Match Preview: Pompey v Shrewsbury

All you need to know about League One contest

28 October 2022

Pompey will look to make it seven points from nine this week by beating Shrewsbury at Fratton Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

They followed up last weekend’s victory at Forest Green by battling from behind to draw with Oxford on home soil.

Now Danny Cowley’s men take on a side sitting 12th in the standings, with five fewer points than their hosts.

The Shrews have lost their last two matches, but looked like becoming the first side to take points home from Home Park this season on Tuesday evening.

Jordan Shipley had given them the lead against table-topping Plymouth, who hit back by scoring twice in the closing stages.

Despite that setback, supporters have seen enough this season to suggest a higher finish than last term’s final placing of 18th.

Town are led by Steve Cotterill, who spent 16 months in charge of Pompey between June 2010 and October 2011.

His side lost both meetings with the Blues during the 2021/22 campaign, with Ryan Tunnicliffe netting the only goal on the south coast.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey have a number of injury problems, with Michael Jacobs (hamstring), Tom Lowery (hamstring), Joe Morrell (back), Marlon Pack (hamstring) and Joe Rafferty (stomach) all missing Tuesday’s game.

Ronan Curtis, Reeco Hackett and Sean Raggett also collected knocks against Oxford, while Jayden Reid (knee) and Louis Thompson (leg) are long-term absentees.

George Nurse and Dan Udoh are both expected to miss the rest of the season for Shrewsbury with knee problems, but former Blues forward Aiden O’Brien has recovered from a hip operation.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Danny Cowley and Ronan Curtis ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 17 wins
Shrewsbury: 10 wins
4 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 12 wins
Shrewsbury: 2 wins
2 draws

TICKETS
Limited seating is still available to buy online here or from the Anson Road ticket office.

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

OFFICIALS
Referee: Tom Reeves
Assistants: Paul Yates and Paul Kelly
Fourth Official: Kevin Morris

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 (not available online).

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

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.

VBET are committed to endorsing safer gambling among its customers, as well as promoting the awareness of problem gambling and improving prevention, intervention and treatment. Click here to read about VBET’s responsible gambling policy.

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 3pm unless stated

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

Monday
Plymouth v Exeter (8pm)

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 1 Shrewsbury 1

Swanson on target in Fratton stalemate

29 October 2022

Zak Swanson scores for Pompey against Shrewsbury Town at Fratton Park — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

There was more Fratton frustration for Pompey, as Shrewsbury held them to a draw for the fourth successive home league game.

They dominated the entire contest, only for Elliott Bennett to score with the visitors’ only shot on target.

Right-back Zak Swanson’s curler drew the Blues level moments later, but another goal was not forthcoming.

Danny Cowley made two changes from the side that were held to a draw by Oxford earlier in the week.

They both came in the wide positions, where Josh Koroma and Owen Dale replaced Ronan Curtis and Reeco Hackett.

The latter was suffering from a sickness bug, but Joe Morrell was fit enough to claim a place on the bench.

Former Blues forward Aiden O’Brien – who has recently had injury problems of his own – was not included in Steve Cotterill’s Shrews squad.

The first half followed a familiar pattern, with the visitors getting everyone behind the ball to frustrate Pompey.

Dane Scarlett did manage to charge down a Marko Maroši clearance, but the ball ricocheted clear of any of his team-mates.

They were certainly having to remain patient, passing the ball around and trying to search for a route through.

It might have come when Dale swung a cross into the mixer, but Colby Bishop could only guide his header into Maroši’s arms.

And Shrewsbury took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes, with Bennett calmly slotting home after Carl Winchester’s effort had come back off the post.

Pompey hit back almost immediately, though, with Dale’s strike taking a wicked deflection off Luke Leahy and drawing a superb save from Maroši.

The resulting corner was worked to SWANSON on the edge of the box and he curled home a fine left-footed finish for a first goal in senior football.

They looked to build more momentum and kept applying pressure, with a Scarlett shot unconvincingly beaten away by Maroši.

Half Time: Pompey 1 Shrewsbury 1

It was a similar story when he second half resumed, with the hosts controlling possession and coming up against a wall of Shrews.

They were working hard to find a breakthrough, but were just lacking a key final ball to open up their opponents.

And when Swanson did swing in a superb cross from the right, Chey Dunkley was there to head it behind.

Pompey were forced into a change on 65 minutes, when Sean Raggett seemed to aggravate the back injury that had forced him off against Oxford.

Michael Morrison came on to replace him, while Jay Mingi also made way for Morrell in the centre of the pitch.

They kept battling away and Bishop could not keep his header down after diving to get on the end of Swanson’s delivery.

Joe Pigott was brought on for Scarlett as Cowley looked to add some fresh energy to his forward line in the closing stages, while Swanson then made way for Kieron Freeman.

Dale was next to send in a cross on 85 minutes and although Bishop, Pigott and Connor Ogilvie were all in the box, none of them could force the ball home.

Shrewsbury were left camped inside their own half for the closing stages, but Pompey were unable to turn their superior possession into a winning goal.

Pompey (4-4-2): Griffiths; Swanson (Freeman 83), Raggett (Morrison 65), Robertson (c), Ogilvie; Dale, Tunnicliffe, Mingi (Morrell 65), Koroma; Bishop, Scarlett (Pigott 80)
Goals: Swanson 29
Booked: Mingi
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Hume, Curtis

Shrewsbury (3-4-3): Maroši; Pennington, Dunkley, Flanagan; Bennett (Moore 60), Winchester, Leahy (c), Shipley; Bayliss, Saydee (Pyke 76), Street (Bowman 76)
Goals: Bennett 25
Subs not used: Burgoyne, Barlow, Bloxham, Caton

Referee: Tom Reeves

Attendance: 17,792 (426 away fans)