HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s FA Cup third round replay at Fratton Park by delving into their forums.

“I am not really sure about this one. The question is ‘Are we as good as we appear to be and more than capable of performing at this level?’. This will test us and we will be up for it”, “This might well come down to who wants it the most”, “I still believe we can do them.”

With no midweek fixture last week and with Saturday’s game at Accrington having been postponed due to an unplayable pitch, Pompey have not kicked a ball competitively since the final whistle sounded at Portman Road last Saturday week. Our visit to Fratton Park is now keenly anticipated.

“Ipswich fell out of the play-off places into seventh yesterday and they play the team in eighth on Saturday in what is now a fairly massive fixture for them”, “The dice is loaded in our favour now as they will have had only a two-day break between Saturday’s match and Tuesday’s.”

“Clearly Saturday’s home game against Oxford is a big fixture for us as well, but with an added week's rest I believe we can win this one, particularly given how dominant we were at Portman Road. I fancy us to make it five years in a row that McCarthy hasn't made it past round three.”

Pompey Fans’ Reflections Before and During Our First Game

“It’s nice to have a game come up where I'm super relaxed about the result”, “Anything other than a draw please”, “I'm going to this so I'm hoping for a win, if not then a battling narrow defeat to give me some cheer on the drive home”, “We just need our players to give it their best shot.”

Final prediction polls ahead of the first game were closely split between all three outcomes with 40 per cent of fans forecasting a draw and 35 per cent a Town victory. “I really hope that whatever the outcome, we come away with our deserved reputation as a good footballing team enhanced.”

Most supporters just wanted to see their team play to their potential irrespective of the result. “I just hope the team can hold their heads high at the final whistle”, “I'm hoping for a good performance so we make a game of it and impress a few people but after that anything's a bonus.”

“Mick McCarthy gave his reasons behind his team selection, most of which makes sense and seems fair enough. Credit to him for announcing it early because it gives Ipswich fans prior notice that a so called ‘weakened’ team is being played so they can't say they didn't know.”

Pompey fans gave our manager credit for naming his starting XI early and they were buoyed by the absentees. “McCarthy doesn't see it as a reserve team but there are players in his selection who need fitness. I had us down to lose but not so sure now. I see it being fairly even and a good game.”

They were happy with their starting XI (above) despite it having a makeshift central defence and Michael Doyle’s absence in midfield. “That’s a strong side, go get them Pompey”, “I can see us winning this”, “It sounds really exciting there, Pompey fans make such a noise.”

“Ten minutes gone, 79 per cent Pompey possession”, “Ipswich are second best all over pitch. There is a stark contrast of teams' comfort in possession. Town not had a touch of the ball, they can't get it off Pompey”, “We need to score when we're on top”, “Where's Nugent when you need him?”

The consensus was very positive at half-time with fans very happy with their team’s first-half display. “That was a great first half, we should be at least two up”, “I love Paul Cook, just for giving me back a competitive football team for the first time in five seasons. Cheers mate, a glass raised to you.”

“Ipswich will probably get a half-time rocket from McCarthy and sneak the win”, “We are dominant in this game and should be at least 3-0 up. The only worry is that Ipswich can't possibly be as bad as this in the second half. Their fans haven't sung one song or chant and it's like a home game for us.”

They weren’t shocked that former Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman was involved in Tommy Oar’s goal to the put the Blues in front eight minutes after the break. “Brett Pitman, quelle surprise”, “Kyle Bennett makes it 1-1”, “Conor Chaplin, 2-1 to us”, “Chaplin manufactured an opportunity for himself out of a counter that resulted in a cracker of a goal”, “A Brian Murphy mistake, 2-2”, “It was a big mistake giving this clown another six-month contract.”

“Come on lads, a replay would still be a cracking result. The extra cash might even pay for a new keeper”, “We need a new keeper”, “Murphy is a liability, the only player that Cook persists with that I really don't agree with”, “I hate it when we give away goals - that's why we're League Two I guess.”

Pompey Fans’ Post-Match Reflections

“Full-time, 2-2”, “Are we happy with a replay? I guess it means more cash in the bank and a chance for some fringe players to get a run out”, “We cocked up at the end but we dominated a side who are in a play-off position in the Championship. We can be very proud of the lads today.”

“Let's face it we were bloody good today.” Pompey supporters were immensely proud of their side’s showing in their post-match assessments. “Can I add words of praise to the Pompey fans in Suffolk today? The team did us proud, but you reminded everyone that we haven't gone away.”

