Match Preview: Pompey v Northampton

All you need to know about League One test

27 October 2020

Pompey will be looking to prove they can perform as well at Fratton Park as they can on the road when they host Northampton this evening (7.45pm kick-off).

Kenny Jackett’s fifth-placed side go into the contest on the back of successive away victories at Gillingham and Sunderland.

But they have lost two of their four League One fixtures on home soil so far this season – including a narrow defeat to Doncaster in their last south coast outing.

The Blues’ opponents tonight are sitting down in 19th position, having collected seven points from eight games.

Keith Curle’s Cobblers were beaten 2-0 by Charlton at Sixfields Stadium at the weekend and their only away success came at Shrewsbury more than a month ago.

Northampton occupied the final play-off position when the 2019/20 League Two season was halted back in March.

It looked like their promotion dreams were over after losing 2-0 to Cheltenham in the first leg, but they turned the tie around and then thrashed Exeter 4-0 at an empty Wembley.

The sides met in the EFL Trophy last term, with Leon Maloney and Marcus Harness on target in a 2-1 Pompey win.

And it was 3-1 to the Blues at Fratton Park – courtesy of Oli Hawkins’ brace and a Matty Kennedy strike – in the most recent league clash in December 2017.

TEAM NEWS
Michael Jacobs is set to be out until at least the end of November with a knee problem, while tonight’s game might come too soon for Ellis Harrison (hamstring).

Recent arrival Jordy Hiwula is still waiting to make his Blues bow after sitting on the bench at Sunderland.

Northampton are without Joseph Mills (ankle), Joe Nuttall (knee) and Scott Pollock (groin), who have all undergone surgery.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Kenny Jackett and Marcus Harness ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 19 wins
Northampton: 10 wins
7 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 13 wins
Northampton: 3 wins
4 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Assistants: Ryan Whitaker and Joseph Stokes
Fourth Official: Justin Amey

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters in the UK can watch the action live – with multi-camera coverage, 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, iFollow 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.

BETTING
Pompey are the 4/11 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 6/1.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for Saturday's game. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 7.45pm unless stated

AFC Wimbledon v Blackpool (7pm)
Bristol Rovers v Hull (7pm)
Charlton v Oxford (7pm)
Crewe v Lincoln (7pm)
Ipswich v Gillingham (7pm)
MK Dons v Wigan (7pm)
Peterborough v Burton (7pm)
Fleetwood v Shrewsbury
Plymouth v Doncaster
Rochdale v Sunderland

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 4 Northampton 0

Marquis bags a brace, with Curtis and Harness also on target

27 October 2020

John Marquis scores for Pompey against Northampton — Photo: Robin Jones

Pompey showed they can perform at home as well as on the road by dismantling Northampton at Fratton Park.

John Marquis continued his fine run of goalscoring form by breaking the deadlock late in the first half.

And the Blues survived a scare immediately after the interval to double their advantage through the same player.

Ronan Curtis – recalled to the side – then raced clear to curl home a third goal and end the match as a contest.

But there was still time for Marcus Harness to head home his seventh of the season in the closing stages.

Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that impressively dismantled Sunderland at the weekend.

Michael Jacobs injured his knee at the Stadium of Light, so Republic of Ireland international Curtis replaced him wide on the left.

The game began at a frantic pace, with the action constantly switching from one end of the pitch to the other.

But both sides were lacking that all-important killer pass, with attacking moves often breaking down in the final third.

Northampton should have broken the deadlock on 16 minutes after some great work by Ryan Watson.

But after skipping past a couple of challenges with graceful ease, the forward undid his good work by screwing horribly wide.

Pompey then had their first decent opportunity, breaking quickly through Andy Cannon, Harness and Curtis, with Marquis’ angled effort deflected behind.

Neither keeper was being given too much to keep them warm on a chilly south coast evening, though.

But when Jonathan Mitchell was called into action on 39 minutes, he could not prevent the hosts taking the lead.

The stopper was only able to parry Ryan Williams’ low curling effort straight out in front of him, with the ball hitting MARQUIS and taking a slight deflection off Cian Bolger on its way into the net.

And the advantage was almost doubled just a few moments later, with Marquis not getting enough on his shot after being played through by the dangerous Harness.

Pompey were definitely finishing the half on top and when Cannon tried to launch a break, he was pulled back by scruff of the neck by Bolger.

It was as blatant a foul as you could possible see, with referee Trevor Kettle brandishing his first yellow card of the evening.

Half Time: Pompey 1 Northampton 0

The second half was not even two minutes old when the Cobblers were handed an excellent chance to level.

A heavy touch from Sean Raggett let in Sam Hoskins and the visitors felt he was fouled by the defender.

But the ball ran free for Ricky Korboa and when his shot was beaten away by Craig MacGillivray, the follow-up from Watson had to be headed away by a well-placed Jack Whatmough.

And Pompey made them pay for their profligacy by scoring twice in quick succession to gain a commanding lead.

Callum Johnson got free down the right and picked out Curtis, whose header was finely saved by Mitchell, only for MARQUIS to bundle the ball over the line.

It soon got even better for the Blues, as CURTIS was given time to advance forward and bend a shot into the bottom corner.

The visitors tried to hit back and a free-kick from debutant Alan Sheehan was brilliantly repelled by an athletic MacGillivray stop.

Both sides looked capable of adding to the scoring, although the action did calm down a bit as the half progressed.

Pompey looked to shore things up, with Harness going out to the right and Williams tucking in behind Marquis.

And the lively Harness was next to go close, cutting in from the flank and dragging narrowly past the post.

But HARNESS did have the goal his performance deserved late on, stooping to nod into the net when Cannon lifted the ball into the centre from the by-line.

Sam Hoskins sent a shot dipping over the bar as Northampton sought a consolation, but the Blues were able to add a clean sheet to their fine attacking display.

Pompey (4-4-2): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown; Williams (Morris 90+2), Naylor (c), Cannon (Close 90), Curtis; Marquis, Harness
Goals: Marquis 39, 47, Curtis 50, Harness 83
Booked: Williams, Harness
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Nicolaisen, Pring, Hiwula

Northampton (3-4-3): Mitchell; Bolger (c), Sheehan (Martin 78), Horsfall; Hoskins, Sowerby, Missilou (Rose 58), Harriman; Watson, Smith, Korboa (Chukwuemeka 66)
Booked: Bolger
Subs not used: Arnold, Racic, Adams, Marshall

Referee: Trevor Kettle