Source: FOOTYMAD
Stevenage vs Portsmouth Preview
Pompey up for the cup. Pompey travel to Broadhall Way to take on Stevenage in the FA Cup hoping not to crash out at the first hurdle for the third consecutive season. Team News John Marquis has been denied permission to play in this tie by Millwall but Bury are expected to let Trevor Carson to represent Pompey in the FA Cup. Jake Jervis is unlikely to get his future confirmed in time for the match as previous employers Elazigspor are haggling over a training fee they are entitled to. Stevenage will welcome back striker Lucas Akins after he served a three-match ban and Dean Parrett could make his first start for the club. Darius Charles, David Gray and Ben Chorley are all injured. The Match Whilst this is not the most inspirational tie Pompey fans would have wanted, it's not an impossible one to get a result from. However, despite Stevenage's 2-0 defeat at Wolves last week they've generally been in good form and won four of their five games in October. Do not let their lowly position in League One fool you. However, Pompey have also been in good form and in Patrick Agyemang have a player who will have a point to prove having had a miserable time at Boro, scoring just the one goal in 31 appearances. Bondz N'Gala also had a year at Stevenage and will want to show them what they lost when they released him at the end of last season. Graham Westley's team are tough to beat because they tend to be so well organised and play the ball along the ground and out wide, which may actually be a bonus for Pompey given how our defence has struggled against hoof ball this season. Most of their team are nippy lads so the likes of Agyemang, Bird and Racon might be able to bully them and turn the match into a scrap. Outfighting Stevenage is probably Pompey's best hope in getting a result against their higher league opponents. Players like Francois Zoko, Filipe Morais and Luke Freeman could run rings around our men if given the opportunity. Their midfield will swamp ours if Johnny Ertl returns to the side because he simply won't be able to keep up so hopefully Ferry and Racon keep their promising partnership going in the centre of the park. Ryan Bird is almost certain to start the match and hopefully he'll continue to prove his critics wrong with another goal or two. It should be an interesting game and there may be a chance of progression to round two but in all honesty, getting knocked out wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and those oh-so-desperate Scummers would have to wait another year at least for an opportunity for their "world beaters" to have a crack at us again. Predicted Starting Line-Ups Stevenage GK: Chris DAY RB: Simon HESLOP CB: Jon ASHTON CB: Luke JONES LB: Peter HARTLEY RM: Filipe MORAIS CM: Jimmy SMITH CM: Michael DOUGHTY LM: Luke FREEMAN CF: Lucas AKINS CF: Francois ZOKO Pompey GK: Trevor CARSON RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL CB: Sonny BRADLEY CB: Bondz N'GALA LB: Joe DEVERA RM: Jed WALLACE CM: Therry RACON CM: Simon FERRY LM: Ricky HOLMES CF: Patrick AGYEMANG CF: Ryan BIRD Last Time: Stevenage 2 Portsmouth 1 (League One - 23/10/2012) Nuno Morais opened the scoring headed in Akins' cross but Pompey were level just after the break after Jon Harley curled a beauty past Steve Arnold. Michael Appleton's men were frustrated in their search for a winner and were soon undone as Morais' cross-cum-shot sailed past Mikkel Andersen and into the top corner to give the hosts the win. My Prediction This will be a tough game but Pompey seem to have a knack of not being beaten at the moment despite almost throwing victory away against Exeter last week. There'll be goals and I think this will be a draw. Stevenage 2 Portsmouth 2
Source: Fratton Faithful