Portsmouth V Coventry at Fratton Park : Match Preview

22 March 2013 12:31
Portsmouth V Coventry - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


No worries for Pompey

Portsmouth will be unchanged for the visit of Coventry.

Caretaker boss Guy Whittingham has named the same starting XI for the past five matches and seen his side collect two wins and two draws while falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat to in-form Leyton Orient.

It means defender Sam Sodje will have to be content with a place on the bench again following his recent return from suspension.

Striker John Akinde returned as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at leaders Doncaster last weekend following a sickness bug and should be on the bench once more.

Experienced duo David Connolly and Patrick Agyemang, who have scored five goals between them in the last five matches, will start in attack again.

Coventry will be without captain Carl Baker.

The midfielder, who has an impressive 14 goals to his name this season, has flown to Germany to undergo a hernia operation which has been troubling him for some time but hopes to miss just the single game.

The Sky Blues are already without leading scorer Leon Clarke, shortlisted for the npower League One Player of the Season award, after he underwent an ankle operation which has ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

However, manager Steven Pressley insists the 21-goal striker is recovering well and is on target to return for pre-season training in the summer.

Defender Richard Wood was back in training on Thursday following his groin injury but will not be match fit for around another seven to 10 days, while Blair Adams and Stephen Elliott (both knee) are each making great progress and stand a chance of playing again before the season is out.

Source: PA