The Ben Davies Reunion Match (Pompey vs Grimsby)

[K-Win]

Sadly, our Fans' Player of the Year from last season looks like he's doing mainly bench-warming duties these days. Would be a nice touch if Bignot threw Davies into the team for one last hurrah on the hallowed Fratton turf. Or maybe put him on as a late sub with Pompey already 4 goals to the good, so he can curl one of those free-kicks into the top corner for a consolation.

I'm going against the grain and feeling confident for this one. Rather than chasing the promotion pack we have finally gained membership to the elites. Hoist the mainsail, shipmates. Thar be a fair wind and I see LeagueOneLand ahoy.

 

[Gladders]

Bignot has said he is rotating the side for last Sat and this Tues, however he did play bench warmers on Sat rather his usual first team in certain areas, so they may come back in and the other first teamers like in defence will play both games

 

[K-Win]

Cheers Frealaf. Here's hoping Bignot takes the view that a fired-up Ben Davies is worth playing as he will very much want to prove a point to Cook. He will get a good reception from our fans. no doubt.

 

[Don Tonberry]

I'm hoping Davies doesn't play as we know what he can do if given the chance.

We were outstanding on Saturday and that gives me confidence going into this one. But we haven't won at home for a month and I wonder how much that is playing on the players' minds.

 

[PaulHaddock]

We're good at ending a team's winless run so fully expecting a defeat tomorrow.

Don't think Davies has been trusted since our 5-0 defeat to Crewe, where he had a stinker. Decent player though, with a cracking delivery and set piece.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Down here already, drove down from London on Sunday after our Orient win the day before. Looking forward to seeing a good game and hopefully another clean sheet for our defence.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Our sent ticket allocation of 200 have all sold, so we should have a decent following at the match if more travel and pay at the gate.

 

[GTFCfish]

Our sent ticket allocation of 200 have all sold, so we should have a decent following at the match if more travel and pay at the gate.

A guy at works Son is at University in Southampton and he is going with 5 of his mates so thats 206 and counting.

 

[les.gtfc]

A guy at works Son is at University in Southampton and he is going with 5 of his mates so thats 206 and counting.

Most people I know who are going don't have tickets. I'm fairly confident we'll have a good 400-500 there tonight at least.

 

[K-Win]

That's a good turn-out for a long Tuesday night trip. Should be a cracking atmosphere tonight (unless we start to struggle - then things will turn sour very quickly).

 

[immariner]

Just got on the train at Waterloo, saw one other black and white scarfer so going to assume he's a Grimbarian. Gonna geek-out at the Historic Dockyard until teatime before checking in to my BnB near Mariners Road (it's a sign). If we don't go down an early goal it should hopefully be a decent atmosphere. Think there'll be 400ish GY massive.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Davies has been okay for us this season but we've got a terrific young(er) right back in Zak Mills keeping him out, although Mills has been hit and miss recently so who knows who will play tonight. Davies has played all over the park for us anyway so it won't solely come down that. We played a more creative midfield on Saturday and I can see Bignot going for a physical one tonight. I think we'll revert to our previous formation of 4-1-fuck-knows with probably Maxwell replacing Gunning.

I think Portsmouth will have too much for us again, much like the reverse fixture. 1-0.

 

[Bucket_]

No idea what to expect on the pitch - I've got a bar crawl after the game scheduled so I can at least drown my sorrows if it all goes to shit again -, but I'm anticipating a good atmosphere tonight, hopefully any frustrations can be kept to a minimum. I think the crowd will be more patient on the back of the two away wins. Looking forward to hearing "we're on our way" in person for the first time!

 

[PaulHaddock]

Just the 5 changes for us tonight.

 

[GTFCfish]

Oh dear.

2 deflections = 2 goals conceded, this could be a long night.

 

[Gladders]

Shame, we sounded well on top for first 15 mins, hitting the post and forcing a good save before Pompey score a fluke deflection against run of play.

Been all pompey since the first though and game over now.

 

[GTFCfish]

Looks like that first lucky goal has killed us, I expected to lose tonight but not to get a pounding.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Sounds like a really unlucky disaster, this. Haven't been convinced by 3-5-2 since I first saw it and this isn't doing it any favours.

Ah well, at least it's Portsmouth and not Braintree.

 

[PaulHaddock]

At least this guarantees us a win on Saturday.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Pompey running riot. 4-0 up

 

[pontoonlew]

I think we must be the most inconsistent team I've ever witnessed.

 

[GTFCfish]

It could be worse though, while we are playing at Portsmouth our Wembley victims FGR are away at Sutton Utd.
Look at what we could've won!

 

[Bucket_]

Very lucky with the two deflections and Grimsby hitting the post, but all said that was the best night at FP in a long long time. Atmosphere was fantastic, performance after the first 10/15 was excellent, just all came together. "We're on our way, we're on our way"

The Fratton End getting all the stands (including Grimsby) to give them a song was brilliant!

 

[Don Tonberry]

Yeah I have to agree with what has been said here. Grimsby looked good until we fluked the opening goal but after that there was only going to be one winner and Bignot was smart to change it when he did in the second half as the scoreline could have been anything otherwise.

Just hope the injuries to Bennett and Naismith aren't serious as they've both been brilliant recently.

 

[You Orns]

Have to agree with what everyone else has said, first 10-15 minuites Grimsby were on top but the lucky first goal completley turned it and Grimsby fell apart after that.

Fairly boring 2nd half but a far better atmosphere than the last couple of times I've made it to Fratton park.

Not bad entertainment for £5.

 

[Bucket_]

I should add, the Grimsby fans were excellent tonight. Never stopped singing and there was a lot of great banter going back and forth

 

[BlackHaddock]

Once Pompey realised we had no cover on our left when our fullback bombed forward, they punished us. Yes, we started well but those two heavy deflections and our inability to defend on our left did for us. 527 loud and proud supporters but all to no avail.

 

[K-Win]

Can't add much more really. Grimsby unlucky at the start, but I thought we were excellent after the fortunate first goal. The passing was good but I was even more impressed with the desire to get the ball back after we lost it. Baker, Naismith, Bennett and Doyle up front were all superb.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Bignot Out brigade is in full force after last night with a number of issues being targeted; the 5 changes to a winning side, the formation (or lack thereof), MB's post match interview claiming the players were 'mentally tired'.

I can understand the frustrations but I can also understand Bignot's side of it. This was a completely different game to Orient so there is no way of knowing whether the same side would've done any better and if it worked he'd be hailed a tactical genius. I can't defend the execution though, he's obsessed with a formation that looks and plays like utter shit. Maybe he needs a couple more players for it to work but it's not doing himself any favours right now. Also it was a long trip, two in fact over the past couple of days. Could they not have stayed over for the duration? Was that not an option?

Ultimately though we played what I think is the best side in this league by some distance, Portsmouth were terrific at BP and seemingly even better last night. We're not the only team they've dismantled.

 

[Gladders]

Also it was a long trip, two in fact over the past couple of days. Could they not have stayed over for the duration? Was that not an option?

Ultimately though we played what I think is the best side in this league by some distance, Portsmouth were terrific at BP and seemingly even better last night. We're not the only team they've dismantled.

Bignot mentioned the overnight stay at the fans forum and basically looked at Fenty as he said "no we won't be staying over" giving me the impression he wanted too but the board said no because of money.

On that subject, the board went down in my estimations after the forum, pretty much every single answer from Fenty was to do with money and penny pinching in anyway possible.

Also Bignot agreed and said Pompey were the best team in the league we have played so far.