Match Preview: Pompey v Sheffield Wednesday

All you need to know about League One contest

10 March 2023

Things do not get any easier for Pompey after their winning run ended at in-form Barnsley earlier in the week.

Saturday sees the League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday make the long trip down to the south coast (3pm kick-off).

They are currently above this season’s surprise package Plymouth on goal difference, while there is a five-point gap to Ipswich in third.

Darren Moore’s men also have two games in hand over both those sides, as they aim to limit their stay at this level to just a couple of campaigns.

The Owls were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, although would have survived without a six-point deduction for breaching spending regulations.

They are certainly doing well in their task to return there, however, and have collected an incredible 31 points from 33 since Christmas.

Wednesday have been beaten just three times in the league so far this season, with their last defeat coming at Plymouth more than five months ago.

The sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hillsborough on the opening day of the season back in July, while last term’s Fratton contest ended goalless.

TEAM NEWS
Ronan Curtis will miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury, with Jayden Reid (knee) the other long-term absentee.

Marlon Pack (knee), Clark Robertson (hip) and Zak Swanson (groin) are all still absent, but Jay Mingi could return following a knee problem and Josh Oluwayemi has recovered from illness.

Ben Heneghan (knee), Michael Ihiekwe (knee), Callum Paterson (hamstring) and Mallik Wilks (calf) are all sidelined for Sheffield Wednesday.

The visitors are also without the suspended Marvin Johnson suspended, but George Byers and Michael Smith are both expected to feature against their former club.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Colby Bishop ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 27 wins
Sheff Wed: 27 wins
16 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 18 wins
Sheff Wed: 9 wins
7 draws

TICKETS
All tickets have been sold for Saturday's game, although fans can check the eticketing website to see if any season ticket holders have made their seat available.

If you are travelling to the game via train, please note that a replacement bus service is running between Fareham and Portsmouth.

Click here to read our matchday guide and find out what is happening around the ground on Saturday.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben Toner
Assistants: Adrian Tranter and Ollie Williams
Fourth Official: Stuart Butler

MATCH COVERAGE
Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Ian Wilding and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 2pm on Saturday.

Overseas subscribers and match pass holders can watch all the action live, with accompanying commentary.

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 Sunday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online).

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
All games kick-off at 3pm

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

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Narrow defeat for Blues against league leaders

11 March 2023

Ryan Tunnicliffe in action for Pompey against Sheffield Wednesday at Fratton Park — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

John Mousinho experienced his first Fratton defeat with a narrow loss to table-topping Sheffield Wednesday.

An early finish from Josh Windass proved enough for the visitors to maintain their fine form in a game that was full of incident, if a little short on goalmouth action.

The Owls had to finish the contest with 10 men after Dominic Iorfa collected a couple of bookings, but Pompey could not find a late leveller.

Mousinho made a couple of changes from the side that had been beaten at Barnsley earlier in the week.

Joe Pigott was handed a first league start since New Year’s Day, while there was also a place for January signing Paddy Lane.

Dane Scarlett and Tom Lowery both dropped to the bench, where they were joined by Josh Oluwayemi, with the keeper having recovered from an illness.

There were familiar faces in the visitors’ line-up, with former Blues players George Byers and Michael Smith both starting.

The game began at a high tempo, although there were no clear-cut chances in the opening stages to excite the capacity crowd.

There was, however, a bizarre moment when referee Ben Toner had to come over to the dug-outs due to an disagreement about towels being used for throws!

But the Owls then went ahead from nowhere, with Cameron Dawson’s long ball flicked on by Smith and Windass drilling an angled shot into the bottom corner.

They then did a good job of slowing the game down and frustrating Pompey in their search for a leveller.

The mood of most inside Fratton Park was not helped by Toner missing a couple of clear fouls and failing to punish opposition players when they prevented the hosts taking quick free-kicks.

There was no lack of effort from the Blues and Pigott’s effort was deflected behind, while Will Vaulks did well to block a Connor Ogilvie shot.

Amidst a flurry of bookings, the game suddenly livened up as the interval approached, with Pompey looking dangerous.

Some nice build-up play led to Ogilvie’s delivery being nodded back by Colby Bishop, but the ball was just behind Pigott, who could not get a clean shot away.

Ryan Tunnicliffe then swapped passes with Joe Morrell from a free-kick and found Pigott, who saw his attempt hacked away by Aden Flint.

Half Time: Pompey 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1

The equaliser almost arrived straight after the restart, as Bishop met Tunnicliffe’s corner with a back-flick and Dawson showed quick reactions to keep the ball out of the net.

Pompey’s leading marksman could then not quite charge down Dawson, although the keeper’s clearance flew straight to Pigott.

He was bundled over by Vaulks, but the striker’s free-kick was blocked by Barry Bannan and the resulting corner came to nothing.

Mousinho made a change on 65 minutes, with Owen Dale the man withdrawn so Reeco Hackett could provide some fresh attacking legs.

The newcomer quickly linked up well with Morrell on the left and sent in a cross that was just too high for Lane.

Sean Raggett then rose highest in the box to meet a Joe Rafferty free-kick and send the ball towards the back post, where it was headed behind by Lee Gregory.

Wednesday were trying to use up as much time as possible and it hurt them when Iorfa bundled over Ogilvie.

The defender had already been booked for wasting time earlier in the half and so was sent trudging off the pitch by Toner.

Lowery and Michael Jacobs were both brought on for the closing stages, as the Blues tried desperately to find a goal.

Their best chance to snatch a point arrived in stoppage-time, but Ryley Towler could not turn home Rafferty’s cross from an acute angle.

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Macey; Rafferty, Raggett (c), Towler, Ogilvie; Tunnicliffe (Lowery 80), Morrell; Lane (Jacobs 85), Pigott, Dale (Hackett 65); Bishop
Booked: Morrell, Raggett
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Bernard, Thompson, Scarlett

Sheffield Wednesday (3-5-2): Dawson; Iorfa, Flint, Famewo; Palmer, Byers (Dele-Bashiru 35), Vaulks, Bannan (c), Brown (James 46); Smith (Gregory 72), Windass (Hunt 82)
Goals: Windass 11
Sent off: Iorfa (two yellow cards)
Booked: Windass, Brown
Subs not used: Stockdale, Bakinson, Adeniran

Referee: Ben Toner

Attendance: 18,910 (1,594 away fans)