One match tonight - Oxford V Portsmouth

[nelsonpfc]

One of the rearranged matches from the round of international fixtures earlier in the season

Fingers crossed we got out of playing Oxford during their top form and playing them as they are having a few issues and we're slowly getting back to dominating goals (abeit not finishing our chances)

Terrible record at Oxford in the league. Have won twice in the last 9 years at the Kassam stadium. Last one was a Harvey White header back in 2021.

Lang coming in at least gives us something different on the bench as ex Ox Gavin Whyte has been pretty poor since joining us.

Hoping for another clean sheet if possible and i'll take another scrappy 1-0

Looks like Joe Raffery may be back after a neck problem, captain Pack potentially out with sickness bug

Likely lineup

----------------Norris-------------------
Rafferty - Shaugnessey - Raggett - Ogilvie
-----------Morrell --------Lowery------------
Kamara - -- Peart-Harris ----------Lane-----
-------------Bishop--------------------------

 

[Muzzle]

Pompey win hopefully

 

[masi51]

draw hopefully

 

[Don Tonberry]

Piss poor first half but I thought we'd done enou8gh to win it in the second only to concede the sloppiest of all goals. Woeful defending and goalkeeping. Oxford were there for the taking too, I can't see them finishing anywhere near the top two come the end of the season.

Frustrating for us but our February looks quite kind on paper so hopefully we'll sign one more quality player and go on a winning run.

 

[GeneralLee]

Piss poor first half but I thought we'd done enou8gh to win it in the second only to concede the sloppiest of all goals. Woeful defending and goalkeeping. Oxford were there for the taking too, I can't see them finishing anywhere near the top two come the end of the season.

Frustrating for us but our February looks quite kind on paper so hopefully we'll sign one more quality player and go on a winning run.

To be fair, we are completely shagged and have been for some time.

Our injury list is extensive, we have one single half fit winger. We don’t have a single striker (other than Gatlin who came on to lead the line though he is essentially a kid who ought to be on loan at a Conference side), Mark Harris and has played virtually every minute alone up top, He works hard but he is essentially an attacking midfielder shoehorned to lead the line.

Our bench is non-existent and offers no attacking threat. James Henry has been great for us, but his legs have gone. Ironically he got the equaliser when he came on, however he should be nowhere near the squad. Injuries have meant he is getting minutes right now. It’s not ideal.

We are at least 6-8 players short presently. A combination of injuries and soon to be incoming players to replace our departed loanees and KR’s ‘magic’. We have major gaps in the squad - To say recent weeks have been bare bones would be an understatement.

Oh, and to make matters worse our right back and goalkeeper went off injured tonight. Typical!