Pompey go to St. James' Park tomorrow looking to build on their first win over Colchester last weekend.
Team News
Paul Cook has admitted there will be changes to the side that started against Colchester as he is still unhappy with how his team are performing. Conor Chaplin may start after scoring twice against Southend in the Premier League Cup on Monday whilst Gareth Evans is now fully fit.
Ex-Pompey loanee Lee Holmes has been ruled out due to a foot injury but David Wheeler could start after his absence from the team for personal reasons. Captain Jordan Taylor-Moore and striker Ollie Watkins are doubts.
The Match
Saturday's win over Colchester may have stopped the moaning for now but if Pompey fail to beat a side that have only one league win to their name tomorrow then the knives will be out for Paul Cook once again as a record of one win in six games will be cause for panic for some.
Paul Tisdale is under the same sort of pressure as Exeter were expected to challenge for promotion this season but injuries to key players and some awful defending has hampered their campaign so far. The Grecians have some good players, though, so this match is probably more difficult than it looks on paper.
As for Cook's team selection, Chaplin surely has to start now. His influence on last weekend's game was clear to see and his brace at Westleigh Park surely only strengthens his case. Milan Lalkovic may also make a return to the side with Kyle Bennett failing to make a telling impact in the matches he has started thus far.
Whilst many fans will be advocating a change in formation in future Portsmouth games, tomorrow's match is one where the 4-2-3-1 may actually work simply because Exeter will play an expansive, attacking game which could play right into Pompey's hands.
Cook will be banned from the touchline for this game (and the next) for his naughty behaviour during the Morecambe match but he'll have a gameplan and Leam Richardson is certainly able to bark out orders when required.
It should be an entertaining match tomorrow for those who do make the trip. Let's hope it's worth it.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Exeter
GK: Bobby OLEJNIK
RB: Pierce SWEENEY
CB: Ethan AMPADU
CB: Troy BROWN
LB: Craig WOODMAN
RM: Jake TAYLOR
CM: Lloyd JAMES
CM: Ryan HARLEY
LM: Ollie WATKINS
CF: Robbie SIMPSON
CF: Liam McALINDEN
Pompey
GK: David FORDE
RB: Drew TALBOT
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Adam BARTON
LB: Enda STEVENS
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny ROSE
RM: Gary ROBERTS
AM: Carl BAKER
LM: Milan LALKOVIC
CF: Curtis MAIN
Last Time: Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 1 (League Two - 01/03/2016)
Conor Chaplin gave Pompey the lead with a strike from outside the box on the half-hour but the season-long curse of conceding stoppage time equalisers struck again to deny Paul Cook's men the win as Ollie Watkins danced his way through three defenders in the box before firing in from a tight angle.
My Prediction
Both sides have started the season slowly and whilst Pompey have the superior players, the defence are yet to prove themselves under pressure and are suspect when defending crosses and set-pieces. A draw is the most likely outcome and that will please neither set of supporters.
Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 1