Match Day Thread Gillingham v Pompey

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Priestfield Stadium hosts a contest between two sides at opposite ends of the League One form table on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Pompey impressed in their 3-0 victory at Lincoln earlier in the week – a fifth successive win that extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

Danny Cowley’s men remained ninth in the standings after that result, but closed the gap on the play-off spots to just three points.

Gillingham, meanwhile, are down in 20th position and looking to avoid dropping into the relegation places.

They have not won a game in any competition since a 1-0 home success against fellow strugglers Doncaster in mid-October.

It is a sequence that has seen them collected just three points from a possible 15 and exit both the FA Cup and Papa John’s Trophy.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of experienced manager Steve Evans, who is wanted by League Two outfit Stevenage.

Pompey collected four points against the Gills last season, with John Marquis and Michael Jacobs on target in a 2-0 triumph in Kent.


TEAM NEWS

Sean Raggett is serving a one-match ban after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Sincil Bank – just before an amnesty kicked in.

There is a doubt over the availability of John Marquis, who has been struggling with a tendon problem.

Skipper Clark Robertson (hip) is joined by Paul Downing (calf), Jayden Reid (knee) and Ryan Tunnicliffe (hamstring) in the treatment room.

Gillingham are missing Kyle Dempsey (knee), Alex MacDonald (knee) and Vadaine Oliver (ankle), while Rhys Bennett and Danny Lloyd are both carrying knocks.

Former Fratton loanee Stuart O’Keefe is available again for the hosts, however, after completing a one-match suspension.


HEAD TO HEAD

Overall
Pompey: 20 wins
Gillingham: 9 wins
10 draws

At Priestfield Stadium
Pompey: 8 wins
Gillingham: 7 wins
4 draws


TICKETS

Tickets are no longer on sale and cannot be bought at Gillingham on the day of the game. Collections will be from the away turnstiles on Priestfield Road.


OFFICIALS

Referee: Dean Whitestone
Assistants: Michael George and Akil Howson
Fourth Official: Charles Breakspear


BETTING

Pompey are the 87/100 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the hosts can be backed at 3/1.

 

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Priestfield Stadium

 

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Two former Pompey players are in the Gills starting line up. Midfielder Stuart O'Keefe captains the side, with John Akinde in attack.

Interesting to see that Danny Cowley has given the Pompey captaincy to Ronan Curtis. Fit again former Bromley teenage left back Liam Vincent is on the bench for the first time.

Edit: Late change on the Pompey bench, with Lee Brown's back injury keeping him out. Replaced by Harry Jewitt-White.

 

Match kicks off.

 

Attempt blocked. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by George Hirst. 1 minute.

 

George Hirst latches onto a poor backwards header from McKenzie and tries to lob the ball into the net, but Cumming does enough to tip the ball against the bar.

Tucker then handles in his attempts to clear, but the referee decides it wasn't deliberate. 2 minutes.

 

A fantastic double save from Jamie Cumming in the Gills goal ! First, he parries after George Hirst cuts inside and tries to bend one in the far corner, then he tips Mahlon Romeo's follow-up over. 11 minutes.

 

Attempt blocked. Marcus Harness (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Shaun Williams. 13 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Shaun Williams (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner. 13 minutes.

 

Attempt blocked. Olly Lee (Gillingham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 25 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Joe Morrell with a headed pass. 31 minutes.

 

John Akinde holds off a couple of challenges and surges through the middle, but opts to shoot early and hits a tame effort straight to Gavin Bazunu. 35 minutes.

 

Attempt blocked. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Shaun Williams with a cross. 37 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Shaun Williams. 38 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Robbie McKenzie (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. 41 minutes.

 

Half time whistle goes. No added time. 0-0 scoreline.

We have had plenty of chances to score, but no luck as of yet.

 

Half Time Match Stats:-

Home Team: Gillingham ...........Away Team: Portsmouth

Possession:

Home 46%
Away 54%

Shots:

Home 4
Away 9

Shots on Target:

Home 1
Away 3

Corners:

Home 2
Away 3

Fouls:

Home 6
Away 6