Pompey have an immediate chance to bounce back from their heavy Hull defeat, when fellow promotion hopefuls Lincoln visit Fratton Park this evening (7pm kick-off). The visitors have defied expectations by mounting a Championship challenge this season, having finished the truncated 2019/20 campaign in 16th position. Michael Appleton’s men have never dropped outside the top six and have spent most of the time in either first or second position. Dreams of Wembley may also be growing after a recent victory over Accrington took them into the quarter-finals of the Papa John’s Trophy. There is no doubt, however, that reaching the second tier for the first time in 60 years will be the priority for Imps fans. It would be quite some achievement for a side that were playing non-league football as recently as 2017. Lincoln have won seven times on the road in League One this term, but have not tasted success against Pompey since 1980. And the Blues won 3-1 at Sincil Bank back in November, courtesy of John Marquis’ brace and a Ronan Curtis strike. TEAM NEWS Alex Bass (calf) and Paul Downing (hamstring) are both still sidelined, but Pompey have no new injury concerns. The hosts could hand debuts to left-back Charlie Daniels and midfielder George Byers, who both signed on Saturday. Lincoln are likely to be without defender Lewis Montsma, who has just finished self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, while there is a minor doubt over Brennan Johnson (ankle). HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 11 wins Lincoln: 5 wins 5 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 6 wins Lincoln: 2 wins 3 draws OFFICIALS Referee: Sam Purkiss Assistants: Greg Read and Paul Kelly Fourth Official: Sam Allison BETTING Pompey are the 23/20 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 5/2.
Half time and it's 0-0. Good news is that we have played with more urgency against a very impressive Lincoln side. The bad news is that Jack Whatmough was red carded in the 29th minute for a challenge on a Lincoln player that looked to me that he got the ball first. Seemed a bit harsh. Tom Naylor has slotted into centre of defence. Good news that Hull City beaten 2-0 by Accrington Stanley in an early kick off. Second half should be interesting.
Half-time Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .......Away Team: Lincoln City Possession: Home 42% Away 58% Shots: Home 4 Away 7 Shots on Target: Home 0 Away 5 Corners: Home 0 Away 6 Fouls: Home 5 Away 11
It will be a week that Jack Whatmough will want to forget. If we get anything out of this match then it will be a decent result. For Saturday, Naylor goes into the back 4, Close who is not on the bench tonight (why?) or one of the loanees slots into midfield?
Final whistle goes, and it's 0-1 to Lincoln City with a goal by Morgan Rogers in the 79th minute. 10 man Pompey held on really well for 50 minutes, but it was not to be !
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .........Away Team: Lincoln City Possession: Home 36% Away 64% Shots: Home 7 Away 17 Shots on Target: Home 1 Away 9 Corners: Home 1 Away 7 Fouls: Home 8 Away 19
Not a good week! This is the team that has been built for promotion. If it is not achieved, are we likely to see a plethora of ins and outs at the end of the season because, as a unit it will not get any better?