Match Preview: Oxford v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

18 April 2023

Pompey require a win to keep their fading play-off hopes alive when they visit Oxford this evening (7.45pm kick-off).

And their opponents are in an even more desperate need for points as they try to keep their heads above water.

United are currently sitting 20th in the League One standings, with goal difference the only factor keeping them out of the drop zone.

You have to go all the way back to January to find their last victory – against an Ipswich side currently vying for the title.

Oxford are currently on a 15-match winless run, with Karl Robinson’s five-year tenure coming to an end a couple of months ago.

He was replaced by Liam Manning, who helped steady the ship slightly by overseeing a run of four successive draws that ended with Saturday’s narrow home defeat to Bolton.

And there will, of course, be a familiar face in the away dug-out, with John Mousinho leaving his player/coach with United to take charge of Pompey early in 2023.

It finished 1-1 when the sides met on the south coast earlier in the season, as Colby Bishop cancelled out Kyle Joseph’s opener.

But United triumphed 3-2 in last term’s controversial Kassam Stadium contest – which Mousinho featured in – as the 10-man Blues conceded two late goals.

TEAM NEWS
Ronan Curtis (knee), Jayden Reid (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) remain sidelined, while Joe Morrell serves the third game of a four-match ban.

Tom Lowery missed the trip to Shrewsbury with a minor knee problem and Tuesday’s match probably comes too soon for the midfielder.

Sam Baldock (knee), Billy Bodin (hamstring), James Henry (hamstring) and Stephan Negru (face) are all missing for the hosts.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Reeco Hackett ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 27 wins
Oxford: 24 wins
22 draws

On the road
Pompey: 9 wins
Oxford: 19 wins
10 draws

TICKETS
Pompey fans will not be able to purchase tickets at the ground this evening.

Click here to read a guide to visiting the Kassam Stadium that has been produced by the home club.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Declan Bourne
Assistants: Mark Derrien and Mark Pottage
Fourth Official: Gareth Viccars

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 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 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 (not available online).

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
All games kick-off at 7.45pm

Accrington v Peterborough
Bristol Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday
Burton v Bolton
Cambridge v Wycombe
Exeter v Derby
Forest Green v Fleetwood
Ipswich v Port Vale
Lincoln v Barnsley
MK Dons v Charlton
Shrewsbury v Plymouth

MEMORABLE MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Oxford 1 Pompey 1

Pack’s fine free-kick cancelled out at Kassam Stadium

18 April 2023

Marlon Pack scores a free-kick for Pompey at Oxford — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey stretched their drawing run to four games after Oxford fought from behind to claim a point at the Kassam Stadium.

Marlon Pack bent home a superb free-kick midway through the first half that deserved to win any game.

It was not enough, however, as Sam Long nodded in an equaliser that could yet prove crucial in the hosts’ battle to beat the drop.

John Mousinho made four changes from the side that were held to a draw at Shrewsbury at the weekend.

Tom Lowery had recovered from a knee injury to take his place in midfield, while there were starts for Michael Jacobs and Paddy Lane in the wide areas, as well as Di’Shon Bernard at the back.

Joe Pigott, Reeco Hackett, Owen Dale and skipper Clark Robertson were the men to make way, with the quartet dropping to the bench and Pack taking the armband.

Neither side was able to find any fluency in the opening stages, which quickly switched from one end to the other without any notable chances.

A Joe Rafferty throw did lead to a spot of pinball in the Oxford box that ended when Ryan Tunnicliffe prodded the ball into the arms of former Fratton keeper Simon Eastwood.

Gatlin O’Donkor then saw a shot deflected into the side netting following good work from Kyle Joseph on the left.

There was a worrying moment on 14 minutes when Lane and Stuart Findlay clashed on the side of the pitch and tumbled over an advertising hoarding.

The pair landed on the concrete with a clatter, but both were quickly back on their feet and able to continue.

United then had a chance to forge ahead, winning possession and bursting forward through Marcus McGuane.

He found O’Donkor in space in the box and the striker turned neatly, only to fire wastefully wide of the post.

But it was the Blues who broke the deadlock on 26 minutes after McGuane had been penalised for a foul on Connor Ogilvie.

PACK stepped up to try his luck and curled a stunning 25-yard shot past the grasp of Eastwood and into the net.

Oxford then won a free-kick of their own and Cameron Brannagan’s effort was kept out by Matt Macey before being cleared.

But the sides did go in level at the break, with a corner from Brannagan finding Long in space to glance home a header.

Half Time: Oxford 1 Pompey 1

The second half took a little bit of time to get going, with neither side able to find much joy in the final third.

But there were then chances at either end in quick succession, as Colby Bishop met a Lane corner and saw his close-range header saved by Eastwood.

Oxford soon launched an attack of their own and when Macey failed to hold Joseph’s angled attempt, Marcus Browne was unable to convert the loose ball.

The home side went close again just past the hour mark, as Brannagan played a free-kick to Tyler Goodrham on the edge of the box and his effort was well saved by Macey at the keeper’s near post.

Mousinho then freshened up his forward line on 62 minutes, as Lane was brought off for Dale wide on the right.

But United were still looking the more likely to score and when Long swung in a cross, it was headed wide by O’Donkor.

A couple more changes followed as the visitors tried to wrestle back control, with Hackett and Louis Thompson on for Jacobs and Tunnicliffe.

They did have an opportunity when Ogilvie’s cross was turned back into the centre by Lowery and Dale’s shot was blocked by Findlay.

Oxford were desperate for another goal to put more distance between themselves and the bottom four, with substitute Billy Bodin firing over from the edge of the box.

Pompey threw on Pigott in their own hunt for a late winner, but ultimately the sides had to settle for a point each.

Oxford (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Long, Moore (c), Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Goodrham (Anderson 83), Browne, Joseph (Wildschut 76); O’Donkor (Bodin 83)
Goals: Long 37
Booked: Brannagan
Subs not used: McGinty, Fleming, Smyth, Smith

Pompey (4-3-3): Macey; Rafferty, Raggett, Bernard, Ogilvie; Lowery (Pigott 90), Pack (c), Tunnicliffe (Thompson 70); Lane (Dale 62), Bishop, Jacobs (Hackett 70)
Goals: Pack 26
Booked: Lane, Bernard, Lowery, Raggett, Rafferty, Thompson
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Robertson, Scarlett

Referee: Declan Bourne

Attendance: 8,345 (1,460 Pompey fans)