Portsmouth vs Southend Preview

Last updated : 25 November 2013 By Jim Bonner

Pompey begin life without Guy Whittingham with a tough game against in-form Southend United tomorrow night.

Team News

Andy Awford may make some changes from Saturday's team that lost to Scunthorpe but Patrick Agyemang and Therry Racon are still out injured Yassin Moutaouakil may earn a recall to the side now Whittingham has gone.

Winger Kevan Hurst is suspended for Southend after being sent off against York but Cauley Woodrow could start although Ryan Leonard is hamstrung.

The Match

The timing of Guy Whittingham's sacking has taken many Pompey fans by surprise as it seemed like our former manager would be given this game to stop the rot.

Andy Awford will be in charge and it'll be intriguing to see how the players respond to Whittingham's sacking. Whilst there may be some more effort it's highly doubtful the team's understanding or organisation would have improved in the space of two days.

Phil Brown's team arrive at Fratton Park on a four game winning streak but do have two key players out in Hurst and Leonard. Even so, given how Pompey have defended in their last few matches it's difficult to back them to win against their in-form opponents, even if form seems to count for little in this division.

But, who knows what will happen tomorrow night? Perhaps the players will finally give the fans the response they've been asking for and at least look threatening when going forward for a change.

It should be an intriguing encounter now that many Pompey fans have got what they asked for in Whittingham's departure, but let's not think that this match has become any easier because of that.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Trevor CARSON

RB: Joe DEVERA

CB: Sonny BRADLEY

CB: Bondz N'GALA

LB: Dan POTTS

RM: Jed WALLACE

CM: Johnny ERTL

CM: Simon FERRY

LM: Ricky HOLMES

CF: Tom CRADDOCK

CF: David CONNOLLY

Southend

GK: Daniel BENTLEY

RB: John WHITE

CB: Luke PROSSER

CB: Rob KEIRNAN

LB: Ben COKER

CM: Michael TIMLIN

CM: Will ATKINSON

CM: Marc LAIRD

RWF: Cauley WOODROW

LWF: Anthony STRAKER

CF: Barry CORR

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Southend United 0 (Division One - 27/08/1996)

A single goal from Lee Russell was enough to see Terry Fenwick's Pompey defeat the Shrimpers under the Fratton floodlights on a Tuesday night.

My Prediction

Whittingham's dismissal is not going to solve the problems in this team overnight and the defensive frailties and poor passing will undoubtedly remain. You cannot back this team to win against strong opposition regardless of who the manager is at the moment.

Portsmouth 1 Southend United 2