Portsmouth vs Stevenage Preview

Last updated : 25 November 2016 By Jim Bonner

Pompey will look to continue their good form with a victory over Stevenage at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Team News

Conor Chaplin is available again after serving his suspension but Curtis Main remains doubtful with an abdominal injury.

Stevenage boss Darren Sarrll has no new injury worries heading into tomorrow's match with Jobi McAnuff pushing to start after recovering from injury.

The Match

The performance and result against Luton on Tuesday was a massive boon for Pompey fans and undoubtedly they will be expecting three points again tomorrow.

However, it should be remembered that the last time Paul Cook's men recorded a win that should have enabled them to push on for automatic promotion last season (winning 3-1 at Accrington) - they were brought crashing down to earth as Newport won 3-0 at Fratton Park the following weekend.

Therefore it's imperative that the Pompey players remain focused and don't get complacent against Stevenage. On paper Boro may look like an ordinary side but if they had played and won their two games in hand they would be sitting 6th in the league.

They've also picked up ten points from the last fifteen available and possess some dangerous players in their squad such as McAnuff (scorer of Leyton Orient's spectacular winner at Fratton last season), Stephen Schumacher and top scorer Matthew Godden.

Still, confidence should be sky high after winning at Kenilworth Road and although Chaplin is available again, expect the manager to pick the same side that started on Tuesday. Michael Smith has started to prove his doubters wrong, after all.

Given that all of Pompey's promotion rivals will be expected to win their games (Plymouth are at Morecambe, Carlisle and Doncaster host Mansfield and Orient respectively whilst Luton go to Exeter) - it's imperative that Pompey don't slip up in a game they should have enough quality to win.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: David FORDE

RB: Gareth EVANS

CB: Christian BURGESS

CB: Matt CLARKE

LB: Enda STEVENS

DM: Michael DOYLE

DM: Danny ROSE

RM: Gary ROBERTS

AM: Carl BAKER

LM: Kyle BENNETT

CF: Michael SMITH

Stevenage

GK: Jamie JONES

RB: Ronnie HENRY

CB: Luke WILKINSON

CB: Fraser FRANKS

LB: Kgosi NTLHE

RM: Jack KING

CM: Dale GORMAN

CM: Steven SCHUMACHER

LM: Jobi McANUFF

CF: Ben KENNEDY

CF: Matthew GODDEN

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Stevenage 1 (League Two - 20/10/2015)

Conor Chaplin looked to have sealed the win with a late strike but in stoppage time a long throw was met by the head of Brett Williams whose looping header beat Aaron McCarey for a frustrating equaliser.

My Prediction

This game will be tougher than some people realise as Stevenage have won their last three away games and didn't have to play in midweek. However, football may be a fickle game but it would be silly not to back the Blues after Tuesday's excellent result.

Portsmouth 2 Stevenage 1