Portsmouth fans are preparing themselves for a big night of football, as they face Oxford United for a place in the League One play-off final.
Pompey and Oxford drew the first leg of the fixture 1-1, Ronan Curtis opening the scoring before Marcus Browne’s leveller just before half time. Whilst this evening’s game is away, there will be no partisan crowd at the Kassam to swing things, cutting down on the advantage gained by Oxford in the first leg.
Portsmouth have struggled in play-off matches throughout their history, drawing four home encounters and losing three away. They will be hoping to put that record straight this evening against Karl Robinson’s side.
Portsmouth, who started the season badly but were showing strong form coming out of the new year, might not have a great play-off record, but they have shown good form in knockout competition and that is what this evening’s game is; a one-off knockout game. The winner will almost certainly travel to an empty Wembley Stadium to take on Wycombe Wanderers unless Fleetwood produce a miracle result.
Fans are split as to how tonight’s game might go. Three meetings between the two teams this season have failed to split them; they drew 1-1 in the league at Fratton Park, as well as in the play-off match, as well as sharing a 2-2 draw in the Leasing.com Trophy. That, coupled with what one fan has called ‘negative tactics’ by manager Kenny Jackett, has left some elements of Pompey’s fabled support concern for tonight’s fixture, as you’ll see below.
I think it's worth starting Marquis, could see him stepping up for us this evening.
— Matt (@B0bby_Hen) July 6, 2020
Feel more nervous today than Friday! Really hope KJ gets the team selection right tonight. Please just give it your all Pompey! Let’s not have any regrets! #PUP
— LORRAINE WELLS (@WELLS35) July 6, 2020
I love pompey to bits and really hope we do it, but i have no faith in jackett and his long ball negative football, clueless tactics and definitely no faith in our strike force, #whynopittman
— chris (@imandboo) July 6, 2020
There’s been a lot made of @Pompey’ s record in playoffs. Not enough made of the outstanding record in knock out competitions this year. View the play offs as another knock out competition and we have every right to be confident PUP
— Sam (@colemaniow) July 6, 2020
Come on lads we've got to beat them they've only got 3 stands
— Leo Homewood (@LeoHomewood) July 6, 2020
Spot on Josh. Apart from a few obvious poor selection choices on Friday, I thought that Kenny played Marquis & Harrison the wrong way around. Pace of Harrison will hurt tired legs and tired heads in the final 30mins – Sunderland at home in Feb
— Harry Brown (@harrybrown1994) July 6, 2020
Start the week off right Kenny – more Naylor & Seddon, less McCrorie & McCrorie #Pompey
— Harry Brown (@harrybrown1994) July 6, 2020
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