Match Preview: Burton v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

28 November 2023

It had to end at some point and Pompey’s fine unbeaten run in League One finally ground to a halt at 27.

So now the challenge for John Mousinho’s men is to begin a new one when they visit Burton this evening (7.45pm kick-off).

The home side are currently sitting 17th in the standings and looking to increase a four-point gap to the drop zone.

Albion looked in trouble after failing to win any of their opening seven games, only to follow that with a run of seven matches without defeat.

Since beating Bristol Rovers 4-1 at the Pirelli Stadium last month, however, their form has dropped again.

Dino Maamria’s side go into tonight’s contest having collected a single point from the past 12 available and lost 4-0 at Peterborough on Saturday.

The manager was appointed to replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in September 2022, guiding them off the foot of the table and into an impressive 15th position.

But his first game in charge was a 2-0 home defeat to Pompey, with Sam Hughes netting an own-goal before Colby Bishop sealed the win late on.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey will be without Tino Anjorin (hamstring), Josh Dockerill (knee), Tom Lowery (knee), Connor Ogilvie (ankle), Regan Poole (knee), Anthony Scully (knee) and Zak Swanson (ankle).

Joe Morrell is also absent as he starts a two-match ban, while Gavin Whyte is likely to miss out for personal reasons.

Former Fratton loanee Steve Seddon is expected to feature for Burton, who are missing John Brayford (knee), Tom Hamer (knee), Sam Hughes (calf) and Jasper Moon (ankle).

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Sean Raggett ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 6 wins
Burton: 3 wins
4 draws

On the road
Pompey: 4 wins
Burton: 2 wins
0 draws

TICKETS
Tickets can no longer be purchased directly from Pompey, but are available at Burton this evening, with prices increasing by £2.

Supporters who are attending the game can click here to read a guide to visiting the Pirelli Stadium.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Scott Oldham
Assistants: Richard Woodward and Karl Buckley
Fourth Official: Dale Baines

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters at home and abroad can watch the contest live by purchasing an iFollow match pass and visiting the match centre.

Domestic iFollow subscribers can also enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game.

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 LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 7.45pm unless stated

Barnsley v Wycombe
Blackpool v Northampton
Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient
Cambridge v Lincoln
Charlton v Cheltenham
Exeter v Shrewsbury
Oxford v Bolton
Port Vale v Derby
Stevenage v Peterborough
Wigan v Fleetwood
Reading v Carlisle (8pm)

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Burton 0 Pompey 2

Bishop and Robertson on target for Blues

28 November 2023

Colby Bishop scores for Pompey at Burton Albion — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey bounced back from losing their unbeaten record by securing all three points on a chilly night at Burton.

Colby Bishop fired them ahead from the penalty spot and the Blues soaked up some second half pressure before Alex Robertson secured a 2-0 victory.

John Mousinho made a couple of changes from the side that were beaten by Blackpool on home soil at the weekend.

Fit-again skipper Marlon Pack replaced the suspended Joe Morrell, with Paddy Lane making way for Christian Saydee.

A minute's applause was held before kick-off to remember former Fratton chairman Terry Venables and ex-Brewers player Dale Anderson, who both passed away recently.

Pompey dominated the opening exchanges, but were unable to turn their possession into any meaningful chances.

There were a couple of Abu Kamara efforts that got blocked, although nothing to trouble Max Crocombe between the sticks.

And the hosts might have forged ahead when space opened up for Kwadwo Baah on 16 minutes, with Will Norris beating away the winger’s fierce effort.

Kamara was soon causing problems at the other end and his dangerous cut-back had to be hacked clear.

Baah and Jack Sparkes were having a good tussle down the Pompey left, with the former booked for a late challenge on the latter.

As the half progressed, Burton started to come into the contest more, although there was little to concern Norris.

It seemed as though the half was drifting soporifically to a conclusion, only for the lively Kamara to burst into the box and draw a clumsy challenge from former Fratton loanee Steve Seddon.

Referee Scott Oldham pointed straight to the spot and BISHOP calmly sent Crocombe the wrong way to open the scoring.

But the striker then landed awkwardly just before the break and appeared to hurt his ankle, hobbling on for the final moments.

Half Time: Burton 0 Pompey 1

It was no surprise to see Bishop not emerging for the second half, with Kusini Yengi brought on to replace him.

Burton came flying out of the traps and tricky Baah twice surged into the Blues box to cause problems.

There was also a cleanly struck Seddon volley from outside the box that Norris watched fly harmlessly past the post.

And when Seddon swung a fine free-kick right into the mixer, Cole Stockton could only nod the ball straight into the keeper’s arms.

Pompey did break quickly up the pitch from a corner on the hour mark, but Kamara’s shot was blocked after he had been fed by Josh Martin.

The visitors had been second best since the restart, only to then showcase a lovely passage of football to strengthen their advantage.

It started with Norris, whose delicate pass found Saydee and he showed superb strength to ease past his marker.

He played the ball to Kamara, with Joe Rafferty collecting it on the overlap and picking out ROBERTSON to stroke home his first goal for the club.

Burton soon had chances to get back into the contest and Sean Raggett threw himself into the path of a Mark Helm shot to divert it off target.

Mason Bennett’s long-range curler was then heading for the net, with Norris flying to the left to palm the ball behind.

A second change followed for Mousinho’s men on 65 minutes, as Martin made way for Lane out wide.

Saydee’s fine pass then sent Kamara racing into the box, but he spent too long over the shot and the Brewers got bodies back to deal with the danger.

And when Sparkes delivered a dangerous corner from the right, it was nodded narrowly over by former Brewer Conor Shaughnessy.

Pompey’s third substitution of the evening followed on 77 minutes, as Terry Devlin was brought on to replace Saydee.

They saw out the closing stages with relative ease to show there were no lasting effects from Saturday’s loss.

And Burton ended the evening a man light, with Seddon dismissed late on after picking up his second booking for catching Kamara with a high boot.

Burton (4-1-4-1): Crocombe; Moon, Hughes (Harper 89), Sweeney, Seddon; Powell; Baah, Oshilaja (c), Helm (Carayol 78), Bennett (Lubala 78); Stockton (Walker 70)
Sent off: Seddon (two yellow cards)
Booked: Baah
Subs not used: Blackman, Caprice, Tamen

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Robertson, Pack (c); Kamara, Saydee (Devlin 77), Martin (Lane 67), Bishop (Yengi 46)
Goals: Bishop 38 (pen), Robertson 63
Subs not used: Schofield, Towler, Hume, Stevenson

Referee: Scott Oldham

Attendance: 2,749 (1,164 Pompey fans)