When : Saturday February 17 2024, 3pm
Where : Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Milton, PO4 8RA
Capacity : 20,899
Yet another away game next (this makes 3 from the last 4) and they theoretically shouldn't come any harder than away to the league leaders so the remaining fixtures after this one this season should be the proverbial cakewalk.
Pompey provide what should be a derby opponent, but never has been, due to their interest in winding Southampton fans up more so despite Portsmouth's largely disappointing last half century of knocking about in the lower divisions with clubs like Reading there's never been much of a derby feel although there has been some "bad feeling" about them due to their financial antics in the early 2000s, that game v Fulham and that damn bell.
The bellringers have only lost 4 games from the 33 they've played in the league so far and consequently they are 6 points clear at the top of the division so even if a Reading miracle does happen Pompey will still be looking down on the rest of the table, therefore hopefully there might be a bit of complacency at the back of their minds as they face little old "relegation haunted" and "financial basket case" club Reading.
Recent form has been not quite what it was at the start of the season too so it maybe just the right time to have to visit the south coast. Having started with just 1 defeat in the first 21 games, Portsmouth have now really hit the skids with 3 defeats in the last 12. They've been sunk at home twice and defeats at home this season seem to be rather spectacular having been done 4-0 by Blackpool and then 3-0 by Leyton Orient, so if Reading can keep a clean sheet there's a real chance of that miracle.
That said they have won 5 of their last 6 and comfortably did away with Cambridge on Tuesday night (and even more comfortably did away with Northampton in the home game before that). However there have been no home clean sheets since 11 December and as we know from the game at the SCL earlier Pompey have weaknesses which Reading can exploit.
Reading need to stop striker Colby Bishop who has scored 15 in 31 games. Highest performing midfielder is 10 goal Paddy Lane while set pieces seem to be providing an outlet for defenders to express themselves with both Regan Poole and Conor Shaughnessy netting 3 apiece so far.
Tom McIntyre is injured and so will miss the chance of this reunion with his former Reading team mates. Tom Holmes is out for another month at least, while Sam Smith and Andy Yiadom may return after being rotated. Also very likely to be missing will be Jeriel Dorsett after being crocked at Fleetwood early on.
Referee
Josh Smith
Previously
No history
Historically
Fratton Park is usually not a pleasant place for Reading. The 21 previous visits to this particular spot on the south coast has seen a return of just 2 victories while Portsmouth have inflicted 12 defeats. Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet there since 1997 which is 7 games ago and have only scored more than 2 in a league game there on 1 occasion and that was in the process of losing 7-4!
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
)
) then think we will drop a couple of spots - can see Cambridge and Shrewsbury both getting at least draws - Burton and Charlton are, like us, looking at relative free hits and will likely walk away with 0 points but hoping they don't take a whack on the GD.
