Match Preview: Forest Green v Pompey

All you need to know about Carabao Cup test

8 August 2023

Pompey switch their attention from points to progression this evening, as they try to book a place in the next stage of the Carabao Cup.

Forest Green are the opponents for a first round contest at The New Lawn (7.45pm kick-off) that must be settled on the night, with penalties being used if the tie is level after 90 minutes.

It will be just the second time that the Blues have made the trip to Nailsworth, with Sean Raggett netting the game’s only goal in last season’s League One meeting.

And it was a similar story at Fratton Park, where Owen Dale’s header was enough to secure all three points.

Rovers would finish rock bottom at the end of the campaign and were 19 points adrift of safety, with just six wins to their name.

It initially seemed as though Duncan Ferguson would be afforded the chance to try to take them back up, but the former Everton striker was dismissed in July.

David Horseman left his role with Southampton’s ‘B’ team to replace him and oversaw a 2-0 home defeat to Salford in his first game in the dug-out on Saturday.

Pompey won 3-0 at Cardiff at this stage of last season’s Carabao Cup, only to then lose to Newport in another trip to south Wales.

Forest Green also made it to round two, with victory over Leyton Orient followed by defeat to top-flight Brighton.

TEAM NEWS
After eight players were handed debuts on Saturday, Terry Devlin, Ryan Schofield, Conor Shaughnessy and Ben Stevenson will all be hoping to make their bows.

John Mousinho was also waiting to hear whether Alex Robertson had signed in time to be allowed to feature.

Josh Dockerill (knee), Paddy Lane (ankle) and Tom Lowery (knee) are all currently sidelined for the visitors.

Jordon Garrick (back) is missing for Forest Green, who are expected to make some changes for the tie.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho ahead of the game, as well as what Alex Robertson thinks about his south coast switch.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 2 wins
Forest Green: 0 wins
0 draws

On the road
Pompey: 1 win
Forest Green: 0 wins
0 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Assistants: Steve Durnall and Daniel Robinson
Fourth Official: Oliver Mackey

TICKETS
Click here to find out how you can purchase tickets at the ground this evening.

MATCH COVERAGE
iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andy Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 7pm this evening.

Please note that there is no live video stream of Carabao Cup games on iFollow, including for overseas supporters.

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 key updates throughout the game on Twitter and a detailed blog via the match centre.

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 CARABAO CUP
Games kick-off at 7.45pm unless stated

Tonight
Huddersfield v Middlesbrough (7pm)
Mansfield v Grimsby (7.30pm)
Newport v Charlton (7.30pm)
Peterborough v Swindon (7.30pm)
Swansea v Northampton (7.30pm)
Accrington v Bradford
Barnsley v Tranmere
Blackburn v Walsall
Bolton v Barrow
Cheltenham v Birmingham
Derby v Blackpool
Exeter v Crawley
Gillingham v Southampton
Harrogate v Carlisle
Hull v Doncaster
Millwall v Reading
MK Dons v Wycombe
Notts County v Lincoln
Plymouth v Leyton Orient
Port Vale v Fleetwood
Preston v Salford
Rotherham v Morecambe
Sheffield Wednesday v Stockport
Stevenage v Watford
Stoke v West Brom
Sunderland v Crewe
Sutton v Cambridge
Wrexham v Wigan (8pm)

Wednesday
AFC Wimbledon v Coventry
Bristol City v Oxford
Cardiff Colchester
Ipswich v Bristol Rovers
Leeds v Shrewsbury
Burton v Leicester (8pm)

LAST SEASON

Match Reports

Forest Green 1 Pompey 3

Blues book their spot in Carabao Cup round two

8 August 2023

Kusini Yengi scores for Pompey in Carabao Cup tie at Forest Green Rovers — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey fought from behind to win at Forest Green and secure their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

A shock might have been on the cards when Tyrese Omotoye fired the League Two side into a first half lead.

But Kusini Yengi quickly drew the Blues level and Zak Swanson handed them an advantage soon after the interval.

