Pompey begin life without Guy Whittingham with a tough game against in-form Southend United tomorrow night.
Team News
Andy Awford may make some changes from Saturday's team that lost to Scunthorpe but Patrick Agyemang and Therry Racon are still out injured Yassin Moutaouakil may earn a recall to the side now Whittingham has gone.
Winger Kevan Hurst is suspended for Southend after being sent off against York but Cauley Woodrow could start although Ryan Leonard is hamstrung.
The Match
The timing of Guy Whittingham's sacking has taken many Pompey fans by surprise as it seemed like our former manager would be given this game to stop the rot.
Andy Awford will be in charge and it'll be intriguing to see how the players respond to Whittingham's sacking. Whilst there may be some more effort it's highly doubtful the team's understanding or organisation would have improved in the space of two days.
Phil Brown's team arrive at Fratton Park on a four game winning streak but do have two key players out in Hurst and Leonard. Even so, given how Pompey have defended in their last few matches it's difficult to back them to win against their in-form opponents, even if form seems to count for little in this division.
But, who knows what will happen tomorrow night? Perhaps the players will finally give the fans the response they've been asking for and at least look threatening when going forward for a change.
It should be an intriguing encounter now that many Pompey fans have got what they asked for in Whittingham's departure, but let's not think that this match has become any easier because of that.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Trevor CARSON
RB: Joe DEVERA
CB: Sonny BRADLEY
CB: Bondz N'GALA
LB: Dan POTTS
RM: Jed WALLACE
CM: Johnny ERTL
CM: Simon FERRY
LM: Ricky HOLMES
CF: Tom CRADDOCK
CF: David CONNOLLY
Southend
GK: Daniel BENTLEY
RB: John WHITE
CB: Luke PROSSER
CB: Rob KEIRNAN
LB: Ben COKER
CM: Michael TIMLIN
CM: Will ATKINSON
CM: Marc LAIRD
RWF: Cauley WOODROW
LWF: Anthony STRAKER
CF: Barry CORR
Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Southend United 0 (Division One - 27/08/1996)
A single goal from Lee Russell was enough to see Terry Fenwick's Pompey defeat the Shrimpers under the Fratton floodlights on a Tuesday night.
My Prediction
Whittingham's dismissal is not going to solve the problems in this team overnight and the defensive frailties and poor passing will undoubtedly remain. You cannot back this team to win against strong opposition regardless of who the manager is at the moment.
Portsmouth 1 Southend United 2