Town boss Paul Lambert has made nine changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup first round tie against Portsmouth with centre-halves Toto Nsiala, who skippers, and Mark McGuinness the only players to survive from the team which lost 2-1 at Sunderland on Tuesday.

David Cornell is in goal with Janoi Donacien at right-back and Myles Kenlock on the left of the defence.

In midfield, Jon Nolan is back after his suspension and joins Emyr Huws and Brett McGavin, who will be in Andre Dozzell’s usual playmaking role.

Up front, Oli Hawkins, facing his old club, plays down the middle, with Freddie Sears on the left and Keanan Bennetts making his full senior debut on the right.

Striker James Norwood is back on what’s a very strong bench after his hamstring injury.

First-team coach Matt Gill is with the squad on the pitch for the warm-up having been away from the club for much of the last fortnight having tested positive for Covid-19.

Portsmouth name the same team which beat Lincoln 3-1 at Sincil Bank on Tuesday evening with ex-Blues frontman Ellis Harrison among the subs.

Town: Cornell, Donacien, Nsiala (c), McGuinness, Kenlock, McGavin, Huws, Nolan, Bennetts, Sears, Hawkins. Subs: Holy, Wilson, Judge, Lankester, Edwards, Jackson, Norwood.

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Johnson, Nicolaisen, Raggett, Pring, Williams, Naylor (c), Cannon, Curtis, Harness, Marquis. Subs: Bass, Downing, Mnoga, Morris, Close, Hiwula, Harrison. Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear).

Photo: Matchday Images

Karlosfandangal added 15:23 - Nov 7 Good selection Bennetts getting a full game, Nolan getting a game after 3 matches out Mcgiven getting game time And yes 2 down after 12 , don't care as Portsmouth will have another gam3 games coming fast so we will be able to rest players. We need to get out of Div 1 as it's only time before there is a Prem 1 and 2 and Div one will be cut out. Squad size will be the key this season and the more games teams like Portsmouth player the bigger the toll on their squard Peterborough are playing their reserves and the Posh fans are delighted it's only are feckle fans think we are going to win the cup

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tractorboybig added 15:24 - Nov 7 so his interview on the fa cup was more of his verbal shyte
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Help added 15:27 - Nov 7 so that is what 9 changes gets you. two goals down after 13 minutes and players who look just like he first team. passing it around the back with no idea what to do with it. Hoofing it up when desperate from the back. Passing with no urgency and all the way back to our back four because the opposition have got back quickly and marked and defended. Very poor so far and the idea of a cup run ruined by the selection. A lot of these players today need to go if we get promoted because they are good enough for League 1 let alone the Championship. So far very little from any player who is pushing for a place on the 1st team.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:28 - Nov 7 This goes to show what some of us have been saying for ages the squad is average at best hence why we finished 11th last season in a very poor league. Those who are deluded on here to think evans and lambert have a top 3 squad are dreaming it's full of players who are here for a pay check come out every week saying we need to do better then don't same speech from the manager and owner that most on here lap up especially when the owner says it

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Texastom added 15:28 - Nov 7 Thought Lambert said he wanted a Cup run lol?!
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Skip73 added 15:29 - Nov 7 Cup run over after 13 mins. Nice one Lambert. No reason to make 9 changes.
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Kirbmeister added 15:38 - Nov 7 We can't even pass back to the goalie properly. Dreadful.
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featherhead added 15:40 - Nov 7 So embarrassing, our first team squad might make the top 6. Second 11 are woeful. 9 changes, what's the point. We are due a 2 week international break. So why, why , why rest most of your best players ? Are the poor dears to worn out ?
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Blue_Meanie added 15:45 - Nov 7 My biggest concern is that I really don't care anymore. Thanks,Messers Lambert and Evans
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Help added 15:46 - Nov 7 okay I understand that PL wants players to play the ball out from the back, but if you have a back 4, why is it that when we have the ball at the back I can only see a keeper and two players, with the ball being passed across half the pitch which is dangerous. To my earlier comment so far only McGavin looks good so far. Nolan only passes backwards as does Huws. The only balls forward are hoof balls from the back. Thank goodness we are not paying to watch this. We are so predictable is is awful. We sit here on the sofa guessing how many balls get played across the back before it gets hoofed up front. How long before Nsiala is either sent off or gives a penalty away. he needs to be removed from this club not just the team. He scares the hell out of me everytime he is on the pitch.

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Help added 15:46 - Nov 7 something from nothing
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Billericay12 added 16:05 - Nov 7 Poor first half. Getting bored with watching the ball being played across the back 4. If no one shows any balls in midfield to want the ball then go long and get some extra bodies up to play off Hawkins. Would prefer football played on the deck but you need movement off the ball for that. Cornell should have done better with first goal.
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heathen66 added 16:06 - Nov 7 blues1...I am not seeing 3 up top on my TV, and have not done all season. Matt Holland is also saying Hawkins needs people round him as he is isolated
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Help added 16:08 - Nov 7 4,5,1 never worked for MM. Will PL try a 442 when he has some strikers available?
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Help added 16:35 - Nov 7 2 nil and you f it up. Better from town, now Edwards on. Better play
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Linkboy13 added 17:34 - Nov 7 Formations dont win matches players do. We are not good enough to play possession football. Also if you are going to play one up front the player in question has to be of very good quality. With the players we've got we need to be more direct and not concentrate on a certain style of play . It's two up front for me Hawkins and either Jackson or Norwood in other words 442 .

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BettyBlue added 17:50 - Nov 7 Great to have such a large squad so the Tinkerman can persist with his rotation policy. Pity all 56 are below average so it dsoesn't matter who we play. 14th hear we come. No Cup for30 years. Bravo Paul.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:51 - Nov 7 Blues1 I don't know what games you've been watching this season you and the manager can call it 433 all you want however the two wide players are nowhere near forward enough to make it that it's more 451 in every game this season it's been the same and people wonder why the loan striker or two wider players struggle to get goals! 🙄
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