Match Preview | Portsmouth (H)

11 November 2022

Morecambe return to the Mazuma Stadium on Saturday 12 November to take on Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One.

The Shrimps bowed out of the Carabao Cup in their last game, a 2-0 defeat at MK Dons. Derek Adams’ side have been showing good form at home recently with a 1-0 win against Barnsley before a 1-1 draw against Derby County in their last home game at the start of November.

Portsmouth progressed to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup in their last game with a 3-1 win away to National League North side Hereford.

The Opposition

Pompey sit fifth in League One with seven wins, six draws and two defeats from their 15 league games so far.

Like many of the teams in League One this season, Portsmouth have spent time at the top level of English football. Pompey are two-time First Division champions and have won all of England’s top four divisions at least once. The Hampshire side have also had their fair share of domestic cup success, winning the FA Cup twice, most recently in 2008 as well as winning the Papa Johns Trophy in 2019.

Portsmouth are managed by Danny Cowley who secured Lincoln City’s promotion to the EFL in 2016 as well as taking the Imps on a famous FA Cup run. Cowley made Lincoln the first non-league club to reach the quarter final of the FA Cup in over a century in a run which included wins against Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley. Since leaving Lincoln, Cowley spent two years at Huddersfield before joining Portsmouth in March 2021.

Key Players

Midfielder Colby Bishop has been Portsmouth’s most dangerous man in front of goal so far this season. The 26-year-old has ten goals and two assists in the campaign and most recently netted against Hereford in the FA Cup last weekend as well as getting an assist. Bishop’s latest league goal was in a 1-1 draw against Oxford United at the end of October.

Winger Ronan Curtis has been a threat going forward for Pompey since he moved to Fratton Park in 2018. Curtis has 41 goals in the 173 appearances for Portsmouth and has four goals and two assists so far this season. The 26-year-old has also been called up to represent his county at youth and senior level. Curtis has made seven appearances for Northern Ireland since 2018.

Defender Connor Ogilvie has an impressive goal record for a defender this season. Ogilvie has three goals for Pompey and will make his 50th league appearance for Pompey if he features in their game against Derby next Friday. The 26-year-old had two loan spells with Stevenage and Gillingham respectively before joining the Gills permanently in 2019 where he spent two years before moving to Fratton Park in 2021.

Danny Cowley’s Pre-Match Thoughts

Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told Pompey’s YouTube channel he is looking forward to a competitive game at the Mazuma Stadium on Saturday.

“It’s a great game for us, one that we’re really looking forward to,” he said.

“I think there’s a lot to like in the Morecambe team, it’s a really determined, resilient group.

“Their home form has been good in recent games, they beat Barnsley 1-0 and drew with Derby County as well so we’re anticipating a tough game.”

Team News

Donald Love, Shane McLoughlin, Max Melbourne and Jake Taylor have all been back in training this week but won’t be available at the weekend.

Both Courtney Duffus and Ash Hunter remain on the treatment table.

Meet The Officials

Adam Herczeg will take charge of Saturday’s game and will be assisted by Abbas Khan and Oliver Bickle with Anthony Moore on the side-line as fourth official.

Herczeg has refereed 12 games across the EFL this season with five in League One, three in the Papa John’s Trophy, two in League One and one in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup respectively.

Saturday will be the first time he has taken charge of a Morecambe game.

Ticket Details

Tickets for the fixture remain on sale up until the 3pm kick-off. They can be purchased online or via the Club Shop.

Listen Live

iFollow Shrimps will be on hand to guide you through the action, with Dave Salmon and Tom Collins providing full match commentary.

To buy your audio match pass, click here.

Match Reports

Report | Morecambe 1 Portsmouth 1

12 November 2022

The Shrimps made it three unbeaten at the Mazuma Stadium after a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon.

Liam Shaw’s first goal of the season put Morecambe ahead in the first half before Colby Bishop equalised for the visitors with the Shrimps unable to find a winner.

