Portsmouth (A) Match Preview

United travel down south to take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park - we recorded a 1-0 victory there last season, but this year we're expecting a tougher test.

Bonner has hinted at changes, but we don't think they'll be wholesale. With rumours of Williams suffering an injury against Exeter we suspect Ibsen Rossi might make his League debut in the middle, with Okedina shifted out to the right, whilst Jack Lankester did everything possible to earn a start in place of Knibbs in the hole. We also suspect Brandon Haunstrup will be in with a shout at left back, giving Dunk a rest.

Expected U's Line-Up: Mitov, Okedina, Jones, Ibsen Rossi, Haunstrup, May, Digby, Brophy, Lankester, Smith, Ironside

Who's In The Dugout? Danny Cowley, rated as one of the hottest young managerial prospects in the game Cowley and his brother Nicky made their name at Braintree and Lincoln, before a short spell at Huddersfield in the Championship which didn't really work out. They've been at Pompey since 2021

Who's Their Player to Watch? They've got a few players who could cause us problems, with Reeco Hackett, Joe Morrell and Ryan Tunnicliffe all posessing experience at a decent level.

What's Their Recent Form Like? Unbeaten in the League so far, they also knocked Cardiff out of the Carabao Cup. They've scored 5 and conceded 3.

Any Ex-United Players? Joe Piggott, unremarkable striker under Shaun Derry, and local lad Michael Morrison, one of the few standout players of our early Conference years, and one who went on to have a great career in the game.

Last Time Out: United 2-1 Portsmouth, 11 Jan 2022

A Harvey Knibbs double gave United a victory in the Papa Johns last year

UTAS Versus: Where we predict the outcome of the match against a special guest. 1 point for the correct outcome, 3 points for the correct score. This week it's Andy from PO4Cast.

UTAS: 1-1

Andy: 2-0 Pompey

Total: UTAS 2, Guests 1

A Matchday Album To Listen To: Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes

Danger Mouse makes a welcome return to Hip-Hop (it's been seventeen long years since his DangerDOOM album with the late MF DOOM) and teams up with The Roots Black Thought for this dizzying collection of tracks

From The Archive: United 1-3 Portsmouth, 10 October 2015

A heavy home defeat for the U's, made slightly less heavy by Robbie Simpsons suspiciously offside early goal. Mark Roberts gets sent off later on.