Pompey v Bournemouth

The road to Wembley, potentially, once more for Pompey begins in a new cup competition for us against our south coast rivals tonight - welcome to the Paint Pot Trophy…sorry Johnstone's Paint Trophy!

Quite clearly our priorities lay elsewhere but wins breed confidence and the Paint Pot may well prove a 'decent' distraction for us - at the end of the day a win is a win and we need one of them, another defeat would make it 3 on the trot and this soon starts to have a negative impact on a host of things!

Having been impressive as a sub in a couple of games I cannot say that Jordan Obita had the sort of impact at the weekend I would have hoped for, then again who did! That said I would sooner have him as an option than not so it is a blow that he is out through suspension.

Kevin Long - suspension - returns from his own ban though and will probably partner Josh Thompson in defence, with the former Celtic man making his debut.

Lee Williamson - hamstring - is again out it would seem as is Ashley Westwood - ankle ligaments - but there is a good chance that Luke Rodgers will be recalled.

We need to start getting the ball out to the wide areas for Compton again and let him run at people. He caused plenty of problems against Bournemouth to kick-off the season and could do so again.

Harry Arter - suspension - returns and 40-year-old veteran Steve Fletcher could well get the call. Richard Hughes made his second Cherries debut at the weekend as a sub so I would not be in the least bit surprised to see the former Pompey man start. Josh McQuoid - foot - also returned at the weekend.

Injury keeps out Charlie Sheringham - foot, Frank Demouge - knee - and Wes Fogden - shoulder - though.

Not as I feel he will have a dramatic impact on the Bournemouth side but out of the 'returning to a former club' fear! He rarely scores, only ever once for us I believe, but what price he pops up with one tonight!

Having meet, competitively, for the first time since 1991 to kick-off the 2012/13 season a few weeks back in the 1-1 draw at Fratton Pompey welcome The Cherries back again already!

Overall there have been 17 previous meetings with Bournemouth and Pompey are 8-5 up, the other 4 were draws. At Fratton we are 5-1 with the other 3 meetings draws.

Peter Tork.

The early season promise, well of the opening two games, has evaporated somewhat in the last couple of games. Were expectation levels too high, or are we just suffering a bit of a bad patch. Is it coincidental that the slump has set in since Balram Chainrai signalled his intent to return?

Anything can happen in the cup, but hopefully with little to lose we can go out with some freedom and enjoy this game and get a much needed win under our belts.

Away to Crawley on Sunday, also in front of the sky cameras.

PLAY UP POMPEY!



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