After a disappointing 4-0 loss to the Gibraltar national side on the astro-turf pitch at the weekend, Pompey return to the grass to face south-coast rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in Jerez.
Team News
Pompey will be without trialist goalkeeper Simon Eastwood who picked up a small knock in training, and will likely be replaced by David Preece.
Trialist striker Luke Rodgers is also set to miss out through his respective knock, which could give a starting place to youngsters Dan Thompson or Ashley Harris, whilst Gibraltar’s Liam Walker has got a chance to impress in the game.
Another trialist, Jon Harley, will be coming up against his former Chelsea team-mate, Guy Poyet, now the Brighton manager.
The match is being played close to Brighton’s training base, at the Monte Castillo Barcelo resort, Ctra Arcos, km 6, 11406 Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz.
History
Brighton were one of the few sides to do the double over Pompey last season. The Blues started their season at home to Brighton and lost 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Craig Mackail-Smith.
Pompey then lost again at The Amex Stadium, this time it was two goals from Vicente that downed the Blues – in fact Pompey haven’t beaten Brighton in the last four attempts, including a 3-1 loss at the old Withdean Stadium in the FA Cup – Pompey’s goal courtesy of now-TOWIE star Tom Kilbey.
However, all together on head-to-head things don’t look so bad. Pompey have won 15 and drawn 10 of the 38 encounters – meaning Brighton have the better hand with 18 wins.
After a disappointing display on a different surface last Friday, Pompey will be hoping their team of youngsters and trialists can get the upper-hand over the Seaweed and win their first game of the pre-season tour.
Line-Up
Possible Pompey line-up: Preece; Dumbuya, Magri (c), Webster, Harley; Sam, Walker, Howard, Lopez; McLeod, Harris
Possible Derby line-up: Kuszczak; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Bruno; Harley, Sparrow, LuaLua, Vicente, Agdestein; Barnes
Walker isn’t a keeper?? Gib midfielder?
Posted by Aaron | July 24, 2012, 14:05Good spot Aaron – we made a major cock-up then!
Posted by Pompey Pages | July 24, 2012, 14:10Err … But at no point in that write up does it say that Walker is a goalkeeper. It just said he will have a chance to impress… Hope he does well … I understand that Appleton made a comment after the Match that the Gibraltar National team could win league 1 if they were in it so my question would be this…
Considering that all of the Gibraltar national team players do not get paid for playing and are not contracted to any club… Why not just sign them all and get on with the league? They are all after all British and none of them would require work permits. Nor would there be a limit to the number of them in the team…
Food for thought…
Posted by Bruzon | July 24, 2012, 15:30before calling the super seagulls Seaweed, maybe get some basic facts right, we beat you 1-0 at your hole and we won 2-0 at the Amex, simple facts, you would have thought any true supporter would know?
Posted by Samantha | July 24, 2012, 14:32