Pompey take on Bristol Rovers tomorrow looking for a win that would all-but-secure their Football League status.
Team News
Andy Awford must decide whether to put Ben Chorley back in the centre of defence now his suspension has been served. Jack Whatmough missed international duty during the week but is fit to play but Simon Ferry suffered a recurrence of his back injury at Dagenham and is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Michael Smith and Danny Woodwards are doubts for Rovers with minor injuries but striker Chris Beardsley is likely to miss out with a knee injury. Winger Fabian Broghammer could be named in the first team for the first time this season after recovering from injury.
The Match
After thrashing Dagenham on their own turf last weekend to secure their third straight win, spirits are extremely high in the Portsmouth camp and the fans have bought into that with tomorrow's match at Fratton Park virtually sold out.
Andy Awford has brought a vibrancy to his team that now only need a win tomorrow to be virtually assured of League Two safety. Bristol Rovers, on the other hand, are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference following today's results and have only won once in their last seven matches.
It speaks volumes when some Rovers fans say that Michael Smith, their right back, is their biggest attacking threat in the team and he's doubtful for the match. You have to go back eight matches for when the Gas last scored twice in a match and it seems like they are a team much like Pompey were under Richie Barker.
Hopefully Pompey will start the match just like they have in the last two and score an early goal to get the crowd buzzing and really demoralise the Pirates whose fans have sold out the Milton End tomorrow.
Without wanting to sound arrogant, with Pompey playing so well at the moment the only way they're not going to win this match is by being complacent or fate will have it that the woodwork will be struck countless times and the visitors will get a jammy goal via a deflection or a penalty.
If Awford's men do lose this game, then the pressure is right back on as Pompey would only be four points clear of the drop going into what would then be a crucial relegation crunch match with Northampton on Easter Monday.
Hopefully it won't come to that as Pompey will be backed by over 15,000 fans who are unlikely to turn on them, especially given the way they have been attacking and dominating the opposition in the last two matches.
It should be a good day...
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Trevor CARSON
RB: Daniel ALFEI
CB: Jack WHATMOUGH
CB: Bondz N'GALA
LB: Nicky SHOREY
RM: Jed WALLACE
CM: Johnny ERTL
CM: Danny HOLLANDS
LM: Ricky HOLMES
CF: Ryan TAYLOR
CF: Michael DRENNAN
Bristol Rovers
GK: Steve MILDENHALL
RB: Michael SMITH
CB: Tom PARKES
CB: Mark McCHRYSTAL
LB: Luke BROWN
RM: Alefe SANTOS
CM: John-Joe O'TOOLE
CM: Ollie CLARKE
LM: Kaid MOHAMED
CF: Stephen GILLESPIE
CF: Matt HARROLD
Last Time: Portsmouth 4 Bristol Rovers 1 (Division One - 26/12/1992)
Guy Whittingham grabbed all four goals for Jim Smith's men as Pompey ran riot on Boxing Day. Andy Awford also played in this match.
My Prediction
Whilst there will always be something in the back of my mind that says "typical Pompey will find some way to lose this" everything is going for us right now and the spirit is high. An early goal could see another handsome win in front of a loud crowd.
Portsmouth 3 Bristol Rovers 0