The last time Portsmouth played was on November 9th. That day they beat Preston 3-1. Bearing in mind that came before the International break and some twenty one days ago tomorrow they certainly do come into this game fresh.
First of all Pompey had their away clash at Blackburn Rovers postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Then a bizarre set of circumstances led to their home game being called off in midweek. That was due to local power failure. Oddly enough power had been restored to the ground for the game to be played after a forty minute delay. However, due to some lights in the stands not working and issues with CCTV and timings, the match was called off.
John Mousinho, Portsmouth head coach said, "But there is much more complexity to it than that - with twenty one thousand fans in a very small area and there being various issues with safety and policing, the football came second at that point. As time went on it became clear that while the floodlights were on, there were other issues and it became more likely that the game wouldn’t be on”
Very odd indeed.
That’s how it goes at times, so Pompey will be itching to go come tomorrow afternoon. Kusini Yengi has appeared for Portsmouth eight times in the Championship this season is likely to be out. He has a knee injury after the twenty five year old returned from International duty with Australia. Callum Lang Is the clubs top goalscorer with four. Ex Spurs man, Connor Ogilvie, a defender has bagged two goals as have Mark O’Mahony and Josh Murphy. Basically with a minus twelve goal difference and at the foot of the table Pompey are looking in a perilous state at the moment, The two cancelled games haven’t helped but they are starting to be cut adrift at the foot of the table with only Cardiff City close by. Winning only two games all season and scoring sixteen goals they will be desperate to get something from this game.
Zak Swanson could be back for this one, Mousinho is confident. ‘It’s a heel injury, a really nasty one for anyone that’s had it. (Plantar Fasciitis) Whenever you play football you put a lot of weight through your feet, it’s not one of those you can hide like a shoulder knock or something like that. We just have to get it right and get Zak back.
Having lost three games by impactive goals in injury time recently the Swans bounced back in midweek with a 2-1 win at Derby County. (below) Having sealed the game after fifteen minutes the Swans then spent the rest of the fixture trying to give away all the good work they had done. Any coach watching that game will know exactly what to do when their team comes up against Swansea City. The Swans have been finding goals hard to come by this season, and the midfield are hardly contributing to the tally. Zán Vipotnik is now on three goals with Liam Cullen on four, Florian Bianchini despite most of his appearances being from the bench has two. The two contract issues at the back, Ben Cabango and Harry Darling have a goal each, but times are hard in front of goal. This week we have seen five goals scored by the Swans but with five also conceded. The Swans are still to lose any game this season by more than the odd goal. Just a little bit more composure and awareness on the pitch and we could be watching the Swans in the top six tomorrow. That’s the fine margins head coach, Luke Williams is fighting against in what is a pretty prescriptive way of playing.
The Swans are no longer the lowest goal scorers in the league, that baton has been handed to Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers who are on fifteen goals. Both have conceded twenty six goals this season, the Swans less than a goal a game on fifteen. That leaves them with a plus one goal difference. After tomorrow’s game the Swans have a week off before playing three games away out of four. First off away at Luton Town and then a midweek fixture away at Plymouth. That’s three away fixtures at Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and now Plymouth Argyle being played away from home in midweek. And now the Norwich City away game in January has been moved to 12.30pm. In amongst all that the Swans have a home game against Sunderland but not until the 14th December. To rub salt into the wounds the away trip to Hull City the last game before Christmas is also a 12.30pm kick off. Some will say the Swans have to play the same sides as everyone else, and that’s correct, but not at the distances the Jack Army have to travel. Especially in midweek, some of this season’s trips have been a signal to many that not a lot of thought has gone into the football calendar. Who in their right mind would have Swansea away in Sheffield two weeks apart in midweek for both fixtures ? Wednesdays turn out at Pride Park was magnificent considering (below)
Back on the game the Swans will have news on Harry Darling later today, he left the pitch after a knock and already with some pre match illness, so fingers crossed he is on the mend. We will have a lot more on this game as we build up to kick off time tomorrow.