Match Preview: Portsmouth

9 August 2019

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers’ first away fixture back in Sky Bet League One will see them travel down to Fratton Park where Portsmouth await on Saturday afternoon, kick-off 3pm.

Micky Mellon’s men began the third-tier campaign with a 3-2 home defeat against Rochdale at Prenton Park on the opening day last Saturday and will be aiming to pick up their first points of the term on the South Coast.

Kenny Jackett’s Pompey were beaten at the weekend on their travels at Shrewsbury Town but responded with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City in front of their own Fratton Park faithful which saw them progress to round two of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Team News:

Jake Caprice, (ankle) Mark Ellis, (knee) Evan Gumbs (ACL) and Ishmael Miller (hamstring) will all miss TRFC’s trip to Portsmouth.

Forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is suspended following his red card late on against Rochdale last weekend.

One to Watch

Ellis Harrison has hit the ground running with two goals in his first two Portsmouth appearance since signing from Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee in June.

The Newport-native, 25, a former Wales U21 international, began his career at Bristol Rovers in 2011.

Over the next seven years, forward Harrison enjoyed success playing for the Pirates, winning back-to-back promotions from the Vanarama National League (2014/15) and Sky Bet League Two (2015/16).

Having scored 44 goals in 188 games at the Memorial Stadium, Harrison departed Rovers in July 2018 for Ipswich Town in a £750,000.

And after a season in Suffolk, Harrison penned a contract with Portsmouth as boss Jackett secured his services for an undisclosed fee earlier this summer.

Tickets

A limited amount of tickets remain available for the SWA, who will be located in the Milton End of Fratton Park, which is covered seating behind the goal.

Please note that the game against Pompey will be all ticket for Rovers supporters heading down to the South Coast and there will be strictly no sales at Fratton Park on the day.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult: £24

Senior (65+): £18

Young Persons (18-22): £16

Junior (U18s): £7

Ambulant disabled: £16

Wheelchair and carer: £15

*Carers who require to be on the highest rate of DLA are free of charge.

Wheelchair users can contact Portsmouth FC’s Ticket Office on 0345 646 1898. Wheelchair and carer spaces are located in front of the Fratton Stand.

Coach details

The official Tranmere Rovers Club coach will depart from Prenton Park at 7am.

Prices: Adult season ticket holders: £39

Concession season ticket holders: £38

Adults: £41

Concessions: £40

Tickets can be bought in person in the Club Shop at Prenton Park or online by clicking here.

Match Officials

Referee: Scott Oldham

Assistant Referees: Christopher Kidd and Simon Shaw

Fourth Official: Dan Bonneywell

Past Meetings:

Tranmere Rovers’ last fixture with Pompey came in a 3-2 defeat away at Fratton Park in February 2015 when both clubs were competing in Sky Bet League Two.

TRFC’s record against Portsmouth currently stands at won 14, drawn seven and lost 13.

Match Coverage

TRFC Radio’s commentary team of Phil Wilkinson, Adam Siddorn and Rob Edwards will guide you through all the action at Fratton Park.

Supporters can sign up to the revamped iFollow Tranmere to listen to uninterrupted commentary of the match against Pompey.

To sign up and to find out more details about iFollow Tranmere, CLICK HERE

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Did you know?

Former Rovers’ duo Adam Buxton and Ben Tollitt were both on the books at Pompey in 2016/17 and 2015/16 respectively.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Portsmouth 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

10 August 2019

Tranmere Rovers’ first away outing back in Sky Bet League One ended in a 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon.

Ben Close’s long-range volley midway through the first-half separated the two sides at the break.

Tom Naylor scored the second goal for Portsmouth with 15 minutes of the fixture to play, turning in from close-range after a corner.

Manager Micky Mellon handed a debut to new loan signing Kane Wilson, while Morgan Ferrier and Darren Potter came in for Jordan Ponticelli and Stefan Payne.

Backed by 639 of the SWA, early on in the fixture down on the South Coast, Tranmere went close through centre-back Manny Monthe forced Craig MacGillivray into a low stop from Kieron Morris’ corner.

Rovers’ threatened again inside the opening 20 minutes when Morris drove forward and saw his left-footed shot go narrowly past MacGillivray bottom right-post.

Naylor tested Rovers goalkeeper and captain Scott Davies with an attempt from outside the box

Portsmouth led on 27 minutes when Close thumped in a right-footed volley from 30-yards which found the top-right corner, profiting from a loose ball after Davies had saved Andy Cannon’s close-range attempt.

As half-time approached in Hampshire, Connor Jennings drew MacGillivray into a save with a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area after being played through by Liam Ridehalgh.

After the interval, Anton Walkes saw his left-footed drive from the right side of the box go high over Davies’ crossbar as Pompey looked to begin the half by scoring a second.

Shortly later, Ronan Curtis broke on the counter attack for the hosts, feeding Lee Brown, but shooting right-footed 10-yards from goal, he couldn’t hit the target when well positioned.

Forward Corey Blackett-Taylor was brought on as the hour mark approached in place of Connor Jennings to make his competitive debut for the Club, while Payne came on for Ferrier as Rovers pushed to level.

And they went close with 25 minutes of the game to play, when Monthe glanced his header just past the post from Morris’ enticing corner from the right.

Morris twice had openings to level, with MacGillivray thwarting the midfielder’s second attempt.

Kenny Jackett’s Pompey doubled their lead with 75 minutes on the clock through midfielder Naylor, who reacted first after David Perkins had cleared a downward header from a corner off the line, to stab the ball over the line.

In the closing 10 minutes, Brett Pittman’s volley deflected off his own player and just over Davies’ upright.

Next up for TRFC is a Carabao Cup first-round tie against Hull City at Prenton Park on Tuesday night, kick-off 7:45pm.

TRFC: Davies, Wilson, Monthe, Ray, Ridehalgh, Perkins, Banks, Morris, Potter, Jennings (Blackett-Taylor 57) Ferrier (Payne 62)

Subs not used: Nelson, Mullin, Ponticelli, Gilmour, Pilling

Attendance: 18,575 (639 away)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Portsmouth tickets now on sale

5 August 2019

Ticket prices for Tranmere Rovers’ Sky Bet League One fixture away at Portsmouth on Saturday 10th August are now on general sale.

The SWA have been allocated 980 tickets for the 3pm kick-off and will be located in the Milton End of Fratton Park, which is covered seating behind the goal.