Match Preview: Fleetwood v Pompey

Everything you need to know about Emirates FA Cup clash

3 January 2020

Pompey have been hovering just outside the League One play-off places for a number of weeks now.

But attention switches away from a battle for promotion this weekend, as they make the long trip north to face Fleetwood in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup (5.31pm kick-off).

They have yet to face their opponents from the same division this term, with November’s scheduled league contest postponed because of international commitments.

It means that this clash will be the first of three meetings taking place in the space of a little over nine weeks.

There could be even more if a replay is required, while both sides also remain in the Leasing.com Trophy.

The Cod Army are currently one point – and two places – above the Blues in the League One standings, having played one game fewer.

Joey Barton’s side reached this stage of the famous old competition with away victories at Barnet and Crawley, but have never made it to the fourth round.

There have been only six previous competitive contests between the teams and Pompey have won each of the past four encounters with an aggregate score of 12-4.

The most recent one – which occurred just over a year ago – saw the Blues battle from behind before ultimately securing a comfortable 5-2 triumph.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey could hand a debut to left-back Steve Seddon following his arrival on loan from Birmingham.

Ryan Williams is still absent after injuring his groin in the Boxing Day victory over Wycombe at Fratton Park.

Ross McCrorie (hamstring), Lee Brown (Achilles) and Brandon Haunstrup (meniscus) are also sidelined.

Bryn Morris (groin) is still in the treatment room, while Jack Whatmough is not yet ready for selection following his knee problem.

Fleetwood will be without midfielder Jordan Rossiter (knee), while Peter Clarke, Jimmy Dunne and Ashley Hunter have all departed in the past few days.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Kenny Jackett ahead of the cup clash with Fleetwood.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 4 wins
Fleetwood: 2 wins
0 draws

At Highbury Stadium
Pompey: 2 wins
Fleetwood: 1 win
0 draws

TICKET NEWS
Pompey fans will be able to buy tickets at Fleetwood on the day of the game. Click here for more details.

Away supporters are welcome in Jim's Bar at the ground, which opens from midday and will be showing live spot.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Marc Edwards
Assistants: Graeme Fyvie and Alan Clayton
Fourth Official: Thomas Parsons

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Pompey or Fleetwood will be ball number 27 in Monday's evening's draw for the fourth round. Click here for more details.

All third round fixtures are kicking-off one munute later to encourage fans to ‘Take A Minute’ and think about looking after their mental health. Click here for more details.

You can also relive the Blues' 2008 Wembley triumph with our limited edition box set, which is on sale now from the memorabilia store.

MATCH COVERAGE
Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Ian Wilding and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from 4.30pm on Saturday.

Overseas subscribers should note that there is no live iFollow video coverage of FA Cup games, although audio commentary will be available.

The match has been selected for overseas broadcast, so supporters outside the UK should check local listings to see if the game is being televised in their region.

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 updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

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

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent.

BETTING
Fleetwood are the 5/4 favourites with Sky Bet to progress on the day, while Pompey can be backed at 19/10.

Click here to read our full betting guide and visit www.skybet.com/pompey to earn money for the club when you place a bet. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN EMIRATES FA CUP
Games kick-off at 3.01pm unless stated

Saturday
Birmingham v Blackburn (12.31pm)
Burnley v Peterborough (12.31pm)
Bristol City v Shrewsbury (12.31pm)
Millwall v Newport (12.31pm)
Rochdale v Newcastle (12.31pm)
Rotherham v Hull (12.31pm)
Brentford v Stoke
Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday
Cardiff v Carlisle
Fulham v Aston Villa
Oxford v Hartlepool
Preston v Norwich
Reading v Blackpool
Southampton v Huddersfield
Watford v Tranmere
Bournemouth v Luton (5.31pm)
Leicester v Wigan (5.31pm)
Manchester City v Port Vale (5.31pm)
Wolves v Manchester United (5.31pm)

Sunday
Bristol Rovers v Coventry (2.01pm)
Burton v Northampton (2.01pm)
Charlton v West Brom (2.01pm)
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest (2.01pm)
Crewe v Barnsley (2.01pm)
Crystal Palace v Derby (2.01pm)
Middlesbrough v Tottenham (2.01pm)
QPR v Swansea (2.01pm)
Sheffield United v AFC Fylde (2.01pm)
Liverpool v Everton (4.01pm)
Gillingham v West Ham (6.16pm)

Monday
Arsenal v Leeds (7.56pm)

LAST MEETING

Match Reports

Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Bolton and Marquis goals send Blues into FA Cup fourth round

4 January 2020

James Bolton scores for Pompey at Fleetwood — Photo: Paul Thompson

Goals from James Bolton and John Marquis ensured Pompey won at Fleetwood to reach the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup for a second successive season.

There was little to separate the League One promotion hopefuls before the break at a chilly Highbury Stadium.

But the visitors were more clinical in a rain-soaked second half and James Bolton arrived at the far post to open his Blues account.

John Marquis added a second in similar fashion soon after and Conor McAleny’s stoppage-time effort proved no more than a consolation.

Kenny Jackett made three changes from the side that collected a point at Gillingham on New Year’s Day.

Loan signing Steve Seddon went straight into the starting line-up following his arrival from Birmingham on Thursday.

