Team News
David Bridges is suspended for Stevenage whilst Jon Ashton will be missing because of a hip injury. Yemi Odubade and Chris Beardsley will be hoping to start the game along with midfielder Robbie Sinclair.
Steve Cotterill is likely to play some of the youths ahead of this game, meaning Marlon Pack and Pete Gregory could be handed their first starts for the club. Because of the threadbare squad, it is expected that many of those who did performed so poorly at Coventry will be given a chance to redeem themselves.
The Match
Monday night will be the first time that Stevenage have met Portsmouth in a competitive fixture as this is Boro's first ever season in league football.
Graham Westley is seen as something of a special manager for guiding Stevenage out of the football league, and to be playing last season's FA Cup finalists and an ex-Premier League side is something of a dream come true for his side.
It all points to a humiliating defeat for us tomorrow, given the current circumstances surrounding the club. We may have reached the quarter-finals last year but I don't think any Pompey fan really cares about this competition this year and I know I certainly won't be too bothered if we were to crash out early.
Having said that, losing to a team two divisions below us will do nothing for confidence and will only heap more pressure on the remaining players at the club. Here's hoping the players that Steve picks are professional enough to get the job done.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Stevenage
GK: Chris DAY
RB: Luke FOSTER
CB: Scott LAIRD
CB: Mark ROBERTS
LB: Ron HENRY
RM: Darren MURPHY
CM: Stacy LONG
CM: Peter VINCENTI
LM: Peter WINN
CF: Chris BEARDSLEY
CF: Charlie GRIFFIN
Pompey
GK: Jamie ASHDOWN
RB: Marc WILSON
CB: Aaron MOKOENA
CB: Ibrahima SONKO
LB: Hayden MULLINS
CM: Pete GREGORY
CM: Marlon PACK
CM: Michael BROWN
RWF: Tommy SMITH
LWF: Matt RITCHIE
CF: David NUGENT
My Prediction
It's their first ever League Cup tie against a team who were in the top flight and reached the FA Cup final last season. This has "fairytale win for Stevenage" written all over it, doesn't it?
Stevenage 2 Portsmouth 1