Pompey go to the Globe Arena tonight still looking for their first win of the season.
Team News
Jack Whatmough's knee injury isn't as bad as first feared but he still faces up to two months on the sidelines. Adam Barton is in line to replace him as the manager contemplates other changes following the stalemate at Crewe.
Morecambe midfielder Aaron Wildig and defender Dean Winnard are doubtful for the match whilst Rhys Turner and Kevin Ellison will be hoping to be recalled to Jim Bentley's starting eleven.
The Match
Portsmouth social media went into meltdown back in February following goalkeeper Barry Roche's stoppage time equaliser and you could imagine there being a similar reaction should Pompey fail to win their third league match of the season tonight.
Despite the Shrimp's usual status of favourites for the drop they haven't had a bad start to the season. An opening day defeat at Grimsby was followed by an epic 5-4 win at Championship Rotherham and a comeback win over Lancashire neighbours Blackpool on Saturday.
Adam Barton is likely to partner Christian Burgess at centre back and although both are good on the ball they are prone to lapses of concentration which is a worry given that Jack Dunn has already scored five goals this season and the wily Kevin Ellison loves to give "ballers" a torrid time.
Cook has hinted that he'll make changes tonight and whilst dropping Michael Smith may hurt his confidence the team has to come first and Curtis Main is waiting in the wings to replace him. What odds on Conor Chaplin actually being given the start he craves?
The attacking midfield trio also need to show a vast improvement on Saturday's drab performance but it's unlikely that any of them will start on the bench. Perhaps they just need to keep things simple rather than attempt these over-elaborate moves that fail to work?
If this was the first match of the season then there would be a confident victory prediction but after Saturday's lacklustre display it's difficult to do that, especially given how Morecambe fans are bullish about their chances and relish playing Pompey as the underdogs.
However, if the players in blue do find themselves with a lead going into stoppage time once again, let's hope they keep their eyes on Barry Roche eff eff ess!
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Morecambe
GK: Barry ROCHE
RB: Liam WAKEFIELD
CB: Ryan EDWARDS
CB: Alex WHITMORE
LB: Luke CONLAN
DM: Michael ROSE
DM: Alex KENYON
RM: Tom BARKHUIZEN
AM: Jack DUNN
LM: Lee MOLYNEUX
CF: Cole STOCKTON
Pompey
GK: David FORDE
RB: Drew TALBOT
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Adam BARTON
LB: Kal NAISMITH
DM: Michael DOYLE
DM: Danny ROSE
RM: Gary ROBERTS
AM: Carl BAKER
LM: Milan LALKOVIC
CF: Curtis MAIN
Last Time: Morecambe 1 Portsmouth 1 (League Two - 02/02/2016)
A scrappy affair looked like it would be settled by a second half goal by Gareth Evans as the clock ticked into stoppage time. You all know the rest...
My Prediction
I don't fancy Pompey to win this one after Saturday's poor performance. Cue more moaning from the more impatient Portsmouth supporters...
Morecambe 1 Portsmouth 1