Match Preview: Peterborough v Pompey

All you need to know about League One test

16 March 2021

Pompey’s post-Kenny Jackett era begins with a League One trip to high-flying Peterborough this evening (7pm kick-off).

The manager left the club over the weekend after almost four years at the helm and with a couple of promotion near-misses – as well as an EFL Trophy triumph – under his belt.

His assistant Joe Gallen is taking temporary charge of the team tonight, while the hunt for a new boss continues.

And with the Blues trying to arrest their alarming run of form, they could not have asked for a much tougher test than a trip to London Road.

The hosts are currently sitting second in the standings and have collected 10 more points than Pompey, who dropped to seventh over the weekend.

But Posh are currently on a three-match winless run and have suffered successive defeats to Burton and leaders Hull.

The latter loss came despite Reece Brown’s early opener on home soil at the weekend, with the Tigers ultimately triumphing 3-1.

A youthful Blues side were thrashed 5-1 when the sides met in the Papa John’s Trophy back in January.

But they emerged victorious in front of 2,000 fans at Fratton Park in the league the previous month, courtesy of goals from Jack Whatmough and Tom Naylor.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey will be handing late fitness tests to striking duo Ellis Harrison (knee) and John Marquis (ankle).

Alex Bass (foot) is still out, while Callum Johnson is not ready to feature after returning to training following a calf problem, but Andy Cannon is available again.

Peterborough will be missing Flynn Clarke (hip), Ronnie Edwards (thigh) and Jack Taylor (hamstring), as well as suspended midfielder Ethan Hamilton.

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

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 12 wins
Peterborough: 10 wins
9 draws

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

OFFICIALS
Referee: James Oldham
Assistants: Ian Smedley and Joseph Stokes
Fourth Official: Declan Ford

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 Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from 6pm.

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, but there might be a slight delay between the pictures and the audio.

Supporters can use the settings cog to switch to local Peterborough commentary if they prefer.

BETTING
Peterborough are the 11/10 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 13/5.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for Saturday’s game. 18+. Be Gamble Aware.

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 7pm unless stated

Tonight
AFC Wimbledon v Wigan (6.30pm)
Blackpool v Burton
Charlton v Bristol Rovers
Lincoln v Gillingham
MK Dons v Plymouth
Oxford v Doncaster
Fleetwood v Ipswich (7.45pm)

Tomorrow
Accrington v Sunderland

REVERSE FIXTURE

Match Previews

Match Reports

Peterborough 1 Pompey 0

Unfortunate own-goal settles London Road contest

16 March 2021

Ryan Williams in action for Pompey at Peterborough — Photo: Nigel Keene

Pompey produced a performance full of heart, desire and effort in their League One contest at high-flying Peterborough.

But – in the first game since Kenny Jackett’s departure – it ultimately proved not enough to put a halt to their run of losing form.

An unfortunate Rasmus Nicolaisen own-goal in the first half was enough to secure all three points for Posh.

And although the Blues caused plenty of problems after the break, they were not quite able to force an equaliser.

Caretaker boss Joe Gallen made five changes from the side that were beaten on penalties by Salford in Saturday’s Papa John’s Trophy final.

Andy Cannon returned following a hamstring problem, while Ben Close was handed a first league start in exactly four months.

Nicolaisen, Lee Brown and Ronan Curtis also came into the line-up, as the visitors switched to a 3-1-4-2 system.

Jordy Hiwula, Harvey White, George Byers and Charlie Daniels all dropped to the bench, but an ankle injury forced John Marquis to miss out completely.

There were a couple of familiar faces in the Peterborough team, with former Fratton full-backs Nathan Thompson and Dan Butler both named in their defence.

Pompey looked organised and kept their discipline right from the off, preventing the hosts from being able to test Craig MacGillivray.

Passing football was proving difficult for both sides on a poor pitch that immediately began to cut up even more.

Ryan Williams was looking the most dangerous player for the visitors and had a couple of dangerous runs that ultimately came to nothing.

The Australian forward then sent a dangerous delivery into the box that Curtis could not quite bring under control.

And Thompson then made a key challenge to stop Williams getting a shot away after a long Jack Whatmough throw had been flicked on.

But Posh took the lead in fortunate fashion on 32 minutes, when Harrison Burrows swung in a dangerous corner.

MacGillivray tried to palm the ball away to stop it crossing the line, only for it to hit team-mate Nicolaisen and ricochet into the net.

Pompey’s best chance of the half soon followed, as a fiercely-struck Curtis free-kick was well held by Christy Pym.

There were a couple more half-chances for the visitors as they finished the half with a flourish, but they could not find a leveller.

Half Time: Peterborough 1 Pompey 0

The Blues caused some problems when the action restarted and a deep Brown free-kick had to be nodded behind.

Curtis sent the resulting corner in the box, but James Bolton was unable to keep his header down at the back stick.

And a second set-piece soon followed from the Republic of Ireland international, with Posh failing to clear and Nicolaisen seeing his eventual effort deflected wide.

Whatmough then had a decent chance to level when he rose highest to meet Brown’s free-kick, only to divert the ball well wide.

Gallen made his first switch just past the hour mark, with Marcus Harness providing a fresh attacking option in place of Cannon.

Pompey were looking the more threatening side, but MacGillivray was still called into action keep out an attempt from substitute Mo Eisa.

And the keeper then had to dive to his right to push away an instinctive long-range strike from Louis Reed.

A double switch followed for the visitors, with Sean Raggett and Williams making way for White and Hiwula.

Set-pieces were looking the Blues’ most likely source of an equaliser and another Brown free-kick caused a few problems before Bolton nodded over.

And Tom Naylor did the same when Curtis sent one in from the other side after Mark Beevers had been booked for fouling Harness.

Hiwula then hit a really crisp shot from open play, but the ball flew straight at a grateful Pym, who comfortably held.

And White was the next player who could not keep his header down, this time when Harness swung in a fine cross.

It had been a performance full of endeavour from the Blues, but their opponents did just enough to hold on for victory.

Peterborough (3-4-1-2): Pym; Kent, Thompson, Beevers (c); Ward, Brown, Reed (Mason 83), Butler; Burrows (Blake-Tracy 89); Clarke-Harris, Dembele (Eisa 63)
Goals: Nicolaisen 32 (og)
Booked: Beevers
Subs not used: Gyollai, Barker, Kanu, Jones

Pompey (3-1-4-2): MacGillivray; Whatmough, Raggett (White 73), Nicolaisen; Naylor; Bolton, Close, Cannon (Harness 61), Brown; Curtis, Williams (Hiwula 73)
Booked: Whatmough, White
Subs not used: Ward, Mnoga, Daniels, Byers

Referee: James Oldham