Portsmouth V Hartlepool at Fratton Park : Match Preview

25 January 2013 15:01
Portsmouth V Hartlepool - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


All change for Pompey

Portsmouth will have a new-look team when they host fellow strugglers Hartlepool.

Since their last outing, a 2-0 defeat at Walsall on January 4, Brian Howard, Mustapha Dumbuya, Jon Harley, Lubomir Michalik, Lee Williamson, Luke Rodgers and loanees Paul Benson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have all left the club.

Caretaker boss Guy Whittingham has brought in replacements in the shape of defenders Sam Sodje, Shaun Cooper and Yassin Moutaouakil, midfielders Frankie Sutherland and Adam Reed and striker James Keene.

Whittingham has also recalled teenage left-back Dan Butler from a loan spell at Havant & Waterlooville, and he could be added to the squad.

Defenders Ricardo Rocha and Gabor Gyepes missed the Walsall trip with hamstring injuries but are now fit.MSUBBED

Hartlepool trio Steve Howard, Antony Sweeney and Jordan Richards are all doubtful for the match.

Striker Howard was forced out of the midweek defeat to Bournemouth with a hamstring strain, midfielder Sweeney sustained a knee injury after just five minutes in the same match and right-back Richards missed out on Tuesday night due to a knee problem.

Neil Austin will continue in place of Richards if the teenager fails to make it.

James Poole and teenager Luke James will be vying for a place in the starting line-up if Howard fails a fitness test, while defender Jack Baldwin and winger Andy Monkhouse are also pushing for recalls.

Poole and Charlie Wyke, on loan from Middlesbrough, both sustained knocks against Bournemouth, but are expected to be in contention as John Hughes' side chase their third league win of the season.

Source: PA