Pompey will be looking to bounce back from their last two extremely disappointing results with a win over play-off chasing Wycombe Wanderers.
Team News
Pompey have been hit with an injury crisis as Adam Webster and Kyle Bennett suffered ankle injuries at York and will miss tomorrow's match. Christian Burgess, Gary Roberts and Ryan Fulton all missed Tuesday's match and could all miss out again.
Former Pompey youth striker Paris Cowan-Hall will also miss the match with an achilles problem with Luke O'Nien and Sam Wood also on the treatment table.
The Match
This time last week a preview article was written about how Pompey could achieve automatic promotion with a win over Plymouth. This week, it's all about ensuring that Paul Cook's men stay in the play-offs following the late defeat to Argyle and a shocking result at York midweek.
Tomorrow's opponents come to Fratton Park winless in five and having drawn their last three games. You know what to expect from Gareth Ainsworth's team by now as they love to timewaste and their physical, long ball style is suited to League Two football.
However, whilst they are the type of team that this current Pompey team would usually struggle against, Wycombe are not in a position where a draw is a good result for them if they wish to finish in the play-offs. In fact, a draw is a far better result for Pompey as it would be nearly impossible for Wycombe to catch the Blues if they fail to win at Fratton Park tomorrow.
The fear is that they may well win, though, given Pompey's pathetic showing at Bootham Crescent has seen many fans lose faith in this team which seems to lack character when it really matters. Not only that, but Paul Cook currently only has one fit centre back available to him in Matt Clarke.
Burgess may make the game but if not then Adam Barton may be used as an emergency defender just like earlier in the season or perhaps Jack Whatmough may return to the side for his first Portsmouth game of the season?
Without Kyle Bennett and Gary Roberts in the side the team could lose a lot of creativity, too. Maybe it's time to give Ben Tollitt a start as he has always looked a threat when introduced to a game as a substitute. Will Conor Chaplin finally get the start he craves, too?
This is unlikely to be a pretty game with the home side stripped of their best attacking players and the visitors known for playing such dour football. All that really matters is the result as if Pompey can beat the Chairboys tomorrow then they will virtually guarantee themselves a play-off place.
If Leyton Orient, Exeter and Cambridge all drop points to Wimbledon, Bristol Rovers and Notts County respectively then a top seven finish will be confirmed with victory tomorrow.
But a draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world, either.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RB: Ben DAVIES
CB: Matt CLARKE
CB: Adam BARTON
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny HOLLANDS
RM: Gareth EVANS
AM: Marc McNULTY
LM: Kal NAISMITH
CF: Michael SMITH
Wycombe
GK: Ryan ALLSOP
RB: Jason McCARTHY
CB: Anthony STEWART
CB: Aaron PIERRE
LB: Joe JACOBSON
RM: Michael HARRIMAN
CM: Marcus BEAN
CM: Danny ROWE
LM: Ryan SELLERS
CF: Garry THOMPSON
CF: Paul HAYES
Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1 (League Two - 20/09/2014)
After a goalless first half, Sam Wood opened the scoring early in the second but Johnny Ertl levelled with a volley from Dan Butler's corner. Gareth Ainsworth's men began their usual antics which led to a visiting fan being ejected for not giving the ball back as the match petered out into a stalemate.
My Prediction
Pompey are likely to approach this game cautiously off the back of the defeat to York and with a lack of creativity in their ranks. Wycombe boast the best defence in the league but aren't too sharp going forward. They could nick it if the makeshift defence are put under too much pressure but this has goalless draw written all over it.
Portsmouth 0 Wycombe Wanderers 0