Bookings: Harrison 19, Burgess 56, Pitman 81, – Red Card: Harrison 57 (second bookable offence)
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge
Attendance: 7,688 (2,125 away)
Portmouth sold out their initial allocation of 1,800 in the reduced capacity ‘away end’. A further allocation of 263 tickets were given in the end of the ‘Old Main Stand’ ten days before the game (11 September 2019). Highest attendance at Adams Park to date in the 2019/20 season. Highest attendance at Adams Park since 8,442 v Sunderland (9 March 2019), including 2,723 away fans.
Team News
Three changes to the side that had drawn at home to Accrington the previous Tuesday.
Only Jack Grimmer in the starting XI was not with Wanderers during the 2018/19 campaign. Reaction:
from wwfcofficial
Gareth Ainsworth
“Portsmouth are such a strong physical side. Today, we deserved the win but it was very tight. Credit to our boys for working so hard.”
“Matt [Bloomfield] has taken another knock to the head today, and Nnamdi [Ofoborh] has been sent off. He was in tears after that, but he didn’t let us down, we’re all one family.”
From www.portsmouth.co.uk
“They have got some really good players and are a massive club. Sometimes it just doesn’t click and then all of a sudden it does. I know Kenny, he is a great guy and Joe (Gallen) is a great coach. I have a lot of respect for those two and it’s a nice result because he is a top, top manager. I think Portsmouth are going to click and start taking some teams apart. They have too much quality and too many big names not to be winning games. It’s a great result because I think Portsmouth are going to starting firing soon. I’d back Kenny Jackett. Like I say, he is an old friend and was part of the coaching team when we got promoted with QPR in 2003. I have nothing but respect for him. It is football and it happens. As managers, we take the rough with the smooth.”