Portsmouth V Walsall

[nelsonpfc]

After a promising first game v Rochdale. We lost our first choice Left Back for the season plus 1 Winger Suspended and the other Injured and the week went from bad to worse, losing V Cardiff in the Cup, 2nd half collapse against Oxford away, then drawing (losing on pens) v Fulham u21s. We need a pick me up at Home. Goalie needs to get off to a good start, catch a few crosses to get his mistake out of his system. He's only 21 so he's bound to make mistakes.

Likely lineup

McGee
Talbot Burgess Whatmough Haunstrup (only his 2nd league game)

May (2nd league start) Rose

Evans Pitman Bennett

Chaplin

Hopefully resting a few of the first teamers for Checkatrade they will be fresher as we look shattered after Oxford. Lalkovic should be on the bench after being injured and you'd hope he'd get one over his old club

Worried about Gillespie as he single handed got Carlisle a point at FP last season. Was something like 21 shots to 1 that game!!

Going going for a 2-1 win Pitman and Burgess

 

[Bucket_]

Well my monthly prediction has been right so far, so I'm gonna stick with a win here.. just. I expect the sheen of the promotion form is starting to come off a little with the last two results, so I'm hoping we can grind our way through this one. Just gotta get through this period until our injured/suspended players are back and we hopefully have a new LB and CM. Smash and grab

Would be happy with that lineup, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Baker in midfield and Naismith up front.

 

[Bucket_]

Pretty meh, draw was probably a fair result. First awful ref we've had in a while so I guess we had it coming.. other than that, there's reasons to be cheerful I think - Pitman clawed it back almost single-handedly today, the young players did ok for the most part, and we have two key defenders still to return in Clarke and Thompson.

Tbh I'm fine with this season being a chance to consolidate and give our academy products a chance to establish themselves. Top half would have me content at this point.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

We were actually not bad, defended well as a team with both our wing backs putting in fantastic performances. Referee was influenced by the crowd far too easily IMO and the penalty was debatable, from my angle right in front of it Gillespie touched the ball and the lad went running into him just after.

Also how Bakayoko didn't score his two chances second half i'll never know, and whats scary is that our other striker is even worse! Yet we still haven't signed a striker...

Still a good point, Portsmouth were okay but Milan Lalkovic was shocking which was a funny. Subs changed the game for them.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Thought we were second best in that game and draw was the best we could hope for. League One is certainly an education for our younger players but we still need to strengthen.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Very solid point that, I expect Pompey to strengthen and be a force this season.

Another 46 points to safety for us please.