Pompey travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town in Round Three of the 2007-08 FA Cup.
Ipswich are unbeaten in eighteen home games and will be a tough test for Pompey despite their impressive away form.
We all know that we have only met the Tractor Boys once in the FA Cup; two years ago a Dario Silva goal settled the game in Suffolk.
I thought rather than look back over Ipswich games I would pick out some of the recent Third Round games and look at them.
1988 Blackburn Rovers (A) Won 2-1
First Division Pompey started their run to the Quarter Final with a trip to Ewood Park to take on Second Division Rovers. The fans are not in a happy mood despite the win at the Dell six days previously. In the week Chairman John Deacon had sold favourite Mick Kennedy to Bradford City for ₤250,000.
The week ends well however but not after a difficult game. Mick Quinn gave Pompey and early lead, which is soon equalised by Rovers legend Simon Garner. Garner scored nearly 200 goals in fourteen seasons at Ewood. Pompey win it late on with a spectacular long range shot from Kevin Dillon.
Lee Darby makes his only start for Pompey as Kennedy’s replacement. A Youth product, Darby moved on to Salisbury City later that year.
1993 Brighton and Hove Albion (A) Lost 0-1
Pompey’s 1992/93 cup run came to an abrupt end at the Goldstone Ground. After reaching the Semi Final the previous year Pompey had hoped for another good run.
Winger Matthew Edwards nets the only goal on the half hour and Pompey’s attempts to turn the game round are thwarted by ex Fratton favourite Steve Foster and the Brighton defence.
1998 Aston Villa (H) Drew 2-2
Bottom of the table Pompey come close to felling Premier League Villa at Fratton Park and again a Foster come to the fore.
This time it is Aussie Craig Foster who scores both Pompey goals the first a spectacular effort from long distance. However after Pompey go 2-0 up they fall to the sucker punch and Steve Staunton looking offside immediately pulls one back before half time.
In the second half Pompey seem to be going to hold out before a last minute defensive error allows Simon Grayson to equalise.
Pompey lost the replay at Villa Park to a Savo Milosevic goal half way through the first half but fought hard throughout. Temporary boss Keith Waldon picks the team after the departure of Terries Fenwick and Venables.
2003 Manchester United (A) Lost 1-4
Few will forget the trip to Old Trafford in January 2003 when Pompey top of Division One took on Premiership leaders United. An army of 9,000 fans had to get up early for the noon kick off and hoped they would catch United on the hop.
However the start was not what the fans wanted; Giggs falls over Primus’ challenge – Penalty! Van Nistelrooy scores. Diabate crunches into Gary Neville – Free kick! Beckham scores. After only 17 minutes 2-0 surely we are in for a thrashing.
Pompey steady the ship however after Beckham hits the post and then just before half time Hayden Foxe heads a free kick across goal and Steve Stone bundles home. Game on again.
Harry shuffles the pack at half time sending on Vincent Pericard and Gary O’Neil. Now playing 3-5-2 Pompey give United the fright of their lives before come the miss most Pompey fans will remember for years when Nigel Quashie is put clean through on goal and undecided what to do he attempts to put it out of the ground. United cannot believe their luck which holds throughout as another van Nistelrooy penalty and a Scholes goal – definitely offside – seal their win. In the meantime Svetoslav Todorov has what appears a good goal chalked off.
Pompey will be back the next year and the score line flattered United which manager Ferguson admits. Still it is a 4-1 defeat in Round Three again although slightly less embarrassing than the previous year’s defeat at home to Leyton Orient!
Round Three is the daydreams are made or dashed how do you think the game will finish?
Just a quick teaser for you – answers below. When was the last season that Pompey did not play in Round Three of the FA Cup?
Finally do you call a former supporter of Ipswich Town and ex tractor fan?
Written by eastneydave.
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