FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 10, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Adams Park

Wycombe vs Portsmouth

Match preview

Wycombe currently sit second in League One having won 15, drawn six and lost four of their 25 league games.

The Chairboys, who are two points behind leaders Birmingham City, missed the chance to go top of the table at home to promotion rivals Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

Herbie Kane's 15th-minute strike was enough to condemn Wycombe to a 1-0 defeat at Adams Park, leaving the Chairboys with just one win from their last four league games.

Promotion to the Championship will undoubtedly be Wycombe's main priority, but they will still be keen to get back to winning ways in Friday's FA Cup tie, especially as they are making their first third-round appearance in four years, having beaten non-league sides York City and Wealdstone in the first two rounds.

Having failed to win their last three meetings with Portsmouth, Wycombe will be looking for their first head-to-head victory since a 2-0 home win in League One back in December 2022.

Portsmouth, who won the League One title last season, are struggling to avoid an immediate return to the third tier, with only goal difference keeping them above the dotted line in the Championship.

There is a marked contrast between Pompey's home and away form, with four wins from their last five games at Fratton Park (D1) compared to an eight-game winless run away from home (D2, L6).

Indeed, John Mousinho's men have lost each of their last four away games, including a narrow 1-0 defeat to promotion-chasing Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Having failed to score in three of their last four away games, Pompey will need to improve in the final third if they are to record a second away win of the season when they host Wycombe in the FA Cup on Friday.

The visitors will have fond memories of their last trip to Adams Park in March 2024, when they ran out 3-1 winners thanks to a Colby Bishop brace and a Christian Saydee strike.

Recent Performance

Wycombe Wanderers FA Cup form:WW

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):DWLWDL

Portsmouth form (all competitions):LWLLWL

Team News

Wycombe will be without Jasper Pattenden, Sam Vokes and Kieran Sadlier, while Jack Grimmer is also unlikely to feature after missing the defeat at Huddersfield through injury.

Defender Alex Hartridge is available after serving a one-match ban following his dismissal in the draw with Blackpool.

With Wycombe's promotion bid taking priority, Matt Bloomfield may decide to rotate his side for the third-round clash, with Matt Butcher, Garath McCleary, Brandon Hanlon and Bez Lubala all in contention.

The visitors will be without Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Mark O'Mahony and Kusini Yengi.

Pompey captain Marlon Pack will serve a one-match ban after being shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Isidor in the 67th minute of Sunday's defeat at Sunderland.

Mousinho is expected to make several changes to his side for the trip to Adams Park, which could see the Pompey boss hand starting opportunities to the likes of Tom McIntyre, Jordan Williams, Matt Ritchie, Elias Sorensen and Saydee, as well as recent loan signing Rob Atkinson, who came off the bench to make his debut at the weekend.

Possible starting lineup

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Ravizzoli; Skura, Hartridge, Bradley; McCleary, Butcher, Scowen, Harvie; Kodua; Lubala, Hanlon

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Williams, McIntyre, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Kamara, Moxon; Devlin, Lane, Ritchie; Saydee