Portsmouth vs Preston Preview

Last updated : 14 December 2012 By Jim Bonner

Preston North End are the latest visitors to Fratton Park as Portsmouth attempt to win a football match at the tenth time of asking.

Team News

Guy Whittingham is likely to stick with the same team that earned a point at Prenton Park on Saturday although Lee Williamson and Scott Allan are fully fit again and Jake Jervis is pushing for a start after scoring last weekend.

PNE manager Graham Westley has said that midfielders Nicky Wroe and Lee Holmes are struggling and may not make the game. Forward Stuart Beavon is not fit enough to start the match whlst regular strike partner Akpo Sodje has left the club after refusing a contract extension.

The Match

With so many fans frustrated at the off-field issues at the moment tomorrow will be a good time to focus on the football as Pompey look to build on two encouraging draws away from home.

That might see more fans turn up at Fratton Park than usual given how dire Pompey have been at home recently, especially after the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Leyton Orient.

But it's not just Pompey who seem to struggle at home this season. League One has seen many teams develop better away records than at home this season and Preston are one of those teams.

However, given that the Lilywhites have a whole host of problems with their squad and are generally inconsistent, there is a belief that Pompey can get their season back on track now that the squad seems to be more settled.

Because of that, it's doubtful we'll see Jake Jervis start which is a shame because he changed the nature of the game when he came on at Tranmere. I'd personally also like to see Liam Walker start a match but until Brian Howard leaves then that'll never happen.

Still, Pompey fans will go to Fratton Park with a renewed hope that issues on the pitch are being resolved, even if they aren't being resolved off the pitch.

And that has to be better than the mood around the club after Pompey's last home game.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Simon EASTWOOD

RB: Mustapha DUMBUYA

CB: Gabor GYEPES

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

LB: Jon HARLEY

RM: Lee WILLIAMSON

CM: Johnny ERTL

CM: Brian HOWARD

LM: Scott ALLAN

CF: Izale McLEOD

CF: Paul BENSON

Preston

GK: Thorsten STUCKMANN

RB: Todd KANE

CB: Paul HUNTINGTON

CB: Chris ROBERTSON

LB: David BUCHANAN

RM: Jeffrey MONAKANA

CM: John WELSH

CM: Jack KING

LM: Lee HOLMES

SS: Jack KING

CF: Graham CUMMINS

CF: David AMOO

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Preston North End 1 (Championship - 09/04/2011)

A drab Pompey could only hold the league's bottom club to a 1-1 draw after Greg Halford's second half header cancelled out Iain Hume's opener.

My Prediction

Having seen Pompey battle back twice at Tranmere last week, as long as the better players in the team shine then I believe that the home fans will leave Fratton Park happy for once this season.

Portsmouth 2 Preston North End 1