Portsmouth vs Colchester Preview

Last updated : 01 February 2013 By Jim Bonner

Colchester United are the next team for Portsmouth to try and beat if they are to end what can now be described as a nightmare run of form.

Team News

Having brought no new faces in on transfer deadline day, Guy Whittingham will have to make do with his current squad for the time being although he has no new injury worries after Tuesday's defeat to Notts County.

Josh Thompson will play against the team he made a few appearances for last year but Jack Compton is likely to start on the bench after a disappointing spell at Fratton Park. Dominic Samuel has returned to Reading after his loan spell with the U's.

The Match

What more can be said about Pompey's season? A disaster on the pitch and a disaster off it. There are no signs that the misery is going to end.

It is now 15 games without a win in the league now after Tuesday's defeat and that is currently the longest winless run in the country. The last six of those games have all been lost too.

Next up are The U's from Essex who had lost their last nine league games until their last game when they beat Walsall 2-0 to end that miserable run just in time for their trip to Fratton Park.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the same team as Tuesday's line up after what some describe as an "encouraging" performance. It was unfortunate that Millwall winger Theirry Macon couldn't be brought to Pompey before yesterday's deadline as the team need more width.

Given how bad Joe Dunne's men have been there is a fair chance that Pompey may finally end the winless run but unless there is a marked improvement in the defending which has cost Pompey so many sloppy goals then only another defeat awaits.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Simon Eastwood

RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

CB: Gabor GYEPES

LB: Dan BUTLER

RM: Ashley HARRIS

CM: Johnny ERTL

CM: Shaun COOPER

LM: Jed WALLACE

CF: David CONNOLLY

CF: James KEENE

Colchester

GK: Sam WALKER

RB: Brian WILSON

CB: Tom EASTMAN

CB: Josh THOMPSON

LB: John WHITE

CM: Marcus BEAN

CM: David WRIGHT

CM: Billy CLIFFORD

RWF: Gavin MASSEY

LWF: Freddie SEARS

CF: Jabo IBEHERE

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Colchester United 2 (League Cup First Round - 21/08/2001)

Lower league Colchester caused an upset thanks to goals from Micky Stockwell and Kemal Izzet. Peter Crouch had equalised with a header from Courtney Pitt's cross but this was not a debut for Robert Prosinecki to remember.

My Prediction

Another miserable afternoon for all Pompey fans due to a mistake at the back and no cutting edge up front.

Portsmouth 0 Colchester United 1