On Sky
Pompey welcome an in form Wimbledon side for this televised fixture on Sunday.
The Dons come to Fratton looking for their fourth consecutive league win, off the back of an FA Cup defeat to non-league Forest Green.
Pompey’s fortunes are seemingly flipped – failing to win the last three, picking up just two points, yet unsatisfyingly beating National League side Macclesfield Town.
Despite the 2-1 win at Fratton, a Brian Murphy howler topped off another below par home performance – manager Paul Cook among the most frustrated following the visit of the Silkmen.
That win makes it 2/3 at home in the cup, yet it’s just 4th win at Fratton out of 11 games in all competitions.
This unsatisfactory home form has seen Pompey fall to 5th in the League Two table, 10 points off leaders Plymouth with a game in hand.
A win could see the Blues restore themselves back in third, yet that will still be 7 points off the top spot- the sights and hopes of most this season.
AFC are 10th in League Two and a win at the Fortress would take them level on points with Pompey.
The game tomorrow is to respect a minute’s silence following the terror attacks in Paris on Friday evening.
Also, the Facebook campaign of the ‘Wall of Blue’ comes to a head tomorrow- let’s show up in blue force.
Vital Quotes: Risks
Paul Cook has said midfielder Gary Roberts has put his ‘career at risk’ after the 31-year-old has struggled with an ankle injury.
The big summer signing has made 6 appearances since suffering an ankle injury in the home win vs Barnet in September and it’s clear he hasn’t been right since.
That has proved true, with the former Swindon and Huddersfield now facing at least another 4 weeks sidelined along with Matt Tubbs.
It was believed Robbo had shrugged off the knock, yet further scans have shown tendon and ligament damage and Cook expects him to be out for some time now- adding to Pompey’s growing treatment table.
Cookie added ‘it’s a massive blow’ and we’ve ‘yet to see the best’ of the signing from Chesterfield.
Pompey Team News:
AS labelled above, both Roberts and Tubbs are out for at least 4 weeks with similar ankle injuries.
They join Paul Jones who is still sidelined with his own ankle injury, with the ‘keeper’s return date still yet to be confirmed.
Jayden Stockley is another player out through injury to an ankle- the on-loan Bournemouth back at his parent club during recovery and still unknown as to whether he’ll appear in a Blues shirt again.
Jack Whatmough is now just as few weeks away from re-entering first team training sessions, following just short of 8 months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
Kal Naismith is now unavailable after the Accrington-signing left for Hartlepool on loan until January. Paul Cook insists this loan spell isn’t the definite end for the Scotsman at the Blues.
Coalan Lavery however returns for selection tomorrow after sitting out the win vs Macclesfield through FA Cup ineligibility.
Player to watch: Mark McNulty
An interesting one- who to pick?
McNulty may see tomorrow’s fixture as a chance to prove himself with Tubbs now out. He’ll battle Lavery and Adam McGurk for his first Pompey start after making his debut from the bench vs the Silkmen.
The Sheffield United loanee looked bright and unique in the FA Cup win- it seems as though he likes to get his shots away early, something Pompey could desperately use.
The striker was out-of-favour at the Blades, despite netting 13 times in the previous campaign. So it was clear he could use some time away, with Pompey more than happy to oblige.
If he gets time tomorrow, hopefully he’ll look to test the Wimbledon keeper and not worry like some players have about aiming for the target.
AFC Wimbledon Team News:
Adebayo Akinfenwa will undergo a fitness check before the game as he nurses a thigh injury.
He will be joined by George Francomb who pushes for a start in the Sky Sports-broadcasted match.
Ryan Sweeney is away on international duty, so he joins former Pompey winger Andy Barcham, Will Nightingale and James Shea who are all injured.
Another familiar face returns tomorrow- Paul Robinson will line-up against Pompey in the heart of the Dons defence after leaving Pompey in the summer, much to the disliking of many a Pompey fan after impressing at centre-back.
Player to watch: The Beast
Akinfenwa- you can hardly miss him as it is.
A FIFA sensation, well known amongst nearly all of the popular football game is clearly one to watch.
Built like a brick house, in other words just huge, he is a massive problem for any defence because of his fierce strength that has seen him labelled the strongest footballer in the country.
Aside from manpower, Bayo has 4 goals to his name so far this campaign, but shouldn’t have that record played down to much due to his usual big involvement in the build-up of goalscoring opportunities.
Match Facts & Stats
Last season didn’t go well for the Blues vs Wimbledon- losing both clashes miserably.
Since they’ve become ‘AFC’, Pompey have won just 4 of the meetings between the two sides.
Ref Watch:
Duncan Lloyd
Match Prediction:
Well I’m hoping Pompey put on a good show for fans in the ground and watching from home, but you can’t be sure of it given the disappointing home form so far.
But in positive manner I’ll go 3-1 to the Blues. I hope to McNulty will impress along with McGurk, who saved Pompey from cup embarrassment.
Kyle Bennett has been subject to plenty of criticism lately too, so time for a big performance from the winger.
The same goes for Brian Murphy, who has been at minimum, partial fault for the last 3 goals Pompey have conceded.
Next Fixtures: Carlisle Away
The Blues make their longest trip of the season, heading to the England-Scotland border to face Carlisle next Saturday.