Match Preview: Peterborough v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

15 March 2024

Forget about Manchester City taking on Real Madrid in the Champions League – the big upcoming games are taking place in League One.

This weekend sees a couple of massive clashes in the race for promotion to the Championship, including a second versus third contest between Derby and Bolton.

Meanwhile, table-topping Pompey make the trip to London Road to face an in-form Peterborough side who occupy fourth spot (3pm kick-off).

Darren Ferguson’s men looked to have slipped out of the reckoning following a five-match winless run that included four successive February losses.

But they have since stormed back from the setback with five victories in a row that leaves them four points behind the second-placed Rams with a game in hand.

The most recent three-point haul came on Wednesday night, as Harrison Burrows, Jadel Katongo and Kwame Poku all struck in a 3-1 home triumph over Stevenage.

There is also the excitement of a Wembley trip to look forward to for the Posh, who face Wycombe in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy final next month.

Pompey have already faced Peterborough twice at Fratton Park this season – with those meetings taking place in the space of a few days last summer.

The visitors won on penalties in the second round of the Carabao Cup, but the Blues hit back to win 3-1 in the league, courtesy of goals from Colby Bishop, Abu Kamara and Regan Poole.

TEAM NEWS
Callum Lang and Anthony Scully are both doubts for Pompey with minor ankle problems, but Jack Sparkes should be available following a similar issue.

Ben Stevenson is back in full training having recovered from a knee injury, although Saturday’s game is likely to come too soon for the midfielder.

Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Terry Devlin (shoulder), Josh Dockerill (knee), Tom McIntyre (ankle), Joe Morrell (knee), Connor Ogilvie (knee), Regan Poole (knee) and Alex Robertson (hamstring) are still sidelined.

Hector Kyprianou is suspended for Peterborough after collecting his 10th booking of the season earlier in the week.

Will Blackmore (hip) and Jeando Fuchs (knee) are both long-term absentees, while James Dornelly (ankle) and Jacob Wakeling (ankle) are doubts.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Will Norris ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 14 wins
Peterborough: 13 wins
9 draws

On the road
Pompey: 4 wins
Peterborough: 6 wins
6 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistants: Christopher Husband and Grant Taylor
Fourth Official: Steven Plane

TICKETS
Pompey have sold their full allocation, so please do not travel to the game if you do not already have a ticket.

Supporters should be aware that the M25 will be closed this weekend between junctions 10 and 11, so please plan your journey accordingly.

MATCH COVERAGE
Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 2pm on Saturday.

Overseas subscribers and match pass holders can watch all the action live, with replays and accompanying commentary.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have key updates throughout the game on Twitter and a detailed blog via the match centre.

There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Sunday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online).

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
All games kick-off at 3pm

Barnsley v Cheltenham
Derby v Bolton
Exeter v Burton
Fleetwood v Charlton
Lincoln v Bristol Rovers
Port Vale v Oxford
Reading v Cambridge
Shrewsbury v Carlisle
Stevenage v Leyton Orient
Wigan v Blackpool
Wycombe v Northampton

MEMORABLE MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Peterborough 0 Pompey 1

Yengi comes off the bench to secure all three points

16 March 2024

Kusini Yengi scores for Pompey at Peterborough United — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Kusini Yengi came off the bench to fire Pompey to a vital victory over League One promotion rivals Peterborough at London Road.

In a breathless contest that often switched from one end to the other, it looked increasingly likely that the spoils would be shared.

But some excellent play from fellow substitute Gavin Whyte allowed Yengi to slot home a goal that sent more than 4,000 travelling Blues fans wild with delight.

John Mousinho made a trio of changes from the side that beat Burton on home soil earlier in the week.

Zak Swanson was handed a first start in almost three months, while Jack Sparkes returned following a minor ankle injury.

There was also a place for Colby Bishop up top, with Joe Rafferty and Yengi dropping to the bench and Paddy Lane absent completely.

Both sides showed their attacking intent in the early stages, as the action quickly switched from one end to the next.

The visitors were causing problems by winning the ball high up the pitch, while their Posh opponents broke with menace.

Marlon Pack was looking as lively as ever and a 30-yard free-kick was spilled by Jed Steer, who was thankful to see Harrison Burrows clear the danger.

Peterborough’s left-back was immediately involved again at the other end of the pitch, drilling narrowly wide.

Abu Kamara was then denied a penalty after going down in the area, while Christian Saydee was dispossessed just as he shaped to shoot.

Ephron Mason-Clark was proving to be the most dangerous player for the hosts and after being picked out on the left, he smashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar.

Both sides were looking more than capable of breaking the deadlock and when Pack swung in another free-kick, Bishop’s header was saved by Steer.

Pompey were forced into a change on 32 minutes, when Saydee went down and was replaced by Yengi.

The chances kept coming and a teasing delivery from Owen Moxon was agonisingly out of reach for Bishop in the box.

A Posh attack soon followed and when Will Norris kept out Mason-Clark’s drive, the loose ball was cleared by Conor Shaughnessy.

It was the visitors who finished the stronger of the sides, though, applying plenty of stoppage-time pressure.

A Sparkes corner was only partially cleared and the ball was sent back into the mixer by Myles Peart-Harris.

Shaughnessy tried to turn it into the net, but Burrows made the block, as did Ronnie Edwards from Bishop’s follow-up attempt.

Half Time: Peterborough 0 Pompey 0

It was still proving to be a tight and tense contest when the action got restarted, with both sides trying to get forward.

There was a series of corners from the home side, but each of them were comfortably dealt with by the Blues.

They did have a scare when Jadel Katongo picked out Malik Mothersille, who flicked the ball narrowly wide.

Peart-Harris collected a neat pass from Moxon at the other end, but the loanee could not keep his effort down.

Kamara then won a corner following some good work on the right and the ball had to be cleared behind when Steer failed to hold Sparkes’ cross.

Mousinho made a second switch just past the hour mark, as Peart-Harris made way for Whyte out wide.

The chances began to dry up slightly, with both sides unable to make the most of promising attacking plays.

But the noisy travelling army grew even louder when their side forged ahead on 77 minutes following a quick break up the pitch.

Whyte laid the ball off for Bishop and then raced up the pitch to collect it back again before switching play to YENGI on the left.

The Australian striker surged past Edwards and then slipped a shot inside Steer’s near post before racing away to celebrate.

Pompey kept pushing forward, though, and after winning the ball inside the Posh box, Yengi could not quite force the ball home again.

Their opponents threw on forward players to try to find a late leveller, but the Blues saw out the closing stages in comfortable fashion.

Peterborough (4-2-3-1): Steer; Katongo (Clarke-Harris 90), Knight, Edwards, Burrows (c) (Fernandez 90+3); Collins, De Havilland; Poku (Ajiboye 90+3), Randall, Mason-Clark; Mothersille (Jones 65)
Booked: Poku
Subs not used: Bilokapic, Crichlow, Olakigbe

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Swanson, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Moxon, Pack (c); Kamara, Saydee (Yengi 32), Peart-Harris (Whyte 61); Bishop
Goals: Yengi 77
Booked: Sparkes, Pack
Subs not used: Macey, Rafferty, Towler, Evans, Martin

Referee: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 12,744 (4,019 Pompey fans)