Stevenage vs Portsmouth Preview

Last updated : 09 August 2010 By Jim Bonner
Stevenage FC take on Pompey in their first ever League Cup tie at the Lamex Stadium on Monday night, hoping to achieve a result that will go down in their history as one of their best.

Team News

David Bridges is suspended for Stevenage whilst Jon Ashton will be missing because of a hip injury. Yemi Odubade and Chris Beardsley will be hoping to start the game along with midfielder Robbie Sinclair.

Steve Cotterill is likely to play some of the youths ahead of this game, meaning Marlon Pack and Pete Gregory could be handed their first starts for the club. Because of the threadbare squad, it is expected that many of those who did performed so poorly at Coventry will be given a chance to redeem themselves.

The Match

Monday night will be the first time that Stevenage have met Portsmouth in a competitive fixture as this is Boro's first ever season in league football.

Graham Westley is seen as something of a special manager for guiding Stevenage out of the football league, and to be playing last season's FA Cup finalists and an ex-Premier League side is something of a dream come true for his side.

It all points to a humiliating defeat for us tomorrow, given the current circumstances surrounding the club. We may have reached the quarter-finals last year but I don't think any Pompey fan really cares about this competition this year and I know I certainly won't be too bothered if we were to crash out early.

Having said that, losing to a team two divisions below us will do nothing for confidence and will only heap more pressure on the remaining players at the club. Here's hoping the players that Steve picks are professional enough to get the job done.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Stevenage

GK: Chris DAY

RB: Luke FOSTER
CB: Scott LAIRD
CB: Mark ROBERTS
LB: Ron HENRY

RM: Darren MURPHY
CM: Stacy LONG
CM: Peter VINCENTI
LM: Peter WINN

CF: Chris BEARDSLEY
CF: Charlie GRIFFIN

Pompey

GK: Jamie ASHDOWN

RB: Marc WILSON
CB: Aaron MOKOENA
CB: Ibrahima SONKO
LB: Hayden MULLINS

CM: Pete GREGORY
CM: Marlon PACK
CM: Michael BROWN

RWF: Tommy SMITH
LWF: Matt RITCHIE
CF: David NUGENT

My Prediction

It's their first ever League Cup tie against a team who were in the top flight and reached the FA Cup final last season. This has "fairytale win for Stevenage" written all over it, doesn't it?

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