Portsmouth vs Shrewsbury Town Preview

Last updated : 19 October 2012 By Jim Bonner

Pompey take on Shrewsbury tomorrow looking to extend their recent run of good form by taking 13 points from the last 15 available.

Team News

Mustapha Dumbuya has returned from international duty with Sierra Leone and should feature in the first XI tomorrow, which means either Lee Williamson or Jon Harley will have to switch to playing at left midfield or be dropped from the side.

Shrews manager Graham Turner can call on the services of Terry Gornell, Sam Winnall and Darren Jones who have recovered from injuries and illness. However, he is likely to pick the same team that defeated Walsall on Sunday.

The Match

Given the announcement that the Trust have been favoured over Portpin to buy the club and the good run of form the Pompey team have produced on the pitch, there should be a happy atmosphere and a bigger crowd at Fratton Park tomorrow.

Given that the opposition are yet to win away from home all season, most Portsmouth fans will be confident of a win, so long as Pompey go into half-time with a comfortable lead given the performances in the second half of recent games.

Shrewsbury don't score many goals but make up for this by keeping things tight at the back. That is the polar opposite of Pompey who score (and concede) for fun, so it should be an interesting game tomorrow, it's just a shame I'm going to miss it!

It'll be interesting to see just how Michael Appleton sets out his side after playing Williamson at full back and Harley at right midfield. Dumbuya's return means one of them are likely to be dropped.

Here's hoping the good run of form continues and there is more good news to follow for off-the-pitch matters.

Click here for the League One Lowdown on Shrewsbury Town

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Mikkel ANDERSEN

RB: Mustapha DUMBUYA

CB: Gabor GYEPES

CB: Lubor MICHALIK

LB: Adam WEBSTER

RM: Lee WILLIAMSON

CM: Brian HOWARD

CM: Johnny ERTL

LM: Akos BUZSAKY

CF: Izale McLEOD

CF: Wes THOMAS

Shrewsbury

GK: Chris WEALE

RB: Jermaine GRANDISON

CB: Michael HECTOR

CB: Lee COLLINS

LB: Matt RICHARDS

RM: Aaron WILDIG

CM: Luke SUMMERFIELD

CM: Asa HALL

LM: Jon TAYLOR

CF: Marvin MORGAN

CF: Paul PARRY

Last Time: Portsmouth 2 Shrewsbury Town 0 (Division Two - 21/01/1989)

A penalty from Warren Aspinall and a Greame Hogg goal was enough for John Gregory's side to win this game played in front 8,446 people.

My Prediction

Shrewsbury have lost every game they have played at Fratton Park.  expect that record to continue tomorrow.

Portsmouth 2 Shrewsbury Town 0