Pompey travel to New Meadow to take on high-flying Shrewsbury Town tomorrow looking for a win which would confirm themselves as promotion challengers this season.
Team News
Stuart O'Keefe looks set to miss tomorrow's match after coming off at half-time with a thigh injury last weekend. Kal Naismith's knee injury continues to keep him out but Ollie Hawkins is available again.
Shrews boss Paul Hurst has no new injury concerns with Junior Brown and Zak Jules long-term absentees.
The Match
Shrewsbury are League One's success story so far having managed to be in the top two positions in the division virtually all season when most people tipped them for relegation.
They're a hard working team which is greater than the sum of its parts. Hurst has managed to get the defence organised and somehow managed to turn what should be a generic box stadium into a fortress, with Shrewsbury only losing once at home all season.
However, prior to their 1-0 win over Blackpool last weekend they had stuttered and lost their place at the top of the league and they face a Pompey side whose defence has tightened significantly in recent weeks and always looks like being able to nick a goal at the other end of the field.
Kenny Jackett's team selection will likely be the same team that finished Saturday's win over Bury, although Brett Pitman could be moved back to play behind Hawkins if the Pompey manager decides to take a more direct approach to the game.
A draw away to one of the two sides with a better home record than Pompey wouldn't be a bad result and is certainly achievable when you consider that the other team with a better home record is Wigan, where Pompey salvaged a point.
However, if Pompey could snatch a victory in what should be a tight contest tomorrow then that would be the biggest statement of intent of the season. That win could be enough to take the Blues into the play-offs if Charlton fail to beat Blackpool.
And to be in 6th place with half the season gone would ensure a very happy Christmas for all Portsmouth fans.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Shrewsbury
GK: Dean HENDERSON
RB: James BOLTON
CB: Aristote NSIALA
CB: Omar BECKLES
LB: Mat SADLER
DM: Bryn MORRIS
RM: Shaun WHALLEY
CM: Jon NOLAN
CM: Abu OGOGO
LM: Alex RODMAN
CF: Carlton MORRIS
Pompey
GK: Luke McGEE
RB: Nathan THOMPSON
CB: Christian BURGESS
CB: Matt CLARKE
LB: Brandan HAUNSTRUP
DM: Danny ROSE
DM: Ben CLOSE
RM: Gareth EVANS
AM: Conor CHAPLIN
LM: Jamal LOWE
CF: Brett PITMAN
Last Time: Shrewsbury Town 2 Portsmouth 1 (League Two - 25/10/2014)
Jed Wallace put Pompey ahead with an early penalty but would ultimately fall to defeat thanks to long range strikes from James Wesolowski and Conor Goldson. Liam Lawrence cleared a Patrick Agyemang header off the line late on to ensure Andy Awford's men were beaten.
My Prediction
This probably won't be a great game to watch as both teams' greatest strength is their defence. One goal either way would probably enough to win but I shall sit on the fence with this one.
Shrewsbury Town 0 Portsmouth 0