The last time The Imps faced tonight’s opponents Portsmouth was on Tuesday 22nd October 2019 at Fratton Park, in front of a crowd of 17,266 (753 Imps), with Tom Nield as the man in the middle.
Tonight’s Match Thread: Lincoln City v Portsmouth
This match finished 1-0 to Pompey, with John Marquis scoring the only goal of the match in the 28th minute. I think it is safe to say that a draw would have been a fair result that night, but City just couldn’t find the back of the net in a very scrappy match.
Time for the Q&A. Thank you to Portsmouth supporter Andy for answering our questions!
How long have you supported Portsmouth?
I am 28 now and started supporting Portsmouth when I was seven or eight years old.
Where did you finish last season?
Last season we finished fourth. We had a chance of automatics until the final couple of games of the season but fatigue caught up with the team a bit. We were knocked out by Sunderland in the play-off semifinals in a very disappointing way with our most dangerous player on the bench.
What do you think of your Manager?
Kenny Jackett really divides opinion in the Pompey fan base. It’s hard to argue with his record but some fans have found the style of football very frustrating to watch at times. This came to a head earlier this season when a lot of fans were calling for his resignation during games. The club have put a decent run of results together but struggle for consistency as demonstrated by defeating Wycombe and Ipswich over the Christmas period but losing to Accrington Stanley and MK Dons. Recruitment under Jackett has been very hit and miss. We lost Jamal Lowe and Matt Clarke to higher divisions and have really struggled to replace Matt Clarke in central defence, leaving us vulnerable in this position. The style of football has generally improved of late.
Who Are The League One Managers? No.16: Kenny Jackett (Portsmouth)
What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?
Expectations are a minimum of the play-offs based on the financial stability of the club now and anything less than this will receive a very bad reaction from the fans. The league seems to be a lower standard than last year with fewer standout teams, so this year seems to be the really good chance to be promoted.
One(s) to watch?
Keep an eye out for Ronan Curtis on the wing who can be a nightmare for the opposition right back. John Marquis has started to find the net for us, and Ellis Harrison dominates in the air. Cameron McGeehan recently signed on loan in midfield and is definitely a threat going forward.
Which teams you think will finish in the top six?
It’s so close at the top of the table now, but it’s hard to see past Ipswich over the course of the season. They seem to have started hitting form again after a bit of a dip. Sunderland have had a poor season and are still somehow in sixth so they will be around the play-offs I would imagine. I think Peterborough are so dangerous going forward with Mo Eisa and Ivan Toney, they are a lock for the playoffs. Pompey should be around the battle with Wycombe and Coventry too.
Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom three?
Assuming Bolton fill one of the relegation spots, Southend are also looking very cut off. It’s hard to look past Tranmere who were very poor at Fratton earlier this season. I think the current bottom three will be the final bottom three.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
I quite enjoyed seeing Lincoln’s climb up the football pyramid under the Cowleys and are one of the teams in the league I like to see do well in general. It’s refreshing to see them above traditionally “bigger” teams like Bristol Rovers and Blackpool.
What do you think the score will be?
Lincoln is a tough place to get a result and our league away form has been very scratchy. Having said that, we come into the game after an excellent performance to beat Barnsley in the FA Cup. On balance, a 1-1 draw which I would be happy with.
Will The Imps win, lose or draw against Portsmouth?
Win
Lose
Draw
Random fact about your Club?
Until the 2007/08 season, away fans didn’t even get to sit under a roof at Fratton Park.
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
This is probably cheating, but I’d take Michael Appleton back at the helm. He’s so well respected on the South coast and did a great job in impossible circumstances at Pompey.
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Portsmouth Supporter?
Proud moments include the first game under fan ownership (great until we lost 4-0 at home), stealing League 2 on the final day of the season, and the atmosphere when we were 4-0 down to our Premier League rivals earlier this season. Embarrassing? 23 games without a win in 2012/13 wasn’t the most enjoyable time…
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
This is a tough one. Christian Burgess at CB spent a lot of time in Matt Clarke’s shadow but is now being recognised for the solid player he is (as well as being one of the nicest people on the planet).
Which was your favourite match involving Portsmouth?
FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United will always be a classic, and the 6-1 win against Cheltenham to somehow nick the League 2 title from Plymouth and Doncaster will always be special.
Which was your least favourite match involving Portsmouth?
There have been some pretty average days at Fratton but I can’t think of much worse than the 2-1 defeat to Oldham a couple of years ago where our right back (playing at CB) knocked out our first choice RB out cold in the air, handed two goals to an ex Pompey striker, and fell apart before being subbed (potentially with concussion). Never nice to see the mental disintegration of a player – he didn’t play for Pompey again.
Do you have a Former Players Association at Portsmouth?
We have a Pompey hall of fame where club legends are inducted from time to time.
What’s the best thing about Portsmouth?
Fratton Park, Gunwharf Quays, Naval Dockyard, Southsea Common.
In your opinion, who is your club’s ultimate cult hero?
Cult hero? I’d go with Robert Prosinecki. The man was absolutely outrageous.
Thoughts on Raggett?
What a question. Solid against the simple ball in the air, looks so, so vulnerable against any intricate play or ball over the top, unique running gait, dives into challenges. Has been behind our number 9 in the pecking order at times at CB which says it all. Won’t be the first choice once Jack Whatmough has some more game time under his belt after 11 months out. Not a promotion standard League 1 CB, but has been known to pull off a Cruyff turn.
How bad would it have to get for you to want Redknapp back?
It couldn’t get bad enough. No thank you.
"Kenny Jackett really divides opinion in the Pompey fan base.":https://t.co/UsOLUxfh10#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps #Pompey
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 28, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2686330988069796
