The Reds will be looking to extend their winning home run to six in all competitions when Sky Bet League One side Portsmouth visit the Broadfield on Tuesday in the second match of our Checkatrade Trophy Southern Group A.
Portsmouth sit top of the pile in the third tier having lost just twice all season in all competitions, with their first league defeat coming on Saturday at the hands of Gillingham.
Gillingham are also in our Checkatrade Group, and were beaten 4-0 by Pompey in the first round of matches, while the Reds overcame Tottenham Hotspur U21 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
HEAD TO HEAD
Tuesday’s meeting between Portsmouth and the Reds will be the ninth in all competitions.
Six of those have come in the league, either League One or Two, with one in the Checkatrade Trophy and one club friendly. The first meeting between the two sides was a televised fixture in 2012 at the Broadfield Stadium, with the Reds fresh from League Two promotion and Pompey having recently been relegated from the Championship. It was a bad day at the office for the Reds as they lost 3-0 and had Hope Akpan and Josh Simpson sent off, however they were to get their own back in the return fixture on Boxing Day at Fratton Park.
Over 700 Reds fans made the trip to Hampshire and were sent home happy after a 2-1 win over the former Premier League side. Paul Benson had given the home side the lead but Crawley responded in perfect style with an equaliser from Nicky Adams. Billy Clarke scored a winner deep into the second half to seal three points.
There was three years until the next fixture, which took place in League Two. Portsmouth dominated the fixture but the game ended 0-0 with the Reds putting in a battling defensive performance.
Pompey then completed two successive 3-0 victories at Fratton Park, and then a 2-0 win at the Broadfield Stadium. Two days into 2016, goals from Matt Clarke, Mark McNulty and Gary Roberts sealed the first of those 3-0 wins, while Roberts was on target alongside a Curtis Main brace in the second. Christian Burgess and Kyle Bennett were on target in their away win.
Portsmouth ran out 2-1 winners in a pre-season friendly in July 2017 (pictured) before a Checkatrade Trophy contest last October finished 3-1 to the Blues despite a goal from Moussa Sanoh in the second half.
ONE TO WATCH
Right sided attacker Jamal Lowe is one to watch in the Pompey side tomorrow. Having spent the early years of his career in non-league, Lowe has blossomed in the Football League since joining Pompey from Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2017, and has so far scored 17 goals for them in his year at the club. Having signed an initial 18 month contract, Lowe was rewarded for his impressive performances with an extension in January that will keep him at the club until 2020.
iFOLLOW
Tuesday’s game is available to watch on iFollow for UK subscribers by purchasing a one-off Match Pass for £10. Overseas subscribers will be able to access all their standard features within their subscription for no additional cost.
To purchase a match pass for this game please click here.
TICKETS
We are offering reduced prices for this game:
Adults £10
Concessions (Over-65s, Under-21s) £5
Under-18s £1
You can buy tickets online by clicking here and collect before kick off. The Ticket Office is open from 10am-4.30pm on Monday and 9am-kick off on Tuesday.
