Wycombevs.Portsmouth

The Chairboys are looking to reach the next stage for the first time since 2020-21, while Pompey are hoping to make their first fourth-round appearance since 2019-20.

Match preview

Wycombe are currently sitting in second place in League One after winning 15, drawing six and losing four of their 25 league matches.

The Chairboys, who are two points adrift of leaders Birmingham City, missed the chance to go top in Tuesday's home clash with promotion rivals Huddersfield Town.

Herbie Kane's 15th-minute effort proved enough to condemn Wycombe to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Adams Park, leaving the Chairboys with just one win to show from their last four league matches.

Undoubtedly, Wycombe's main priority will be to win promotion to the Championship, but they will still be keen to return to winning ways in Saturday's FA Cup clash, especially as they are making their first third-round appearance in four years after beating non-league York City and Wealdstone in the first two rounds.

Having failed to win their last three meetings with Portsmouth, Wycombe are looking to claim their first head-to-head victory since recording a 2-0 home win in a League One fixture in December 2022.

Portsmouth, who won the League One title last season are battling to avoid an immediate return to the third tier, with only goal difference keeping the South Coast side above the dotted line in the Championship.

Pompey have experienced a significant contrast between their home and away form, having won four of their last five matches at Fratton Park (D1), compared to their eight-game winless run on the road (D2, L6).

In fact, John Mousinho's side have lost each of their last four away matches, including a narrow 1-0 defeat in Sunday's clash with promotion-chasing Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Having failed to score in three of their previous four road trips, Pompey will need to improve in the final third if they are to claim their second away win of the season in Friday's FA Cup meeting with Wycombe.

The visitors will have fond memories of their most recent trip to Adams Park in March 2024 when they recorded a 3-1 victory in their promotion-winning season, thanks to a Colby Bishop brace and Christian Saydee effort.

Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup form:

W

W

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):

D

W

L

W

D

L

Portsmouth form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

L

Team News

Wycombe are expected to be without Jasper Pattenden, Sam Vokes and Kieran Sadlier, while Jack Grimmer is also unlikely to feature after he missed the defeat to Huddersfield through injury.

Defender Alex Hartridge is available for selection after serving a one-match ban following his sending-off in the draw with Blackpool.

With Wycombe's promotion bid taking priority, Matt Bloomfield may decide to rotate his team for the third-round fixture, with Matt Butcher, Garath McCleary, Brandon Hanlon and Bez Lubala among those who could be given a starting spot.

As for the visitors, they remain without Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Mark O'Mahony and Kusini Yengi.

Pompey captain Marlon Pack will serve a one-match ban after being shown a straight red card for fouling Isidor as the last man in the 67th minute of Sunday's defeat to Sunderland.

Mousinho is expected to make several changes to his side for the trip to Adams Park, which could see the Pompey boss hand starting opportunities to the likes of Tom McIntyre, Jordan Williams, Matt Ritchie, Elias Sorensen and Saydee, as well as recent loan addition, Rob Atkinson, who came off the bench to make his debut at the weekend.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Ravizzoli; Skura, Hartridge, Bradley; McCleary, Butcher, Scowen, Harvie; Kodua; Lubala, Hanlon

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Williams, McIntyre, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Devlin, Moxon; Ritchie, Lane, Sorensen; Saydee

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Portsmouth

Written by

Ben Sully

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