Pompey welcome back an old Fratton Favourite in the form of ex-England, Machester United, Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham as manager of Stevenage at the Fortress tonight.
Teddy made 38 appearances in the Blues maiden season in the Premier League, scoring 10 and claiming Pompey’s first ever goal in the new first division.
However 12 years on, Sheringham is in charge of Stevenage, in an attempt to kickstart his managerial career on the first attempt.
However all is not well with The Boro. They sit 20th in League Two, claiming just 13 points in as many games, and just 5 points in the last 21 possible. Not to mention the fact that they haven’t claimed an away win this season so far.
Pompey on the other hand will head into the game off the back of two impressive away wins Cambridge and Newport. As a result, the Blues boast the best away record in the country.
At home however, is not quite the same. Despite winning 2, they’ve also drawn three times and lost at Fratton this campaign. An average return for a side gunning for promotion and performing away.
Yet it must be said that teams have come to our south coast and set up camp in front of goal on their travels.
Not only is that frustrating for the Faithful to see, but it’s generally not proper football. But Paul Cook believes it will be different tonight as Stevenage look for that first away win and the gas to start the engines to get their drive up the league table.
Cookie said: “Stevenage are trying to play football the right way and there`s no such thing as a quick fix, but I`m sure they can go places.
“We were all disappointed to only get one point from our last two home games and we know there are certain aspects we need to improve, but everyone`s working hard to do that.”
Let’s hope Pompey return to winning ways at home tonight and make it 9 points from 9. It would be Pompey’s first Fratton win since September 12th.
Vital Quotes: Home Form
Echoing the wisdoms of Cook, in-form striker Matt Tubbs is also looking for a turn in the page on Pompey’s home form.
The Blues front man said: “One reason why we might be getting better results away is that teams look to defend more when they come to Fratton. It`s tough to break them down.
“We need to make sure that we get that early goal and force our opponents to come out a bit more and show some ambition.
“At the end of the day, we`re winning most of our away games and not losing many at home – if we keep doing that then we`ll get promoted.’
It’s true what Tubbs says- Pompey NEED that early goal to make their early spells of pressure pay off. All too often we’ve seen Pompey hammer sides for the first 20 minutes, only to then fall away and either be hit on the break, or play football in their own 2/3s of the pitch.
Tubbs, scoring 3 in the last 2, wants the same as us fans- a game. Not just a Pompey bombardment of crosses and balls with no penetration as sides try to grind out a point or 3 against the ‘famous’ Pompey.
An early goal, will do that.
Pompey Team News:
Pompey will likely see Caolan Lavery make his first home appearance since signing on loan from Sheffield Wednesday last week.
The Northern Ireland striker will be the probable replacement for Tubbs, should he be called upon with both Adam McGurk and Jayden Stockley still out with ankle injuries.
The Fratton Faithful may also see the reintroduction of first choice ‘keeper Brian Murphy between the sticks, if Cook opts for the Irishman over fellow countryman Aaron McCarey in goal.
Paul Jones however remains sidelined for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.
Jack Whatmough as we all know by now remains out as he recovers from his own long-term knee injury. However Pompey’s own defender returned to light training after 7 months out on the weekend, as he steps up his recovery on time to return over the Christmas period.
Gareth Evans serves the second of his three match suspension this evening, giving the chance for Kal Naismith to make his full home league debut in front of the floodlights. Either that or Conor Chaplin may be given the nod ahead of the Scotsman with the 19-year-old sitting quiet on the bench for the last few fixtures.
Player to watch: Kyle Bennett
All eyes will be on the ability of Pompey’s attacking trio to carve open Boro tonight, with their playmaking abilities thriving away but seemingly absent in the previous 2 home games.
Bennett, plying his trade on Pompey’s wing has a new point to prove in front of the crowd tonight, aiming to restore the initial delight that was cast over him in his first game when he scored an impressive brace vs Dagenham.
But at home since, Bennett has been quiet, too quiet for some sections of the fans liking. And with the likes of Naismith, Chaplin and even down to Ben Tollitt looking for their run in the side, tonight demans a big performance.
Stevenage Team News:
Stevenage have a list of players absent tonight, with Teddy Sheringham having to deal with a hoax of injuries and a suspension on his return to Portsmouth.
Chris Whepdale is the first of the casualties, with the midfielder being forced off in the game vs Wycombe on Saturday with a suspected groin injury.
This may give the opportunity to new signing Michael Tonge, who arrived from Leeds recently.
However Whepdale joins fellow midfielder Steven Schumacher, who serves a one-match ban tonight.
Meanwhile Ronnie Henry (back) and Connor Ogilvie (hamstring) are also struggling.
In lighter news Adam Marriott, David McAllister, Charlie Lee (knees) and Rohdell Gordon (hamstring) have all resumed light training but are still regaining fitness and won’t make the cut for the clash with the Blues this evening.
Player to watch: Dean Parrett
Graduating from Tottenham Hotspurs’ academy, Parrett has had several spells in the Football League on loan from the North London club before signing for Stevenage as a free agent in the summer.
Seasons at Plymouth, Charlton, Yeovil and Swindon have seen the 24-year-old get around in the lower leagues, so the midfielder definitely knows the lower leagues.
Making 9 appearances thus far this season, Parrett has established himself in the heart of the Boro’s midfield and his time at Spurs may see some class come to Fratton tonight.
Although only grabbing one goal so far in the league this season, this doesn’t reflect the positive impact Parrett has had. A decent passer with an eye for a shot, he shouldn’t be underestimated by Cookie and the Pompey XI.
Match Facts & Stats
Only 6 times have Pompey and Stevenage ever clashed- the Boro winning half and Pompey claiming 2 victories of the latter games.
Last season’s fixture saw a late Joe Devera half volley reprieve his earlier short back pass that let Stevenage equalise in front of a disheartened Fratton crowd. An up and down game finishing 3-2 to the Blues, would be quite the entertainment desires again this season, but perhaps without the unfortunate nervousness of the last time.
Ref Watch:
After the weekend’s antics, Big John who sits behind me in the South Stand.
Match Prediction:
3-1 to PFC is the way I feel it may go tonight. I agree with gaffer Cookie that Stevenage won’t just set up to defend tonight. Not to be naive but I don’t put Teddy down as a manager with favour of defence, being an attacking man after all.
Consequently I feel Pompey may ship a goal tonight, but hopefully a few more openings at the back will allow Pompey to make it 3 on the bounce and the first home win in over a month.
Next Fixtures: Mansfield Home
Pompey, already beating leader’s Plymouth and 3rd place Oxford on the road, welcome 4th place Mansfield Town to Frogmore Road on Saturday.
No doubt one of the toughest games on the season so far ensues, with Mansfield just 4 points behind the Blues before visiting Yeovil tonight.