Portsmouth vs Tranmere Preview

Last updated : 31 March 2013 By Jim Bonner

Pompey will be looking to extend their recent good run of form with victory over promotion chasing Tranmere Rovers on Easter Monday.

Team News

Guy Whittingham may make changes to his side following Saturday's draw at Preston. Dan Butler may return to the starting eleven whilst Jack Maloney is pushing for a start.

Ian Goodison will deputise at centre back for Tranmere after Ben Gibson was injured in their defeat to Sheffield United. Adam McGurk may start after coming on as a substitute in that game.

The Match

Ronnie Moore has undoubtedly done a good job at Tranmere but having topped the table when Pompey earned a 2-2 draw at Prenton Park back in December, Rovers have stuttered and now find themselves sixth and in danger of missing out on the play-offs altogether.

Having won two and lost four in March, Portsmouth's opponents will be there for the taking and there'll be plenty of fans who will believe that Pompey can win and keep the hopes of avoiding next season's points deduction alive.

In honesty the performance at Preston wasn't brilliant and on another day we would have lost. An improvement will be needed tomorrow but maybe Pompey are finding some fortune to go with this fine run of form?

Moore likes his teams to be direct and often score from set-pieces so Gyepes and Rocha will need to be at their best if Pompey are to keep a clean sheet.

Guy Whittingham's men can also play direct football but have improved their play on the deck too so hopefully this will be an entertaining game like the reverse fixture.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Simon EASTWOOD

RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL

CB: Gabor GYEPES

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

LB: Dan BUTLER

RM: Liam WALKER

CM: Therry RACON

CM: Johnny ERTL

LM: Jed WALLACE

CF: Patrick AGYEMANG

CF: David CONNOLLY

Tranmere

GK: Owain FON WILLIAMS

RB: Danny HOLMES

CB: Ash TAYLOR

CB: Ian GOODISON

LB: Sean McGINTY

RM: Abdulai BELL-BAGGIE

CM: Liam PALMER

CM: Max POWER

LM: Zoumana BAKAYOGO

CF: Mamady SIDIBE

CF: Jean-Louis AKPA AKPRO

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Tranmere Rovers 2 (FA Cup Third Round - 06/01/2001)

Lee Bradbury gave Pompey the lead early on but a goal from Yates before half-time levelled things before Parkinson scored the winner. Roberts was sent off but Steve Claridge's men couldn't find an equaliser against ten men.

My Prediction

Tranmere have lost their last three away matches without scoring. Let's make it four.

Portsmouth 2 Tranmere Rovers 0