Pompey take on Plymouth Argyle on Easter Monday in the Dockyard Derby looking to end a run of four games without a win.
Team News
Andy Awford faces a centre back crisis as Ben Chorley and Nyron Nosworthy both went off injured at Carlisle. Cole Kpekawa or Adam Webster are likely to partner Joe Devera at centre back whilst Wes Fogden should retain his place in midfield after starting his first match of the season on Friday.
Argyle centre back Carl McHugh should start despite gashing his knee in the 1-1 draw with Burton at Home Park. Gethin Jones should also continue at right back.
The Match
There isn't really too much to say about this game. Pompey's season is over and they probably won't be fancied to turn over play-off chasing Argyle. Some may bill this match as a "derby" but given the distance between the sides it's not as if there's local pride to play for.
Awford is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation which seemed to work fairly well at Carlisle after a slow start. It's the same formation which saw him get a lot of joy at the back end of last season and also saw some good attacking football being played at Fratton Park.
Unfortunately, conceding at least one goal tomorrow seems a certainty due to the makeshift defence. Reuben Reid will have a field day against Pompey's back four unless Paul Jones has a blinder or the midfield can cut his supply.
As for scoring goals, it's about time someone other than Jed Wallace stepped up and started creating chances or even scoring goals themselves. Pompey have been far too reliant on him virtually all season and so the others need to prove that they are capable of performing should he leave in the summer.
Hopefully it'll be an enjoyable game and Pompey can get a result to at least stop the fans feeling completely apathetic as the season draws to its close, but the result could well be just as important for Andy Awford's future, too.
Predicted Startng Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Paul JONES
RB: Josh PASSLEY
CB: Joe DEVERA
CB: Adam WEBSTER
LB: Dan BUTLER
DM: James DUNNE
DM: Nigel ATANGANA
RM: Jed WALLACE
AM: Matt TUBBS
LM: Wes FOGDEN
CF: Ryan TAYLOR
Plymouth
GK: Luke McCORMICK
RWB: Gethin JONES
CB: Curtis NELSON
CB: Carl McHUGH
CB: Peter HARTLEY
LWB: Tareiq HOLMES-DENNIS
CM: Jason BANTON
CM: Bobby REID
CM: Dominic BLIZZARD
CF: Lewis ALLESANDRA
CF: Reuben REID
Last Time: Portsmouth 3 Plymouth Argyle 3 (League Two - 03/05/2014)
The final day of last season saw an entertaining match played out at Fratton Park as Danny Hollands headed in Taylor's cross for the opener but Reuben Reid equalised after being left free in the box to turn and shoot.
Hollands tapped in Ricky Holmes' cross to restore Pompey's lead but it didn't last long as Conor Hourihane beat Trevor Carson with a free kick. Hollands completed his hat-trick early in the second half by heading in Holmes' cross but a mistake at the back in the last minute allowed Hourihane to equalise which meant Portsmouth ended the 2013/2014 season in 13th place rather than 9th.
My Prediction
As much as I'd like Pompey to turn their form around, I think our defence will struggle to cope with Allesandra and the two Reids.
Portsmouth 1 Plymouth Argyle 2