“So very proud”, “What a great performance, one that I hope will really instil some confidence in this team. I haven't felt this good about being Pompey since winning the Cup”, “Who would bet against us in the replay after that performance? We can take a lot of encouragement from today.”

“Just back from the game, what an absolute pleasure to watch”, “A great performance and Mick McCarthy seems to have been impressed with us”, “Our passing and movement looked far better than Ipswich”, “We were so comfortable playing a Championship side it was unreal.”

“That is the best I've seen us play in around five years. We absolutely bossed the game from start to finish apart from a five-minute spell at the beginning of the second half and right at the end. They couldn't get near us with our passing. You would have thought we were the Championship team.”

“A cracking result today against a Championship club”, “Put it in context, I guess. We go away to a side two divisions above us and come home with a good draw. Yes, they played a 'reserve' team but that was the team they put out and you can only deal with what you have in front of you.”

Pompey Players Highlighted in the Portman Road Game

Visiting supporters were full of praise for all of their players but were happiest to dwell on fringe players who contributed to the result. One player regularly singled out for criticism however was former Town glovesman Brian Murphy.

“I have to believe [Pompey manager] Paul Cook is really looking for a keeper”, “Brian Murphy has cost us points this season and let in a schoolboy error yesterday to cost us the win at Portman Road. He has 10 clean sheets this season but much of that is down to an excellent defence in front of him.”

“To be fair the Ipswich second is often given as a foul, but a bigger keeper would have made that ball his”, “Sorry but no foul for me, had Murphy moved for it he would have been in the air before the player [Luke Chambers] put his hand on him”, “That's the fourth or fifth error this season from him that's cost us.”

“Adam Barton has slotted in at centre-back seamlessly over the last few weeks. Being comfortable on the ball is a key trait for defenders in our formation so it makes sense that a natural midfielder would fit in, but he's offered much more than that. He reads play well and puts in a good tackle.”

“Adam Webster at centre-half got turned really easily for their first goal but apart from that was superb. So many good moments where he won the ball in difficult conditions, strode out brilliantly or gave a good ball. It's really great to see the homegrown player become a first team regular.”

There was similar praise for fellow youth-product Ben Close in midfield. “Close was utterly superb”, “He was a brilliant deputy for Michael Doyle. I would love to see the pair of them together”, “He has played against three Championship teams this season and been outstanding in all three.”

“Michael Doyle is surely back in for Danny Hollands.” One important likely change for the replay is the probably return of the former Sheffield United midfielder after his regular partner Danny Hollands fractured a bone in his leg in training, ruling him for around two months.

“It looked like Kyle Bennett had a game and a half as well”, “He worked his socks off. He has really added this to his game lately and he certainly deserved having his own song sung today” “He looked fantastic again”, “Ipswich could not cope with Marc McNulty and Bennett's movement in particular.”

“That was a superb goal by Conor Chaplin”, “Chaplin will be some player. He is being guided just right.” The 18-year-old youth product replaced former Blue Gary Roberts on 77 minutes and scored Pompey’s second goal nine minutes later and was frequently singled out for praise.

“Chaplin's contract has to be looked at and if he does leave here it must be for an infrastructure-changing fee of millions. He is a star in the making”, “He is best used as an impact player at this stage in his very early career”, “He showed he had a lot to learn starting a few games early in the season.”

Postponement at Accrington

“Will it be on? Their last three home games have been postponed and amazingly their last home game was on 14th November”, “It's guaranteed to be postponed looking at long range forecasts for Accrington. Every day either has rain or snow with temperatures dropping to minus six.”

“I fancy it to be postponed due to frozen pitch.” Pompey fans were speculating as early as last Tuesday that Saturday’s league fixture at the Crown Ground would fall victim to the weather and the postponement after a pitch inspection at 10 am on the day of the game came at little surprise.

“I spoke to someone in the area and it is frozen solid all over. Why they didn't have the inspection earlier I don't know. It wasn't even a marginal decision in the end”, I admire their enthusiasm to get the game on especially after so long without a game there but it was blatantly obvious.”

Bristol Rovers’ 2-1 win at Oxford saw the Pirates claim fourth place from Pompey but many fans were philosophical about the postponement. “On the one hand this would see us slip further behind our promotion rivals but on the other see us fresher for the fight with Ipswich.”

