Match Preview: Wycombe v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

28 March 2024

After a break for international fixtures, Pompey fans can now look forward to a couple of big games in quick succession.

Ahead of a home clash with fellow promotion hopefuls Derby on Tuesday evening, John Mousinho’s men visit Wycombe on Good Friday (3pm kick-off).

They go there with the knowledge that 13 points from the final seven fixtures would be enough to guarantee a place in the Championship.

Their opponents appear to have little left to play for except pride, with the Chairboys sat in 13th position in the League One standings.

Matt Bloomfield’s outfit are 13 points adrift of the final play-off spot and a comfortable 14 clear of the drop zone.

But they have not been playing like a side with one eye on the beach in recent weeks and go into the game on the back of three successive wins.

That is probably because everyone wants to impress the boss ahead of a trip to Wembley next month, when Wanderers take on Peterborough in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy final.

Pompey lost 2-0 when they made the relatively short trip to Adams Park last season, but came out on top at Fratton Park earlier in the current campaign.

It took a late goal from Conor Shaughnessy to secure the points, however, after Colby Bishop had cancelled out Josh Scowen’s opener for the visitors.

TEAM NEWS
Paddy Lane and Joe Rafferty have overcome the illnesses that forced them to miss the Peterborough game.

Tino Anjorin and Ben Stevenson are also available again after recovering from hamstring and knee problems respectively.

The game is likely to come too soon for Connor Ogilvie (knee) and Christian Saydee (hamstring), who have only recently returned to training.

Terry Devlin (shoulder), Josh Dockerill (knee), Callum Lang (ankle), Tom Lowery (hamstring), Tom McIntyre (ankle), Joe Morrell (knee), Regan Poole (knee), Anthony Scully (ankle) and Alex Robertson (hamstring) are all still out.

David Wheeler could feature for Wycombe against his former club after completing a three-match suspension.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Sean Raggett ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 7 wins
Wycombe: 5 wins
7 draws

On the road
Pompey: 3 wins
Wycombe: 3 wins
2 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Tom Nield
Assistants: Graham Kane and Greg Read
Fourth Official: Lee Swabey

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

Please note that tickets have been emailed to the lead booker. Supporters who have purchased concession tickets are advised to bring proof of age identification with them to the game.

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters at home and abroad can watch the contest live by purchasing an iFollow match pass and visiting the match centre.

Domestic iFollow subscribers can also enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game.

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 Saturday.

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

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

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

MEMORABLE MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Wycombe 1 Pompey 3

Bishop brace and Saydee strike earn valuable three points

29 March 2024

Christian Saydee scores for Pompey at Wycombe Wanderers — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Colby Bishop scored twice as Pompey got the Easter weekend off to a perfect start with a 3-1 victory at in-form Wycombe.

The prolific scorer saw his early effort quickly cancelled out by Portsmouth-born Matt Butcher, only to strike again before the break.

And the points were wrapped up midway through the second half, when Christian Saydee lashed home a third goal for the table-topping Blues.

John Mousinho made two changes from the side that won at Peterborough before the international break.

Connor Ogilvie and Paddy Lane – who missed that game through injury and illness respectively – were both restored to the starting line-up.

That saw Jack Sparkes and Myles Peart-Harris drop to the bench, where they were joined by Kusini Yengi following his long trip back from Australia.

The visiting fans were making a lot of noise before the game and only got louder when the deadlock was broken after just three minutes.

Abu Kamara escaped down the right, surging forward and sending in a delivery that was met by BISHOP, whose effort took a deflection off Nigel Lonwijk to loop into the net.

But the home side quickly hit back, with Beryly Lubala’s cross laid off by Richard Kone for Butcher to slot home.

The lead might have been restored when Marlon Pack launched a long throw into the box, but Ogilvie’s header was saved by Franco Ravizzoli.

And the keeper then dealt with Lane’s angled effort before an attempt from Kamara was deflected over the bar.

Pompey continued to apply pressure and restored their advantage on 28 minutes, as Zak Swanson and Christian Saydee combined to feed Kamara.

He cut the ball back into the mixer and BISHOP met it with a neat first-time finish that flew into the net.

There was soon another good opportunity for the visitors, but Luke Leahy made a vital interception to stop Kamara converting Lane’s centre.

The game was being punctuated with heavy showers that made life difficult for both sides and the chances started to dry up.

Wycombe did have one just before the break, but when Kieran Sadlier connected sweetly with the ball on the volley, it flew straight into the arms of Will Norris.

Half Time: Wycombe 1 Pompey 2

Kamara continued to look dangerous once the action restarted, but was crowded out inside the area before he could get a shot away.

And there was a great chance for the Blues to extend their lead when Ravizolli failed to hold a monster Pack throw.

Conor Shaughnessy nodded the ball on and Sean Raggett tried to force it into the net, but Freddie Potts managed to stop it on the line.

The Chairboys had an opportunity of their own after a Leahy corner was cleared as far as Josh Scowen, but he could only screw his shot wide.

They went closer just past the hour mark, as Leahy curled a free-kick against the bar following Owen Moxon’s booking for a nudge on Lubala.

But Pompey were still causing problems of their own and there were some nervy moments at the back for Wanderers to deal with.

The visitors made their first change on 64 minutes, with Moxon making way and Lee Evans on to make his debut.

And they had a cushion moments later after Lane’s cross-field ball found Kamara in the box and he tried to pick out Bishop.

Lonwijk got to the ball first, but he could only head it as far as SAYDEE, who smashed home his second league goal for the club.

Pompey still had to remain alert and Swanson slid in to win possession inside his own box before Dale Taylor could get a shot away.

Bishop still had his eyes on a first Pompey hat-trick, but was denied by Ravizzoli after meeting a Swanson cross.

A double change followed on 81 minutes, with warm applause for Saydee and Swanson as they departed for Yengi and Joe Rafferty.

And the visitors saw out the closing stages with relative ease to give their promotion hopes a massive boost.

Wycombe (4-1-4-1): Ravizzoli; Grimmer (McCarthy 81), Lonwijk, Tafazolli, Leahy (Forino 75); Potts; Lubala, Scowen (c) (Taylor 64), Butcher, Sadlier (Vokes 75); Kone (Campbell 64)
Goals: Butcher 7
Booked: Tafazolli, Potts
Subs not used: Stryjek, Kodua

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Swanson (Rafferty 81), Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Pack (c), Moxon (Evans 64); Kamara (Whyte 90+1), Saydee (Yengi 81), Lane; Bishop
Goals: Bishop 3, 28, Saydee 67
Booked: Norris, Moxon, Bishop, Pack
Subs not used: Macey, Sparkes, Peart-Harris

Referee: Tom Nield

Attendance: 6,793 (1,840 Pompey fans)