Swindon vs Portsmouth Preview

Can 2013 get off to a winning start for Pompey? Portsmouth begin 2013 with a difficult trip to the County Ground to take on high-flying Swindon Town. Team News Izale McLeod has left Portsmouth by mutual consent but new signing David Connolly is set to make his debut as Paul Benson cannot play against his parent club. Jon Harley should return to the defence after serving a suspension but Gabor Gyepes is still out whilst there are doubts over Ricardo Rocha's fitness after he limped off during the defeat to Yeovil. Paolo Di Canio's side will be fresh having not played a game since December 21st due to postponements. He is likely to pick the same side that hammered Tranmere 5-0 in their last match. The Match 2012 has come and gone and good riddance to it. In all honesty, I can't see 2013 starting much better but it would be great to see in the new year with a win, if only to lift spirits. The half-time whistle on Saturday may well have been the turning point in Pompey's season. With the now departed McLeod and desperately disappointing Howard dropped, the team played with energy and enthusiasm and should have got something from the game. We can only hope that Guy Whittingham and Andy Awford use that second half display as a catalyst for a good performance and stick with the same team (bar the ineligible Benson) that finished the Yeovil game. If this Pompey team can reproduce that kind of performance and effort tomorrow then there may be some hope of getting a result at the County Ground, though it will be difficult. The Robins are probably the best side I've seen play against Pompey this season and are full of attacking threat, especially that of Matt Ritchie who will look to score against his boyhood club once again. But who knows? The fight shown in that second half against Yeovil has given us a glimmer of hope. If Howard remains dropped, Williamson plays in the centre and Walker can feed the strikers then a repeat performance may well see Pompey upset the odds. Happy New Year! Or should that be "Happy New Year?" Predicted Starting Line-Ups Swindon GK: Wes FODERINGHAM RB: Nathan THOMPSON CB: Joe DEVERA CB: Darren WARD LB: Alan McCORMACK RM: Matt RITCHIE CM: Simon FERRY CM: Danny HOLLANDS LM: Raffaele DE VITA CF: Andy WILLIAMS CF: Chris MARTIN Pompey GK: Simon EASTWOOD RB: Mustapha DUMBUYA CB: Ricardo ROCHA CB: Lubomir MICHALIK LB: Jon HARLEY CM: Darel RUSSELL CM: Lee WILLIAMSON CM: Liam WALKER RWF: Ashley HARRIS LWF: Scott ALLAN CF: David CONNOLLY Last Time: Swindon Town 1 Portsmouth 1 (Division One - 26/12/1999) Steve Claridge scored to earn a draw for Pompey after the home side took the lead in the first half through Chris Hay in this Boxing Day encounter. My Prediction There will be plentiful support for Pompey in Wiltshire tomorrow and there is hope of a result. But realistically a fresh, in-form Swindon side should have too much for the Blues. Swindon Town 3 Portsmouth 1 Source: Fratton Faithful

Source: FOOTYMAD