Midfielder excited to face his former club
Gary Roberts is hoping to upset his former side in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Monday’s draw saw the Blues handed a trip to face an Ipswich side currently sitting ninth in the Championship table.
Roberts spent two years at Portman Road between 2006 and 2008, scoring four goals in 59 appearances.
But now the midfielder is hoping to help Pompey dump the Suffolk side out of the cup for the third time in nine years.
He said: “I haven’t been back there since I left a good few years ago and it will be nice to return and see a few people.
“They’re a big club with a lot of history and nobody will expect much from us, but hopefully we can go there and win the tie.
“I’m sure they’ll be on the front foot and looking to beat us, which is something we don’t experience very often in League Two.
“That will probably suit us, although it’s still going to be a very tricky game because they’re a strong Championship team.
“We’ve got some big games before going there, however, and play a lot of sides who are around us in the table over Christmas.”
Roberts is hoping to return to the Pompey side soon, having being sidelined with an ankle injury since the end of October.
He said: “I want to be back as quickly as possible. The physio’s being a bit tight and not letting me kick on as much as I’d like to.
“But that’s his job and if he can ensure that I stay on the pitch for the rest of the season then I’m happy to wait a bit longer.”
The Ipswich tie will take place on the weekend of January 8-11. The date and ticket information will be announced in due course.
If you are looking for a Fratton cup fix, however, then come along to Fratton Park on Tuesday, December 15 (7pm kick-off) to watch the academy side in action against Manchester City in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.
Tickets are priced £4 for adults and £2 for concessions and can be bought online here or from the Frogmore Road ticket office.