There were also returns for both Marquis and Andy Cannon, with Gareth Evans, Ben Close and Ellis Harrison dropping to the bench.

With Seddon slotting in at left-back, the versatile Anton Walkes moved up to join skipper Tom Naylor in the midfield engine room.

The game – as with all third round fixtures – began one minute late to give everyone the chance to think about looking after their mental health.

There was an early chance for the visitors once the action started, with Bolton looping a header narrowly wide following good work down the left by Marcus Harness.

Marquis then cried for a penalty after going down in a challenge for the ball with Ashley Eastham, although referee Marc Edwards ignored his appeals.

It was generally a slow opening to the contest, however, with neither keeper being called into action.

There were fears for Wes Burns when a clearance from Seddon smacked into his head from point-blank range, but the winger was quickly back on his feet.

On a cold evening on the Fylde coast, there were only half-chances to excite the travelling fans, with a fierce volley from Cannon fizzing not too far off target.

But the action intensified as time progressed and a passage of patient passing play from Pompey ended with the lively Harness drawing a save from Alex Cairns.

Paddy Madden’s effort was then comfortably stopped by Alex Bass at the other end, while an attempt from Marquis was blocked by Harry Souttar.

The quick feet of Harness were causing problems for the hosts and after racing across the six-yard box, he could only find the side netting.

Fleetwood were seeing plenty of the ball, but not really testing Bass, although a Josh Morris free-kick was diverted narrowly over his own bar by Marquis.

The visitors won a set-piece themselves before the break and Seddon’s delivery was nodded off target by Sean Raggett.

Half Time: Fleetwood 0 Pompey 0

The rain was falling when the sides returned after the break, but clear-cut openings continued to be at a premium.

Bass dealt with a dangerous Burns cross, while Christian Burgess’ block denied Cod Army left-back Danny Andrew.

It then took a perfectly-timed challenge in the box from Harry Souttar to stop Cannon from Converting Marquis’ threaded pass.

The contest was lacking quality in the final third, although a delivery from the impressive Harness caused problems as it bounced around the box before being hacked clear.

And another cross – this time from Curtis – led to the Blues finally breaking the deadlock on 66 minutes.

Fleetwood failed to deal with the danger and the ball appeared to get flicked on inside a packed box before BOLTON bundled it over the line from a yard out.

There probably should have been an immediate leveller, but an unmarked Madden scooped high over the bar from Burns’ cut-back.

Pompey quickly made them pay, as Seddon’s corner was headed powerfully back across goal by Burgess and MARQUIS converted at the back post.

The hosts were trying to find a route back into the tie, but some more wasteful finishing from Madden was proving costly.

Seddon was replaced by Close – making his 150th Blues appearance – late on, as Jackett introduced some fresh legs.

Fleetwood were given hope in stoppage-time, as a strike from substitute McAleny took a deflection to beat Bass.

That caused hearts to flutter in the away end of Highbury, but the Blues saw out the closing stages to secure their progress.

Fleetwood (4-4-2): Cairns; Coyle, Eastham (McAleny 83), Souttar, Andrew; Burns, Coutts (c) (Sowerby 72), Dempsey, Morris; Madden (Saunders 81), Evans
Goals: McAleny 90+1
Booked: Evans
Subs not used: Gilks, Hill, Biggins, Garner

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; Bolton, Burgess, Raggett, Seddon (Close 81); Naylor (c), Walkes; Harness, Cannon, Curtis; Marquis
Goals: Bolton 66, Marquis 72
Booked: Raggett, Walkes
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Downing, Evans, Hawkins, Pitman, Harrison

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 2,145 (525 Pompey fans)

Ticket News

Fleetwood (A): Ticket Update

Support Blues on the road in Emirates FA Cup

2 January 2020

Pompey fans can still buy tickets for the Emirates FA Cup visit to Fleetwood.

Around 400 have already been snapped up for Saturday's third round contest at Highbury Stadium, which kicks-off at 5.31pm.

They can be purchased online here, by calling 0345 646 1898 (option one) or in person from the Anson Road ticket office until 3pm on Friday (January 3).

But supporters can also pay on the day at the Fleetwood ticket office, with collections from the booth outside the club shop.

Category	Seat	Terrace
Adult	£13	£10
Senior (65+)	£7	£5
Young Person (17-23)	£7	£5
Junior (16 and under)	£3	£1

Wheelchair/ambulant tickets are priced at the above rates and include a carer if on the highest rate of DLA or PIP.

There is a £1 charge for tickets bought online/over the phone.

Supporters buying concession tickets are advised to bring proof of age identification with them to the game.

Official coach travel can be booked online here or by calling Lucketts Travel on 01329 237000.

PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Standings

Match Preview: Fleetwood v Pompey

Highlights: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Gallery: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Bolton's Cup Pedigree

Jackett Hoping For Cup Reward

Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Highlights: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Gallery: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Bolton's Cup Pedigree

Jackett Hoping For Cup Reward

Fleetwood (A): Ticket Update

Standings

Fixture News

Highlights: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Gallery: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Bolton's Cup Pedigree

Jackett Hoping For Cup Reward

Fixture News

Highlights: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Gallery: Fleetwood 1 Pompey 2

Bolton's Cup Pedigree

Jackett Hoping For Cup Reward

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