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FA Cup | Second Round
Dec 4, 2021 at 3pm UK
Fratton Park
HT

Portsmouth
1 - 2
Harrogate

Harrison (45+2')
Azeez (19'), Williams (39'), Ogilvie (77')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Armstrong (44'), Diamond (90+5')
Kerry (13'), Burrell (47'), Diamond (63'), Hall (86')

Preview: Portsmouth vs. Harrogate Town - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Portsmouth vs. Harrogate Town - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's FA Cup clash between Portsmouth and Harrogate Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Two sides looking to challenge for promotion in their respective divisions go toe to toe in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon when Portsmouth welcome Harrogate Town to Fratton Park.

The hosts are on a run of six successive victories in all competitions, whilst their visitors are sitting seventh in the League Two table.


Match preview

Portsmouth are determined to return to the Championship this season, after an absence from the top two tiers approaching a decade and a number of near misses in recent years.

Things started well with three wins in their first three games of the campaign, but a run of just one win and six defeats in 11 games through September and October saw them plummet down the standings.

Halloween marked the start of a turnaround for Danny Cowley's side, though, and they have now won five of their last six to move back up to ninth in League One, just two points off the playoff spots.

During that run, they also produced a narrow 1-0 win against Harrow Borough in the first round of the FA Cup, thanks to a Marcus Harness goal.

Cowley would have likely expected a more convincing scoreline against a side in the Southern League Premier Division South, but it got Pompey to the second round, where they must now get past a team with a similar name but a far stronger reputation.

Promoted from the National League via the 2019-20 playoffs, Harrogate's first season as a football league team ended with them finishing comfortably clear of the relegation spots in 17th spot.

They have built on that taster of life in League Two and pushed on this campaign, now sitting just inside the playoff spots in seventh.

The Sulphurites held high-flying Swindon Town to a draw away from home at the weekend, but will have been a little disappointed to concede in the 83rd minute after holding the lead for an hour courtesy of a Jack Diamond goal.

They also dealt well with a tricky fixture in the FA Cup first round against National League side Wrexham, turning the match around with two goals in five second-half minutes to win 2-1.

Much of the club's success in recent years has been down to long-time manager Simon Weaver, who was appointed in May 2009 and has taken charge of over 550 Harrogate games, making him the longest-serving manager in the football league.

Portsmouth FA Cup form:
  • W

Portsmouth form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Harrogate Town FA Cup form:
  • W

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D

Team News

Portsmouth's main goal is to secure promotion to the Championship, meaning that head coach Cowley will likely mix the squad up somewhat for Saturday's clash.

Arsenal-loanee Miguel Azeez, Ellis Harrison and Michael Jacobs are pushing for a start, with Louis Thompson, George Hirst and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild set to drop to the bench.

Weaver is less likely to rotate, which should see the team continue to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with goalscorer Diamond and George Thomson either side of Luke Armstrong.

Only four players in League Two have netted more goals than Armstrong and the Harrogate man will be looking to add to his tally for the campaign on Saturday.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Romeo, Raggett, Ogilvie, Freeman; Jacobs, Harness, Williams, Azeez; Harrison, Curtis

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Burrell, Smith, Hall, Page; Kerry, Pattison, Falkingham; Diamond, Armstrong, Thomson


We say: Portsmouth 0-1 Harrogate Town

Whilst it is Pompey in the higher division, with the better pedigree and with home advantage, they will be resting some senior players and Harrogate are a determined side on a roll. Therefore, we are backing an upset via a narrow away victory.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Portsmouth392411463323183
2Derby CountyDerby402461069353478
3Bolton WanderersBolton39228971432874
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough38218974462871
5Barnsley382011770482271
6Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391891262521063
7Stevenage3917111151401162
8Lincoln CityLincoln3916131056332361
9Blackpool391791357421560
10Leyton Orient391610134444058
11Northampton TownNorthampton40158175160-953
12Wigan AthleticWigan39177155348550
13Wycombe WanderersWycombe381311145049150
14Bristol Rovers38148164857-950
15Exeter CityExeter39138183352-1947
16Charlton AthleticCharlton391015145758-145
17Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury39135212955-2644
18Reading39139175557-242
19Burton Albion39109203151-2039
20Cambridge UnitedCambridge38109193255-2339
21Port Vale3899203661-2536
22Cheltenham TownCheltenham3798203050-2035
23Fleetwood TownFleetwood39713194161-2034
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle3959253569-3424
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