Pompey travel to the Abbey Stadium tomorrow still looking for only their second league win of the season away from home.
Team News
Andy Awford is likely to stick with the same side which has kept four consecutive clean sheets as Wes Fogden continued his rehab with another reserve match this week and Paul McCallum serves the fourth of his seven match ban.
Richard Money may recall Liam Hughes and Harrison Dunk if they have fully recovered from their ankle injuries. Ryan Bird is unlikely to feature against his former club as he has been told he can leave but former Pompey loanee Nathaniel Mendez-Laing could start.
The Match
Pompey's defensive record has given the team something solid to build on but there cannot be any escaping the fact that their away record is absolutely dismal with just a single win (at Oxford in August) on the road and just six goals to celebrate away from Fratton Park in the league.
This would be as good a time as any to improve such a dreadful record given that Pompey's opponents are in poor form and haven't won in six games, which has seen them slip from a promising position in the table to just above Pompey on goal difference now.
Matt Tubbs' scoring record against Cambridge has been talked up ahead of tomorrow's match as he has scored six goals in seven matches against them. However, unless he gets the ball from the midfield or his strike partner rather than having to chase it and do the donkey work himself, then that record isn't going to improve tomorrow.
Unfortunately, Jed Wallace seems like the only man in the midfield capable of creating anything. James Dunne has his own duties to do in protecting th back four so it's about time we see the Danny Hollands of old make his mark on the team. (How many times have I said that recently!?)
The only other creative aspect of this current Pompey team is for the wing-backs to get forward and sling some decent crosses into the box. Given how solid the back three have been, hopefully Josh Passley or Dan Butler's deliveries will finally get the results they deserve.
This is a tough match to call as despite Cambridge's form they are bound to raise their game against Portsmouth and only recently earned a goalless draw with Manchester United on their own patch, whilst Pompey have looked solid but absolutely toothless away from home.
There is a sneaking feeling that Pompey could steal a win if they start on the front foot and victory would virtually banish any fears of relegation, but it's bound to be goalless again, isn't it?
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Cambridge
GK: Chris DUNN
RB: Richard TAIT
CB: Josh COULSON
CB: Ian MILLER
LB: Greg TAYLOR
RM: Sullay KAIKAI
CM: Tom CHAMPION
CM: Gearoid MORRISSEY
LM: Nathaniel MENDEZ-LAING
CF: Robbie SIMPSON
CF: Jordan SLEW
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RWB: Josh PASSLEY
CB: Paul ROBINSON
CB: Joe DEVERA
CB: Jack WHATMOUGH
LWB: Dan BUTLER
CM: James DUNNE
CM: Danny HOLLANDS
CM: Jed WALLACE
CF: Ryan TAYLOR
CF: Matt TUBBS
Last Time: Cambridge United 0 Portsmouth 0 (League Cup First Round First Leg - 22/08/2000)
A Pompey side managed by Tony Pulis containing the likes of Darren Moore, Shaun Derry, Steve Claridge and Lee Bradbury could only manage a goalless draw against their Division Two opponents. Pompey did win the second leg 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Lee Mills.
My Prediction
As much as I think we have a chance of nicking all three points, it's best to go with the safe option here.
Cambridge United 0 Portsmouth 0