The away form has been better than our home really this season and we ended the home season with a defeat on Monday that saw Norwich go up. Can we end the away form, and the season altogether, on a positive note at the already relegated Scunthorpe tomorrow though?
Vital Quotes:
This, in many ways, has all the makings of a real ‘nothing game’ as it is essentially, final game of the season or not, a dead rubber as Scunny are already down and all in all most of our players have played the last few weeks out as if it was a summer training camp! So, how up for it will either side be?
It would be nice if both sets of players were, but I have my reservations.
I would love us to witness an end of season spectacular, and I will keep my fingers crossed but in all honesty will not be expecting much…
Scunny Team News:
Chris Dagnall – hip injury – is a doubt and that would be good for us as he is a dangerous little forward.
Josh Wright – back, Andy Hughes – stomach strain and Matt Godden – groin – are all out along with Garry Thompson.
Player to watch: Joe Murphy
Hopefully we can keep the Irishman busy to finally make a keeper earn his corn as we have not done much of this recently!
Pompey Team News:
Steve Cotterill has a pretty much full strength squad to select from – one of the loanees, probably Ibrahima Sonko, will again miss out though.
Rocha John Rocha – suspension – is the only one out really as Dave Kitson ‘should’ return after his rib injury, fingers crossed he is not fit enough!
I wonder how many of this current batch – have we not been here before – will we see pulling on the famous blue shirt again?!
Player to watch: Danny Webber
The way I see it the guy is out of contract, almost literally playing for his future, so what have we got to lose by actually giving him a start? And ideally playing him alongside someone – even if it is Kitson if he is fit – in an orthodox 4-4-2 and trying to at least get some idea of what next season could bring from him, assuming he is given a new deal?
Match Facts & Stats
In 19 previous meetings in total Pompey hold a 7-5 lead, with 7 draws. Away though we are 3-2 behind with 3 draws.
The last meeting came in March with us winning 2-0 at Fratton, the meeting before that was in the FA cup in January 2004, which we won 2-1 at Fratton.
The last meeting between these two sides in a league game at Scunthorpe came way back in October 1980 when we lost an old fourth division game 1-0.
Ref Watch:
Anyone but our ‘friend’ Friend!
Match Prediction:
Basically a dead rubber, but is this destined to be a bore draw or an end of season spectacular? It has been 11 games since Scunny kept a cleansheet so fingers crossed we can at least score!
Make your prediction here.
Next Fixtures:
Sometime, and somewhere, in pre-season – what price the fixture computer spitting out a south coast derby on the opening day of next season…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
