Match Preview: Pompey v Cambridge

All you need to know about League One contest

16 August 2022

Last week saw Pompey win twice on the road, knocking Cardiff out of the Carabao Cup before enjoying league success at Cheltenham.

Now they will try to transfer that form back to Fratton Park for successive home games, starting with the visit of Cambridge this evening (7.45pm kick-off).

Mark Bonner’s men have also made a bright start to the current campaign, winning two of their opening three League One matches.

An opening day defeat of MK Dons was followed by Saturday’s victory over Exeter, while United were only beaten by a fine stoppage-time strike at Oxford.

And, like the Blues, they saw off Championship opposition to progress in the cup, seeing off Millwall to set up a second round clash with top-flight Southampton.

Bonner has enjoyed plenty of success since working his way up the Abbey Stadium coaching ranks and being appointed head coach at the start of 2020.

He guided the club to promotion in his first full season in charge, while they finished 14th last term and knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup.

Pompey have an excellent record in meetings between the two teams, but failed to beat Cambridge in any of the three 2021/22 contests.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey will be waiting on the fitness of Denver Hume, Joe Morrell and Clark Robertson as they step up their returns to full fitness, while Jayden Reid (hamstring) is absent.

Fratton academy graduates Brandon Haunstrup – who joined Cambridge earlier in the summer – and Adam May will be hoping to feature against their former club.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Danny Cowley and Marlon Pack ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 14 wins
Cambridge: 3 wins
4 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 8 wins
Cambridge: 1 win
1 draw

TICKETS
Limited seating is still available to buy online here or from the Anson Road ticket office. Supporters can also visit the booth behind the Fratton End this evening.

If you are attending the game, click here to read our matchday guide on what is happening around the ground.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Pollard
Assistants: Ryan Whitaker and Adam Ricketts
Fourth Official: Kevin Morris

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 also enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Mark Kelly 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.

BETTING
Pompey are the 8/13 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 21/5.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for this evening’s game. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.

We are committed to playing our part in ensuring our relationship with VBET is promoted in the right way to our supporters.

That is why VBET has partnered with BettorMind, to provide responsible gambling advice around key betting behaviours.

When it comes to betting, we advise all fans to make use of our dedicated responsible gambling site.

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

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

MEMORABLE MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 4 Cambridge 1

Bishop, Curtis, Jacobs and Ogilvie all on target

16 August 2022

Colby Bishop scores for Pompey against Cambridge United — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey recovered from falling behind to secure a thumping League One victory over Cambridge at Fratton Park.

They had failed to make the most of their possession in the opening stages and fell behind to Joe Ironside’s finish.

But Colby Bishop poached a leveller just before the break and it was pretty much one-way traffic in the second half.

Ronan Curtis and substitute Michael Jacobs took advantage of some questionable goalkeeping to give the hosts a commanding lead.

And Connor Ogilvie wrapped up a superb victory that ensured the Blues claimed their first home win of the season.

Danny Cowley made three changes from the side that won on the road at Cheltenham at the weekend.

Tom Lowery made his first start in the centre of midfield, while there were also places for Owen Dale and Curtis on the wings.

It meant that Louis Thompson, Reeco Hackett and Michael Jacobs all had to be content with a place among the substitutes.

Former Pompey defender Brandon Haunstrup started for the visitors, while his fellow academy graduate Adam May was on their bench.

It was a muggy evening on the south coast and tempers were raised early on following a late Liam O’Neil challenge on Lowery.

The home bench were angry that the punishment was limited to a yellow card, leading to some words from referee Chris Pollard on the touchline.

Pompey were dominating possession, although struggling to make any inroads once they entered the final third.

A shot from Curtis was scuffed wide, but Dimitar Mitov’s main problems came from a couple of dodgy back-passes from his own team-mates.

Josh Griffiths had to be alert at the other end, using his legs to deny Shilow Tracey following some sloppy play at the back.

But the visitors did break the deadlock on the half-hour mark, just moments after Griffiths had done well to deny Ironside.

The resulting corner was sent towards the near post by O’Neil and Ironside arrived to neatly convert it.

Pompey initially struggled to respond to that setback and the play was growing increasingly scrappy as the interval approached.

They started to pick things up, though, and Mitov was finally called into action to deny the in-form Bishop in stoppage-time.

But the danger was not over for United and when Dale swung in a cross from the left, Sean Raggett unselfishly played the ball across for BISHOP to tap home.

Half Time: Pompey 1 Cambridge 1

The second half got off to a fast start and Raggett saw a header blocked after meeting Dale’s cross from the right.

Dale then sent a shot narrowly over, while Griffiths had to dive at the feet of Tracey when the action quickly switched to the other end.

But it was the Blues who broke the deadlock on the hour mark after Dale had won a foul wide on the right.

Mitov was unable to keep hold of the delivery from Lowery and CURTIS took advantage to force the ball over the line.

A double switch soon followed, with Lowery and Dane Scarlett getting a warm reception as they made way for Thompson and Jacobs.

And it was JACOBS who increased the lead on 70 minutes, slotting home after a low Curtis delivery from the right was laid into his path by Bishop.

That was Bishop’s last contribution, as he and Dale soon made way for Joe Pigott and Reeco Hackett, receiving rapturous applause as they exited the arena.

Pompey were not done yet, though, and it was Hackett who assisted their next goal, whipping in a cross that OGILVIE got to first to fire home.

It might have got even better, but an audacious attempt from inside his own half by the excellent Marlon Pack did not quite have enough dip.

The midfielder then received a standing ovation as he was replaced by Jay Mingi at the death, with the job well and truly complete for the hosts.

Pompey (4-4-2): Griffiths; Rafferty, Morrison, Raggett (c), Ogilvie; Dale (Hackett 72), Lowery (Thompson 63), Pack (Mingi 90), Curtis; Scarlett (Jacobs 63), Bishop (Pigott 72)
Goals: Bishop 45+2, Curtis 60, Jacobs 70, Ogilvie 77
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Swanson

Cambridge (4-2-3-1): Mitov; Okedina, Jones, Taylor (c), Haunstrup (Dunk 67); Digby, O’Neil (May 67); Smith, Knibbs (Brophy 67), Tracey (Janneh 76); Ironside (Lankester 81)
Goals: Ironside 30
Booked: O’Neil, Jones, Okedina
Subs not used: Mannion, Rossi

Referee: Chris Pollard

Attendance: 17,702 (460 away fans)