Morecambe started the game brightly and had a good chance when Ryan Cooney’s floated cross to the back post found Donald Love unmarked who saw his shot blocked at close range.

Shrimps goalkeeper Connor Ripley was called into action for the first time midway through the first half when he tipped over Owen Dale’s shot from the edge of the box.

Morecambe deservingly took the lead ten minutes before the break when Adam Mayor pulled it back across the box from the right, Liam Shaw's calm first time shot found the bottom left corner

The home side continued to impress and almost made it two in first half stoppage time when Ryan Cooney found Kieran Phillips in the box, but the Morecambe man couldn’t make a clean enough connection to threaten the visitor's goal.

Pompey goalkeeper Josh Griffiths denied the Shrimps a second right at the end of the first half when he saved from Jensen Weir who was one-on-one with Pompey man.

Half-time: Morecambe 1 Portsmouth 0

Morecambe started the second half as they ended the first when Watts fired a shot just wide from distance.

Derek Adams' men continued to create chances and came agonisingly close to a second when Cooney’s pinpoint cross from the right found Watts unmarked in the box, the Southampton loanee headed just wide.

Pompey continued to look for a leveller when Dan Scarlett pulled the ball back across the box from the right to find Zak Swanson, who put his effort wide.

The Shrimps had another good chance 25 minutes from time when a free kick from the right found Ryan Delaney who flicked the ball wide with his head.

Portsmouth equalised moments later when Anthony O’Connor cleared the ball off the line before Colby Bishop tapped home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

The Shrimps came close to retaking the lead when second half substitutes Dylan Connolly and Cole Stockton linked up, the former found the latter in the box, but his side footed effort sailed narrowly wide.

Connolly forced Griffiths into a good save ten minutes from time as the keeper came rushing off his line to deny the Morecambe winger.

Morecambe came close once more when substitute Arthur Gnahoua fired his shot across goal and just wide of the right-hand post with eight minutes left on the clock.

Moments later, Marlon Pack tried his luck from distance for the visitors and forced Shrimps goalkeeper Connor Ripley into a good save to his left.

With only a minute to go, Stockton raced away from the Portsmouth back line and squared the ball to Weir, who was denied by Griffiths.

Full-time: Morecambe 1 Portsmouth 1

Morecambe: Ripley, Love © (Melbourne), Delaney, Weir, Bedeau, Watts (Connolly), Shaw, Cooney, O’Connor, Phillips (Stockton), Mayor (Gnahoua).

Subs not used: Smith, Rawson, Fane.

Goals: Shaw (36’).

Bookings: Love, Connolly, Shaw.

Red cards: None.

Portsmouth: Griffiths, Swanson (Mingi), Robertson © (Hume, 46’), Ogilvie, Pack (Morrison), Tunnicliffe, Bishop (Pigott), Dale (Hackett-Fairchild), Scarlett, Raggett, Koroma.

Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Morrell.

Goals: Bishop (67’).

Bookings: Pack, Mingi.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,726 (1,057 away).

Ticket News

Tickets Details | Portsmouth (H)

28 October 2022

Tickets for the club’s Sky Bet League One fixture at home to Portsmouth are now on sale.

Supporters can purchase tickets for the match, which takes place on Saturday 12 November, kick-off 3pm, in the SM Cars seated stand, the Bartercard covered terrace and the MGC uncovered terrace.

Tickets are available over the phone, online or in-store and will remain on sale up until kick-off, although supporters are advised to purchase in advance to avoid delays on the day of the match.

Prices are listed as follows:

	Standing	Seating
Adult	£20	£25
Concession	£15	£20
Young Adults (18-22)	£10	£15
Junior (14-17)	£5	£7
*Child (U14)**	£3	£5

*Please note, all children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (over 18).

Additional Information

Refund deadline: Friday 11 November, 5pm

FAQs

Tickets sold subject to the selling order as instructed above.
Tickets are sold subject to availability.
Supporters will notice a new points section as part of the purchasing process. This is for internal use only.

How To Purchase