Yengi then took his tally to three goals in two games when he converted a penalty to ensure the visitors would take their place in Wednesday evening’s draw.

John Mousinho rang the changes, with Anthony Scully the only one of Saturday’s starters to keep his place.

There were debuts for former Rovers midfielder Ben Stevenson, as well as Ryan Schofield, Conor Shaughnessy and Terry Devlin.

Yengi, Christian Saydee, Abu Kamara and Jack Sparkes were also rewarded for their impressive cameos from the bench at the weekend.

The other two players to come in were Sean Raggett – who wore the captain’s armband – and Swanson.

New loan signing Alex Robertson was named among the substitutes, where he was joined by academy forward Koby Mottoh.

It was Pompey who made the brighter start and Yengi fired over after Swanson’s header had been helped on by Kamara.

Matty Stevens tried to catch out Schofield at the other end, but his lob from near to the halfway line sailed well off target.

The visitors were looking more likely to break the deadlock, as Yengi met Scully’s corner and saw his effort saved at point-blank range by Jamie Searle.

Sparkes was looking lively going forward and whipped in a couple of dangerous deliveries that somehow evaded everyone.

Rovers were the side to forge ahead, however, as Omotoye collected Teddy Jenks’ pass and angled in a shot that Schofield could not keep out.

But the Blues quickly hit back and when Searle failed to claim Scully’s corner, YENGI did well to control the ball and poke it over the line.

It might have got even better when Kamara met a deep Sparkes cross and fired in a volley that was saved by Searle.

Forest Green then had a chance to retake the lead just before the break, but Raggett did well to stop Jenks getting a shot away.

Half Time: Forest Green 1 Pompey 1

Schofield was called into action quickly after the restart, flinging himself to the right to push clear Dylan Kadji’s deflected long-range effort.

But the Blues took the lead on 52 minutes, as Saydee sprayed the ball out to Kamara and he found SWANSON on the overlap, with the right-back drilling home.

Rovers looked for an immediate response and a corner had to be hacked clear, while Swanson dealt with two dangerous crosses.

Mousinho made a double switch just past the hour mark, as Saydee and Scully made way for Robertson and Connor Ogilvie.

The hosts were still threatening, though, and Schofield was at full stretch to deal with Harvey Bunker’s drive.

But Pompey settled things down again and started to dominate possession to frustrate their trailing opponents.

And they were given a chance to wrap things up when Kamara danced into the area and drew a foul from Jamie Robson.

Bishop was waiting to come on for YENGI, but the Australia international stayed on long enough to slam the spot-kick into the top corner.

His replacement soon raced onto a fine Robertson pass, but last season’s leading marksman could only find the side netting.

Forest Green were not giving up and Schofield saved from Omotoye, who was then denied by a fine Raggett tackle soon after.

Another double switch was made late on, with Mottoh brought on for his debut alongside Joe Morrell, as Kamara and Devlin trooped off.

And a centre from the former soon drifted towards goal and ended up clipping the top of the crossbar.

The display of 11 additional minutes drew gasps from around the ground, but it was not enough time for the hosts to mount a comeback.

There might have even been a gloss added to the scoreline when Bishop met a Sparkes corner, but the striker was denied by Searle.

Forest Green (4-4-2): Searle; Robertson (Robson 62), Johnson, Moore-Taylor (Carter 86), Bernard (c); Kadji (McAllister 62), Bunker, McCann (Jones 75), Jenks; Omotoye, Stevens (Maddox 75)
Goals: Omotoye 24
Booked: Robertson, Bunker, Robson
Subs not used: Pagel, Bennett, McKenzie

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Schofield; Swanson, Raggett (c), Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Devlin (Morrell 86), Stevenson; Kamara (Mottoh 86), Saydee (Robertson 61), Scully (Ogilvie 61); Yengi (Bishop 76)
Goals: Yengi 30, 75 (pen), Swanson 52
Booked: Yengi, Scully, Devlin
Subs not used: Norris, Rafferty, Poole, Towler

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 1,868 (1,037 Pompey fans)