tim Sherwood, Jason Roberts (twice) and Matty Taylor gave Harry Redknapp's side a commanding leade before Chris Heargreaves pulled one back from the spot. Sherwood scored again but Lawrie Dudfield netted for the Cobblers in stoppage time to make the scoreline slightly more respectable.
My Prediction
If Pompey mess this up and fail to win then it would have undone all of the good work on Boxing Day. It shouldn't happen as long as the players don't think they'll win just by turning up.
Portsmouth 2 Northampton Town 0