Opposition In Focus: Portsmouth

A closer look at Pompey

THE GRECIANS look to build on their good result against Stevenage against promotion-chasing Portsmouth.

Tuesday’s visitors are currently fifth in Sky Bet League 2.
 
Pompey come into the game having beaten Cambridge United 2-1 at Fratton Park at the weekend. That result meant they returned to winning ways after losing to Barnet and drawing against Yeovil Town.

Marc McNulty is the away side’s current top goalscorer this season with nine; Connor Chaplin, Gareth Evans and Gary Roberts all follow closely behind with eight goals for the south coast club.

The sides last met back in September on a memorable day for the Grecians, as they recorded their first win away against Portsmouth for the first time in ninety-two years, as City triumphed 2-1 with goals from David Wheeler and Arron Davies.

Previous meetings with Portsmouth

The sides have met twenty-four times in various competitions, the Grecians getting five wins and seven draws.

EARLY MEETINGS

The first meeting between the two clubs took place in January 1914, an FA Cup tie that saw City thump Pompey 4-0 at Fratton Park.

A further four meetings saw City fail to register a win, though 1923 saw the Grecians get their second win at Fratton Park as they won 4-3 in Division Three South.

DIVISION THREE MEETINGS

After a fifty-four-year spell in which the clubs did not play against each other, they met in Division Three in 1977, as City were narrowly beaten 1-0 at St James Park.

The two sides met eight times in Division Three, though City only managed to register one victory which came in January 1981, as the Grecians picked up a 2-0 home victory.

MORE RECENT MEETINGS
 
Since Portsmouth dropped down into League Two the clubs have met in five league matches, with City registering one win and Pompey two.

City have won the two previous meetings between the clubs, one of which was the victory earlier in the season at Fratton Park, and the other a Johnstones Paint Trophy victory at St James Park earlier that month.