Match Preview: Fleetwood v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

19 January 2024

Pompey will be looking to get their promotion quest back on track when they make the long trip to Fleetwood on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

John Mousinho's men are still sitting at the top of the table, but a run of one win from six games means there are several sides breathing right down their necks.

Their next opponents are also desperate for points – but for an altogether different reason.

Fleetwood are sitting rock bottom of the League One standings, having won just four times all season.

Their most recent victory was against Exeter more than two months ago and the side head into this weekend's contest on the back of a four-match losing run.

It means that the Cod Army are currently eight points adrift of safety, as they try to avoid a return to the fourth tier for the first time since 2014.

Charlie Adam is the third man to be tasked with improving their form, with previous bosses Scott Brown and Lee Johnson dismissed in September and December respectively.

It finished 1-1 when the clubs met at Fratton Park just before Christmas, with Colby Bishop's penalty cancelled out by Josh Earl.

But the Blues triumphed on their last visit to the Fylde coast, as Bishop and Joe Pigott struck in a 2-0 victory almost exactly one year ago.

TEAM NEWS
Connor Ogilvie is available for selection again after returning to full training following an ankle injury.

But Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Regan Poole (knee), Alex Robertson (hamstring), Ben Stevenson (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) are all still sidelined.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Tom Lowery ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 8 wins
Fleetwood: 3 wins
5 draws

On the road
Pompey: 6 wins
Fleetwood: 2 wins
0 draws

TICKETS
Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets for this game. Click here to see a map of the ground.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Neil Hair
Assistants: Alistair Nelson and Karl Buckley
Fourth Official: Scott Jackson

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 replays and 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 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 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

Bristol Rovers v Blackpool
Burton v Charlton
Cheltenham v Carlisle
Exeter v Cambridge
Leyton Orient v Bolton
Lincoln v Derby
Oxford v Northampton
Peterborough v Shrewsbury
Port Vale v Wycombe
Stevenage v Barnsley
Wigan v Reading

LAST AWAY MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Fleetwood 0 Pompey 1

Kamara nets first half winner for table-topping Blues

20 January 2024

Abu Kamara celebrates scoring for Pompey at Fleetwood Town — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Abu Kamara’s fine strike ensured Pompey returned to winning ways with a controlled performance at Fleetwood.

The forward's goal separated the sides after a first half that saw very few chances, but the Blues dominant throughout.

It was a more open affair following the interval, although the visitors dealt with some late pressure from the League One strugglers to take all three points back to the south coast.

John Mousinho made three changes from the side that were beaten by Leyton Orient on home soil the previous week.

Tom Lowery and Ryley Towler were both handed their first league starts since the opening day, while there were also a return for Terry Devlin.

Joe Rafferty, Jack Sparkes and Christian Saydee were the men to make way, as Pompey switched to three at the back.

The visitors looked in control from the very start, but despite dominating possession, they were unable to fashion any early chances.

It was difficult on a bobbly surface, although the Blues were doing their best to pass the ball around in search of openings.

There was a teasing cross delivered into the box from wide on the left by Paddy Lane, which Kamara could not quite get on the end of.

It was a similar story when fellow wing-back Devlin sent the ball in from the opposite flank and again a grey-shirted player was unable to make a connection.

But the Blues did break the deadlock on 25 minutes after Marlon Pack had threaded a neat pass through to KAMARA.

He beat both Josh Earl and Josh Vela before firing in a fierce 20-yard shot that was too powerful for Jay Lynch to keep out.

Kamara then did well to steal possession from Ben Henghan inside the area, but the defender was able to shepherd the ball out of play.

Colby Bishop was next to go close, seeing a low effort deflected past the post after Lane and Kamara had combined to find the striker.

There was nothing to concern Will Norris at the other end of the pitch, with Fleetwood unable to maintain any prolonged periods of possession.

And it might have got worse for the hosts just before the break, as after a spot of pinball in the area, Lane saw his shot blocked.

Half Time: Fleetwood 0 Pompey 1

There was a change at the break, with Joe Morrell – who had earlier been on the end of a late challenge and also got booked – replaced by Saydee.

It took just a few seconds of the restart for the hosts to threaten for the first time, as former Fratton loanee Jayden Stockley diverted Bosun Lawal’s shot just past the post.

Pompey soon had a chance of their own and Lynch spilled Pack’s long-range attempt, but was able to gather the ball at the second attempt.

They went even closer moments later and Lynch did well to deny Bishop from point-blank range after Pack and Saydee had helped the ball into his path following good work from Kamara on the right.

The Cod Army had an opportunity of their own on 67 minutes, when a clearance from Conor Shaughnessy ricocheted off Danny Mayor and flew just wide.

Norris then came to the rescue, with a smart stop to deny Brendan Wiredu, as the hosts began to show more urgency.

Fleetwood were certainly posing more of a threat, even if Pompey were still looking relatively comfortable.

Sparkes was brought on for the lively Kamara, as Mousinho looked to shore things up for the closing stages.

And there was also a welcome return for Connor Ogilvie after a long injury lay-off, as he replaced Lowery on 84 minutes.

It was Pompey who looked more likely to score again as the game entered stoppage-time, but one goal was enough to seal the win.

Fleetwood (3-4-3): Lynch; Wiredu, Heneghan, Earl; Vela (c), Lawal, Dolan (Johnston 21), Boyes; Marriott (Omochere 60), Stockley (Patterson 77), Mayor (Coughlan 77)
Booked: Vela, Heneghan, Lawal, Marriott
Subs not used: McMullan, Rooney, Holgate

Pompey (3-4-2-1): Norris; Shaughnessy, Raggett, Towler; Devlin, Pack (c), Morrell (Saydee 46), Lane; Kamara (Sparkes 80), Lowery (Ogilvie 84); Bishop
Goals: Kamara 25
Booked: Morrell, Shaughnessy, Pack, Lane
Subs not used: Macey, Martin, Whyte, Scully

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 3,782 (1,100 Pompey fans)