“Their pitch is in no state to play football”, “I feel sorry for the people travelling up there”, “Hand on heart, I think we all knew this was highly likely to be called off. They have had problems with their pitch for some time, but we can concentrate now on the Ipswich game on Tuesday.”

Pompey Fans’ Views on ITFC and the Replay

“Ipswich drew today against Preston to fall out of the play-off places. With a big game against eighth placed Birmingham next weekend, you have to think they will now be prioritising that. Mick McCarthy hasn't got past the third round with Ipswich too. I fancy us to win on Tuesday.”

“McCarthy is not interested in this competition. A weakened Ipswich team will be thrashed by a full-strength Pompey in 90 minutes”, “We do have one thing in our favour. Since Mick McCarthy took over they have not won a FA Cup game. The last time were in the fourth round was 2009/10.”

“I would welcome a go at Bournemouth at Fratton Park if we're good enough.” With just over 60 per cent Pompey fans forecasting a home win on Tuesday, they are guardedly optimistic about entertaining the Cherries in the next round. “We will win this game. We have had a weekend off.”

“Ipswich will not want the embarrassment”, “McCarthy will play a stronger side at Fratton”, “He won't rest so many next time.” Pompey supporters feel that much will depend on the strength of the team Mick selects. “I don't think Ipswich will give us second chance but hope I'm wrong.”

“It will be down to which side feels it is less of a distraction to the principal matter in hand, namely promotion from its league”, “I think it will be a hard game and tougher than the one at Portman Road with only a goal in it either way”, “Hopefully not penalties as we have a big game on Saturday.”

“We have not beaten Ipswich at home in any competition for 50 years, since a 4-2 league win. The underdogs also normally get one big chance and this was spurned at Portman Road”, “We haven't beaten Ipswich at Fratton Park since 1966, covering 15 games. I reckon that run will continue.”

One Pompey fan was quite unequivocal: “I want us out of the competition. We have gone far enough and need to concentrate now on closing the gap to Oxford in third place.”

Websites

The busiest Pompey message board is the polite and very knowledgeable Pompey Online for which registration is required. Some informative blogs and match reports can also be found at PompeyFans.com.

Notes for the original Portsmouth Cup game, including an in-depth look at their team, can be found here.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

carsey added 11:08 - Jan 18 Well done Harry wasn't sure if you would bother with this match but it's nice to read what the opposition fans think. Seems they are not too impressed with Murphy in goal and hopefully Town will recognise this and put him under pressure with a few high balls into the area. Frankly I can't see us winning this one other than penalties and even that is unlikely. McCarthy isn't interested and the team that played in the first match at Portman Road were all over the place. Would be nice to test ourselves against Bournemouth but can't see it

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algarvefan added 11:08 - Jan 18 Slightly edgy about this, seen Town play at Pompey many times and always a great atmosphere from their fans, who are among the best in the football league. It will be close I'm sure!! COYB Great revue as always Harry.
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Bluebell added 11:19 - Jan 18 Thanks for that Harry. Not sure even Mick wants to win this one. A lot of pressure on the team if we do win although I would love to see us facing Bournemouth at PR. I would guess he will stick to a similar team to the one in the first game. It sounds like Pompey don't particularly want to go on in the cup either as they would orefer to concentrate on the league. It could be an interesting game and I couldn't even hazard a guess at the score.

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ArnieM added 11:33 - Jan 18 Thanks Harry . Excellent as always ! TBH I actually couldnt give a monkeys about the cup. The Legaue is waht matters t us , and suspect this is MM/ TC's view on it too. I full expect us to field very much weaker team ( despite how MM wants to dress it up ). Good luck to the loyal fans that are going . and COYB's But Im expecting a defeat purley based on the team we will be putting out tommorrow night .

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ArnieM added 11:35 - Jan 18 soz about spelling erros , doing it in haste ,whilst at work !
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LankHenners added 11:43 - Jan 18 Thanks Harry - think their fans have gt it fairly spot on that this is an unnecessary distraction for us considering a very important game on Saturday. I fear a loss which is annoying as in a pessimistic way, losing a replay is like having two attempts to lose a game - you might as well have lost the first time around if you're going out anyway. If Portsmouth could play like they did against us every time they played, then you'd think they'd be well out of League 2, so hopefully they won't dominate us again like they did. Another good away performance could do the trick - I'd like the win mainly so we're guaranteed a game next Saturday, weekends with no Town match are a bit of a bore!

