Cherries To Return To Fratton

Last updated : 18 August 2012 By Jim Bonner

Portsmouth have been drawn to face Bournemouth at Fratton Park for the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The Cherries will make the short journey along the coast for Pompey's first ever JPT tie which will take place the week commencing September 3rd.

In all honesty, it would be hypocritical of me to say that this trophy means anything and getting eliminated would be no big deal, as seems to be the case for the supporters of many League One and League Two clubs.

After all, it wasn't that long ago that Pompey won some major silverware in the FA Cup and we all ridiculed Southampton for winning the "Johnstone's pisspot trophy" - effectively a minor honour reserved for smaller clubs, two years ago.

Still, if anyone really cares enough, there is another trip to Wembley to play for and there is the opportunity to visit more lower league grounds in the south, given that the only time Pompey would play a "northern" team would be in the final.

But does anybody really care?