Preview: Portsmouth (H)

All the important information ahead of Stanley's clash with Portsmouth

13 December 2019

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman will be hoping his side can make it four games unbeaten when they welcome Portsmouth to the Wham Stadium tomorrow afternoon, 3pm kick-off.

The Reds come into the game having recorded two wins and a draw in the last three games, with both victories coming against Bolton Wanderers.

Portsmouth will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games across all competitions, with the Hampshire-based side having earned a 2-2 draw with Peterborough United in their last outing.

In the dugout for Pompey is Kenny Jackett, with the former Swansea City and Millwall manager having taken over at Fratton Park in June 2017.

Portsmouth currently sit 10th in the Sky Bet League One table and are three points off the Play-Off places, with the Reds occupying 18th place.

Both games last season resulted in a 1-1 draw, with Michael Ihiekwe and Sean McConville grabbing the goals for Stanley.

Portsmouth Line-Up Against Peterborough United (4-4-1-1)

GK: Craig MacGillivray
RB: Brandon Haunstrup
CB: Oliver Hawkins
CB: Christian Burgess
LB: Lee Brown
RM: Ryan Williams
CM: Tom Naylor
CM: Ben Close
LM: Ronan Curtis
CF: John Marquis
ST: Ellis Harrison

Key Players

Gareth Evans - Evans joined Portsmouth in July 2015 and the 31-year-old has since made over 200 appearances for the club. The Macclesfield-born midfielder has previously played for Macclesfield Town, Bradford City, Rotherham United and Fleetwood Town. Evans has made 12 appearances in Sky Bet League One this season and he has found the net on four occasions.

Ronan Curtis - Curtis left Derry City to join Portsmouth in May 2018 for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000. The 23-year-old has since featured on 70 occasions for the club, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists during that time. The Irishman is currently in fine form and has grabbed three goals in his last four games, including a brace away at Rochdale.

John Marquis - Marquis signed for Portsmouth from Doncaster Rovers during the summer for an undisclosed fee. It was with Rovers that the striker demonstrated his ability as a goalscorer, as he grabbed 66 goals in 153 appearances for the club. The 27-year-old has found the net on five occasions for Pompey this season.

Team News - Portsmouth

Kenny Jackett is expected to be without Brandon Haunstrup after the defender limped off with an injury during the club's 2-2 draw with Peterborough United last week.

Team News - Stanley

Reds manager John Coleman has an almost full strength squad to choose from, with Sean McConville the only doubt.

The winger went to see a specialist about a shoulder injury that he sustained during the 1-1 draw away at Tranmere Rovers.

To read the Stanley manager's pre-match quotes, CLICK HERE!

Inside The Dressing Room

After securing a goal and a hat-trick of assists in the recent 7-1 win over Bolton Wanderers, striker Dion Charles says that if he can't score himself then he'll do everything he can to provide an assist for one of his teammates.

"I like to score goals myself, but if you can't score goals then it's always good to provide the assists for other players in the team.

"I work hard every game and if I can't score, then I always like to think I can provide good opportunities for the other lads."

To read the full interview with the 24-year-old, CLICK HERE!

Tickets

Tickets for the match at the Wham Stadium are still on sale and will be available right up until kick-off, CLICK HERE for ticket prices!

Kit

Stanley will be wearing their home kit for Saturday's Sky Bet League One game at the Wham Stadium, CLICK HERE to buy yours!

iFollow Stanley

If you're unable to attend tomorrow's game, then you can listen to live audio commentary on iFollow Stanley for just £2.50.

International supporters will also be able to watch the game live on iFollow Stanley, CLICK HERE to find out more!

Match Previews

Match Reports

Stanley 4-1 Portsmouth

Reds come from behind to make it four games unbeaten

14 December 2019

Accrington Stanley scored three second half goals to come from behind to beat Portsmouth 4-1 at the Wham Stadium.

The visitors had opened the scoring through Ronan Curtis, but an own goal from Ellis Harrison drew Stanley level shortly before the half-time break.

Following the interval, Jerome Opoku displayed great strength to work his way past multiple Portsmouth players before Dion Charles fired the ball past Craig MacGillivray and into the back of the net.

Fellow striker Colby Bishop then bagged a double of his own to secure the emphatic win and ensure that John Coleman's side came from behind to secure the victory and make it four games unbeaten.

Coleman made three changes to the side that beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the Leasing.com Trophy in the week, and the Reds manager also gave a first Sky Bet League One start for goalkeeper Josef Bursik.

Stanley started the game the better of the two sides with Bishop, Charles and Jordan Clark all failing to hit the target with efforts at goal.

The game's opening goal came on 35 minutes when Marcus Harness whipped the ball into the box and Curtis headed it past Bursik and into the back of the net.

Despite going a goal behind, Stanley continued to dominate and Opoku will have felt unlucky not to have grabbed his first goal for the club when he rocketed an effort from range against the post.

However, the equaliser did come six minutes later when Joe Pritchard whipped the ball into the box and Harrison headed it into his own net.

After the break, Harrison was again involved as he fired an effort at goal but Bursik did incredibly to deny the Portsmouth striker.

Shorty after the hour mark, the Reds grabbed their second goal of the afternoon when Charles smashed the ball past MacGillivray following good work by Fulham loanee Opoku.

Stanley increased their lead seven minutes later when Bishop bagged his eleventh goal of the season from a tight angle, after MacGillivray had saved well to deny an effort from Finley.

The striker then grabbed his second goal of the game and his twelfth of the season as he rocketed a strike into the back of the net, after the referee had played advantage for a late foul on Charles.

Next up for Stanley is an away trip to face Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 21st December, 3pm kick-off.

Standings