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kozmik added 11:46 - Jan 18 Pretty sure Digby wont be playing this time!
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TR11BLU added 12:14 - Jan 18 Great preview as ever Harry, many thanks. I hope we go for it, winning is infectious and can only help with another big game coming up on Saturday. Also, I too would hate a blank Sat on the 30th, as Reading will likely get through. We dont need a weekend of Mick, so come on ......lets try and win the game.
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michael99 added 12:16 - Jan 18 I don't think Gerks would have let those two soft goals in.Pathetic attempt by Bart
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ericclacton added 12:27 - Jan 18 I don't see the point in playing a weak team, if there is no interest in the fixture stay at home and kick a few balls around, that's my vooooooooooo!!!! Good article Harry.
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jas0999 added 12:33 - Jan 18 We have no interest in this game.
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Pezzer added 12:58 - Jan 18 I live down on the South Coast so taking my son in the hope it's a good away performance. Our fringe players should really be able to perform better than they did in the first match against a lower league team. Lets hope they show some character and a will to win...
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WirralBlue added 13:11 - Jan 18 I would love a cup run. With a strong side out here and at home to Bournemouth the 5th Round is in reach. However, with reserve side out we will lose. MM not interested in the Cups - which explains why we have yet to win a FA Cup tie with him in charge.
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terryf added 14:15 - Jan 18 I would love to see us have a good cup run, but have a horrible feeling it will come to an end tomorrow if McCarthy put out a weakened Team. Portsmouth and their supporters were excellent in the match at Portman Road and I'm surprised that my nephew, who is a big Pompey fan, hasn't rub it in how his Team passed us off the park. Personally I would prefer seeing Chambers playing alongside Smith at Centre-Back and either playing Foley or EmmanueL at right back. Have Fraser on from the start and play Freddy down the middle. Lets just show that we can also play some football and not repeat the abject performance of the first game. It would be too embarrassing if we did!!

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NeverGoingUp added 14:24 - Jan 18 Terrible review as always Harry. How you're reviews are published on this page is beyond me. A toddler could compose a better piece than this.
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NeverGoingUp added 14:24 - Jan 18 How your*
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Seasider added 14:24 - Jan 18 I think teams should be penalised if they leave out more than half their regular first team(ie make 6 or more changes from previous game).Wont happen and if it did several players would have mysterious injuries McCarthy should have a bit more respect for supporters who travel;but some of his remarks in the past makes me think he doesn't give a toss about supporters or the press,or statistics unless they are favourable as against Leeds. Perhaps I am a bit 'old school'where the cup is concerned as I remember the 1978 cup run,seeing Robin Turner have one of his rare good games at a snowy Bristol Rovers,and seeing Ipswich Fans pelted with missiles in the quarter final at Millwall.Luckily we had decided to stand with the' dockers 'along the side;but must admit we didn't make much noise lol.Coming out it was like being in an'occupied territory'around Cold Blow Lane,and we were glad to get back into Essex. Would have thought that scrooge Evans would be pleased to get his hands on more money if Ipswich progress in this competition;but wouldn't dare mention this to big Mick,whos rule at Portman Road would seem to be invincible.

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legoman added 14:26 - Jan 18 How do we know our "weak" team will be a weak team? Might turn out to be a brilliant team? Mick wont send them out to lose, quite the opposite in fact and as he stated they could be playing for first team starts in the very near future. This game is a massive bonus for me win or lose! Would love two more games against Bornmouth.
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weevil added 15:28 - Jan 18 “Ipswich fell out of the play-off places into seventh yesterday and they play the team in eighth on Saturday in what is now a fairly massive fixture for them”, “The dice is loaded in our favour now as they will have had only a two-day break between Saturday's match and Tuesday's.” This quote says everything. Not looking forward to this game whatsoever.
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rfretwell added 17:44 - Jan 18 I always remember seeing David Johnson Mk 11 in one of his first away games for us at Pompey. He was tremendous and a great foil for Scowcroft. What a good season that one was. We won too.
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tractorgrl added 18:52 - Jan 18 Thankyou Harry, imo even with a weak (or an evil twin) team i would think we should win this but our manager has no interest at all in the cup unfortunately. Hope everyone going to support the team has a safe trip and enjoys the game.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:18 - Jan 19 NeverGoingUp: please motivate your criticism. I'm sure Harry would welcome feedback on what he could do better.
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