Match Day Thread Wycombe Wanderers v Pompey

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The past two international weekends this season have seen Pompey – metaphorically at least – put their feet up.

But with just a couple of call-ups this time around, Saturday’s game at Wycombe (3pm kick-off) is going ahead at scheduled.

The visitors will be trying to extend their unbeaten run to six games, with unlikely progress in the Papa John’s Trophy a few nights ago providing an added boost of confidence.

Now they face a Chairboys outfit who are sitting fourth in the League One standings and just three points off top spot.

Gareth Ainsworth’s men are looking to bounce straight back after being relegated from the Championship last term.

And they have a decent record on their own patch, winning six out of seven games – the only blip being a 4-1 defeat to Ipswich at the start of the month.

They were, however, thrashed 5-0 by Burton in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier in the week, although that was a very young Wanderers line-up.

Goals from Ben Close and Ronan Curtis saw Pompey triumph 2-0 in the most recent meeting between the sides on Boxing Day in 2019.

But a late Adebayo Akinfenwa penalty was enough to secure Wycombe the points at Adams Park earlier that season, in a contest that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.


TEAM NEWS
Pompey will be without Gavin Bazunu and Joe Morrell, who are away on international duty with Republic of Ireland and Wales respectively.

Skipper Clark Robertson is still sidelined with a hip problem, while Ellis Harrison (ankle), Jayden Reid (knee) and Ryan Tunnicliffe (hamstring) are also injured.

Wycombe trio Tjay De Barr (Gibraltar), Daryl Horgan (Republic of Ireland) and Sullay Kaikai (Sierra Leone) are all away with their countries.

Garath McCleary – who tops the Chairboys’ scoring charts with five goals – is a doubt with a shoulder problem.



HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 5 wins
Wycombe: 4 wins
5 draws

At Adams Park
Pompey: 2 wins
Wycombe: 2 wins
2 draws


TICKETS
Pompey fans can still purchase tickets online here or from the Anson Road ticket office until 3pm on Friday.


OFFICIALS
Referee: Tom Nield
Assistants: Geoffrey Russell and Anthony Da Costa
Fourth Official: Sam Purkiss


BETTING
Wycombe are the 11/10 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 13/5.

 

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Wow, a bit of a much hoped for shake up in our starting line up, with George Hirst replacing John Marquis in attack.

Miguel Azeez and Louis Thompson both start in midfield.

Three kids on the bench in Toby Steward, Izzy Kaba and Harvey Hughes.

 

Wycombe Wanderers Starting Line Up:-

• 13 David Stockdale
• 6 Ryan Tafazolli
• 5 Anthony Stewart
• 3 Joe Jacobson
• 26 Jason McCarthy
• 28 Josh Scowen
• 8 Curtis Thompson
• 23 Jordan Obita
• 19 Anis Mehmeti
• 18 Brandon Hanlan
• 9 Sam Vokes

Substitutes

• 2 Jack Grimmer
• 7 David Wheeler
• 20 Adebayo Akinfenwa
• 31 Adam Przybek
• 33 Oli Pendlebury
• 38 Christian Forino Joseph
• 39 Connor Parsons

 

Match is underway.

 

Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Anis Mehmeti with a cross. 3 minutes.

 

Yellow card in the 4th minute to Jordan Obita, for a foul on Marcus Harness.

 

A chance for former Pompey loanee Jordan Obita, but his angled shot hits the outside of the post. 6 minutes.

 

Pompey have lined up in a 4-3-1-2 system, with Marcus Harness playing just behind a front two of George Hirst and Ronan Curtis.

 

Attempt blocked. Curtis Thompson (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Brandon Hanlan. 7 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Brandon Hanlan (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jason McCarthy with a headed pass. 13 minutes.

 

1. Attempt missed. George Hirst (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marcus Harness. 20 minutes.

 

Attempt missed. Jason McCarthy (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. 22 minutes.

 

Controversy as Obita goes to ground in the box and Louis Thompson goes over, but the referee waves away the penalty appeals. 25 mins.

 

Nicky Cowley booked for complaining about the turned down penalty.

 

Attempt missed. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Louis Thompson. 24 mins.

 

Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ronan Curtis. 25 minutes.

 

Penalty Wycombe Wanderers. Anis Mehmeti draws a foul in the penalty area from Sean Raggett. 27 minutes.

 

Penalty saved! Joe Jacobson (Wycombe Wanderers) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the centre of the goal by Alex Bass. 28 minutes.