Pompey take on Crawley on Boxing Day in a game they simply have to win to keep hopes of League One survival alive.
Team News
Jake Jervis has been recalled by Birmingham due to their injury crisis and so Paul Benson is likely to return to the Pompey starting eleven after recovering from illness.
Crawley are assessing the fitness of centre back Claude Davis who is suffering with a knee injury whilst another centre back in Kyle MacFadzean will miss the game with illness.
Ex-Pompey man Shaun Cooper will miss out on a return to Fratton Park having left the club for good in 2005 after only making seven appearances.
The Match
After all the build up for Saturday's "must win" game at Hartlepool, it was disappointing albeit predictable for the match to be called off.
Pompey still need promotion winning form to stay in League One and so the next two home games against Crawley and Yeovil have to be won over the festive period to restore some hope into what has been a difficult season.
The Red Devils aren't in great form having only won one of their last eight matches and they also have injury problems in defence, so now is a good time to play Richie Barker's men.
It would be great to have something to cheer this Christmas. Pompey haven't won on Boxing Day since Linvoy Primus scored twice at Upton Park to beat West Ham 2-1.
More importantly, the run of ten games without a win has to end and it's a shame that the perfect opportunity to do that at Hartlepool was washed away.
But if Pompey do not win on Wednesday then the season, in terms of issues on the pitch, is all but over.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Pompey
GK: Simon EASTWOOD
RB: Mustapha DUMBUYA
CB: Ricardo ROCHA
CB: Gabor GYEPES
LB: Jon HARLEY
RM: Lee WILLIAMSON
CM: Brian HOWARD
CM: Johnny ERTL
LM: Scott ALLAN
CF: Izale McLEOD
CF: Paul BENSON
Crawley
GK: Paul JONES
RB: Mat SADLER
CB: Joe WALSH
CB: Mark CONNOLLY
LB: David HUNT
RM: Nicky ADAMS
CM: Josh SIMPSON
CM: Dannie BULMAN
CM: Hope AKPAN
LM: Mike JONES
CF: Gary ALEXANDER
My Prediction
I think we're due a bit of festive cheer and for that unreasonable reason alone I am backing Pompey to win and keep the season very much alive.
Portsmouth 2 Crawley Town 0
Source: Fratton Faithful
Source: FOOTYMAD
