Match Preview: Peterborough v Pompey

All you need to know about Papa John’s Trophy test

12 January 2021

After exiting one cup competition at the weekend, Pompey will now try to progress in another this evening.

Kenny Jackett’s side were arguably unfortunate to lose at Championship side Bristol City in the FA Cup at the weekend.

And the Blues will be keen not to relinquish their grip on the EFL Trophy when they travel to Peterborough (7pm kick-off).

You have to go back to January 2018 to find the last time the club were knocked out of this competition.

Since that defeat to Chelsea’s youngsters, they beat Sunderland on penalties to win the 2019/20 silverware at Wembley.

And, of course, we are still waiting to discover a rearranged date for last season’s showpiece against Salford.

Peterborough – who are two points below Pompey in the League One standings – finished runners-up to Cambridge in Southern Group H.

And they made it to the third round by easing to a 3-0 victory over West Ham U21s at London Road last month.

Posh – who beat Chesterfield in the 2014 final – were defeated 2-0 at Fratton Park in the league last month.

And the only previous meeting between the sides in this competition was two years ago, when David Wheeler’s late goal settled a quarter-final contest in Pompey’s favour.

If tonight’s contest finishes all square after 90 minutes, then the tie will be settled by a penalty shoot-out.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey are expected to make multiple changes for the game, with those who started at Bristol City on Sunday likely to be rested.

Alex Bass (calf) is the only injured member of the squad, although Haji Mnoga is suspended and Ronan Curtis missed the Ashton Gate trip through illness.

Joe Ward will make his return from knee surgery against the Blues, but Ronnie Edwards is self-isolating.

Former Pompey defender Nathan Thompson can feature for the hosts, as the ban for his recent red card only applies to league fixtures.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of assistant manager Joe Gallen ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 12 wins
Peterborough: 9 wins
9 draws

At London Road
Pompey: 4 wins
Peterborough: 3 wins
6 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Robert Lewis
Assistants: Lisa Rashid and Aaron Farmer
Fourth Official: Abbas Khan

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters in the UK can watch the action live – with graphics, commentary and replays – by purchasing a match pass for £10.

Subscribers will, as usual, be able to listen to listen to live commentary from Andy Moon and Alan McLoughlin by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from 7pm.

Please note that subscribers based in the UK and Ireland will still need to purchase a match pass in order to watch the game live.

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 and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Wednesday.

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

Please note that current BBC guidelines mean commentators are not allowed to travel outside of their regions for games.

The BBC Radio Solent team will still be providing commentary from their studio for listeners on the radio and iFollow audio stream.

However, because this will not sync up with the iFollow video stream, supporters watching the game will only hear ambient stadium noise. Alternatively, they can use the settings cog to switch to local Peterborough commentary.

BETTING
Peterborough are the 8/11 favourites with VBET to reach the next round, while Pompey can be backed at 20/21.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for this evening’s game. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN PAPA JOHN’S TROPHY
Games kick-off at 7pm unless stated

Tonight
Hull v Fleetwood (5.30pm)
Sunderland v Port Vale (6pm)
Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon
Lincoln v Accrington
Oxford v Cambridge
Northampton v MK Dons (7.45pm)

Wednesday
Tranmere v Leicester U21

LAST MEETING

Match Reports

Peterborough 5 Pompey 1

Blues knocked out of the Papa John’s Trophy at London Road

12 January 2021

James Bolton in action for Pompey at Peterborough in the Papa John — Photo: Nigel Keene

Pompey were dumped out of the Papa John’s Trophy for the first time in three years after being convincingly beaten at Peterborough.

Goals from Jack Taylor, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Frankie Kent, Siriki Dembele and Ethan Hamilton saw the hosts progress to the quarter-finals.

There was at least a fine stoppage-time consolation for Ellis Harrison to restore some pride at the death.

But while the Blues selected a mixture of fringe players and youngsters, their opponents were almost at full strength.

Kenny Jackett retained just one starter from the narrow FA Cup defeat at Bristol City a couple of days earlier.

Rasmus Nicolaisen kept his place in the side, featuring in a defence that also included Paul Downing and James Bolton in front of debutant keeper Duncan Turnbull.

Teenagers Harry Kavanagh, Harvey Rew and Harry Jewitt-White joined Ben Close and Bryn Morris in midfield, while Harrison partnered Jordy Hiwula up front.

Peterborough, meanwhile, named a much more familiar looking line-up, which included former Blues players Nathan Thompson and Dan Butler.

But the visitors did not look over-awed in the early stages and almost took the lead with just four minutes on the clock.

Close swung a fine free-kick into the box for Harrison to meet at the back post and his header was blocked by Hamilton.

It was their opponents who did break the deadlock on 15 minutes, though, as the defence failed to cut-out Joe Ward’s low delivery and Taylor took advantage to drill into the bottom corner.

Pompey went close to levelling moments later as Bolton nodded on a Close corner and Hiwula’s acrobatic effort was tipped over the bar by Christy Pym.

The keeper was then called into action from the resulting flag-kick, this time keeping out a Jewitt-White header.

Turnbull came to the rescue at the other end, making a point-blank save to deny Siriki Dembele after the forward had stolen possession from Downing.

But he could do nothing to prevent Clarke-Harris doubling Posh’s lead with a fine free-kick after Downing had been penalised for a handball.

And they had a third goal just before the interval, as Ward’s delivery ricocheted off Kent and into the net.

Half Time: Peterborough 3 Pompey 0

It did not get any easier for the Blues when the action restarted and Peterborough soon had a fourth goal.

Butler sent a low cross into the area and Dembele was left in acres of space to turn the ball home from close range.

Jackett made a double switch just past the hour mark, with Taylor Seymour replacing Turnbull to become the second Pompey keeper to make his debut.

The other switch came in the centre of midfield, where Jewitt-White was replaced by fellow academy player Charlie Bell.

He was unable to take advantage on 69 minutes when a cross from Rew was cleared back into his path.

And although the visitors continued to work extremely hard against their more experienced hosts, they were struggling to create meaningful opportunities.

Harrison did win a free-kick in a dangerous position, although Close’s delivery was commandingly punched clear by Pym.

Alfie Bridgman then became the latest Pompey player to make his debut, with the youth team prospect replacing Rew for the closing stages.

But Posh wrapped things up late on, as a free-kick from Hamilton was drilled underneath the wall and nestled in the bottom corner.

There was still time for an impressive Pompey consolation, though, as HARRISON bent home a fine strike from outside the box.

Peterborough (3-4-1-2): Pym; Kent, Thompson, Beevers (c) (Mason 69); Ward (Kanu 46), Taylor, Hamilton, Butler (Burrows 63); Szmodics; Clarke-Harris (Eisa 57), Dembele (Jones 57)
Goals: Taylor 15, Clarke-Harris 29, Kent 45+1, Dembele 52, Hamilton 87
Booked: Beevers
Subs not used: Gyollai, Brown

Pompey (3-5-2): Turnbull (Seymour 61); Bolton, Downing (c) (Johnson 72), Nicolaisen; Kavanagh, Jewitt-White (Bell 61), Close, Morris, Rew (Bridgman 81); Harrison, Hiwula
Goals: Harrison 90+2
Subs not used: Brook, Stanley, Marquis

Referee: Robert Lewis