Match Preview: Pompey v Fleetwood

All you need to know about League One contest

7 October 2022

Pompey will look to bounce back from their first league loss of the season when they host Fleetwood on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Danny Cowley’s side have dropped down to fourth spot in the League One standings, although have two games in hand on all those above them.

Their opponents are sitting in 12th position and would likely accept a mid-table finish given what happened last season.

A dreadful end to the campaign meant they had to rely on Gillingham losing in order to survive on the final day.

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Brown was then handed his first managerial role over the summer and has enjoyed a solid start to life at Highbury Stadium.

There have already been wins over current table-toppers Plymouth and highly fancied Derby to please the faithful.

But the Cod Army have drawn six of their 11 league fixtures so far this term and only two clubs have managed to score a fewer number of goals (10).

Fleetwood three most recent visits to Fratton Park have also ended all square, including back in February, when they raced into a three-goal lead, only for Pompey to complete a remarkable fightback.

TEAM NEWS
Joe Pigott (chest) and Tom Lowery (hamstring) are both in contention to return to the side, but Joe Rafferty (stomach), Jayden Reid (hamstring) and Louis Thompson (leg) all miss out.

With Carlos Mendes Gomes recently returning from a hamstring injury, Fleetwood are expected to have a fully fit squad to select from.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Danny Cowley and Joe Morrell ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 7 wins
Fleetwood: 3 wins
3 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 2 wins
Fleetwood: 1 win
3 draws

TICKETS
There is an extremely limited number of tickets available, which can be bought online here or from the ticket office.

Please be aware that train strikes will be affecting routes across the whole country on Saturday. Click here for more information.

OFFICIALS
Referee: James Oldham
Assistants: Garry Maskell and Alex James
Fourth Official: Aji Ajibola

MATCH COVERAGE
Domestic iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon 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.

BETTING
Pompey are the 11/20 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 9/2.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for Saturday’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 have 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 3pm

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

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 1 Fleetwood 1

Koroma opener cancelled out at Fratton Park

8 October 2022

Michael Morrison in action for Pompey against Fleetwood Town at Fratton Park — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey endured a frustrating afternoon on the south coast as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fleetwood.

A fine strike from the in-form Josh Koroma gave them an early lead and the hosts showed plenty of attacking intent throughout.

But Carlos Mendes Gomes levelled for the Cod Army, who lived up to their billing as the division’s draw specialists by claiming a point.

Danny Cowley stuck with the same side that were narrowly beaten at Ipswich to lose their unbeaten league record the previous week.

It meant that Sean Raggett was the only starter from the midweek Papa Johns Trophy thrashing of Aston Villa U21s to keep his place.

After a cagey start, it was the home side who took the lead on seven minutes after a poor clearance from keeper Jay Lynch.

The ball flew straight to Marlon Pack and was picked up by Owen Dale, who squared for KOROMA to bend home a fine 20-yard strike.

It looked like the lead had been doubled soon after, when a free-kick was played to Colby Bishop and he squared for Dane Scarlett to slot home.

But referee James Oldham decided it had been taken too quickly – one of a number of decisions from the officials that angered the home faithful.

Another arrived when Scarlett got the better of Josh Earl and burst into the box before hitting the turf, with the decision going against the striker.

And Fleetwood soon drew level, as Toto Nsiala was left in far too much space to meet Danny Andrew’s cross and head the ball into the mixer for Mendes Gomes to convert.

It was pretty much all Pompey for the remainder of the first half, although the hosts struggled to get the final ball just right.

Their best chance to retake the lead came when Koroma hit a shot that deflected off Shaun Rooney and forced a fine save from Lynch.

The visitors broke up the pitch from the resulting corner and Harvey Macadam tried to square for Admiral Muskwe, but Michael Morrison did just enough to deny the striker.

Morrison also went close at the other end, with his header from Dale’s delivery flicking the outside of the post.

Then, just before the break, Koroma’s deflected centre was nodded over from close range by a diving Dale.

Half Time: Pompey 1 Fleetwood 1

The hosts continued to dominate when the action restarted and Koroma bent a low free-kick narrowly past the post.

They went even closer when Morrison nodded Clark Robertson’s free-kick back into the centre and the ball was only partially cleared.

It landed for Pack and the midfielder hit a ferocious 30-yard strike that cannoned against the crossbar.

But Fleetwood came close to scoring themselves just past the hour mark after a corner made its way through to the far post.

Rooney was waiting to meet the ball, but his shot was superbly kept out at point-blank range by Josh Griffiths.

Cowley freshened things up by making a change on 65 minutes, as Reeco Hackett replaced Dale wide on the right.

The hosts then broke following a spell of Cod Army pressure, but Koroma’s intended pass for Scarlett in the box was intercepted.

A double switch for the hosts soon followed, with Bishop and Koroma withdrawn for Joe Pigott and Ronan Curtis.

The referee continued to draw the ire of the Fratton faithful, first for a soft booking for Raggett and then for again not allowing the Blues to take a quick free-kick.

Pompey were pushing for a winner and Curtis had a shot blocked following a sustained spell of pressure.

They continued to throw men forward as game entered five minutes of stoppage-time, but late drama was not forthcoming.

Pompey (4-4-2): Griffiths; Ogilvie (Swanson 88), Morrison, Raggett, Robertson (c); Dale (Hackett 65), Pack, Morrell (Mingi 88), Koroma (Curtis 75); Scarlett, Bishop (Pigott 75)
Goals: Koroma 7
Booked: Morrell, Raggett
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Jacobs

Fleetwood (4-2-3-1): Lynch; Rooney, Nsiala (Baker 50), Earl, Andrew; Warrington (Wiredu 84), Vela (c); Macadam (Batty 67), Lane, Mendes Gomes (Garner 84); Muskwe (Morton 67)
Goals: Mendes Gomes 15
Booked: Rooney, Mendes Gomes, Earl, Batty, Vela
Subs not used: Stolarczyk, Johnston

Referee: James Oldham

Attendance: 18,271 (91 away fans)