Ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Portsmouth, we take a look at some of the big talking points surrounding the game...
Fratton return for Adam May
U’s midfielder Adam May will be desperate to show his old club what they are missing after progressing through the Pompey ranks as a teenager before moving to The Abbey Stadium in the summer 0f 2020.
Despite missing out on the matchday squad in last weekend’s defeat to Lincoln, Mark Bonner mentioned during his pre-match press conference that the Southampton-born midfielder had done "exactly what you would want your players to do" in order to force his way back into the manager’s plans ahead of Saturday.
With the U’s falling to a heavy defeat last weekend, could we see Adam May thrown back into the side against his old club?
Fortress Fratton Park
Despite struggling for goals this season and falling to defeat in their last two League One outings, Danny Crowley’s men are one of only four sides in League One this season to still boast a 100% record in front of their fans.
Pompey have no doubt been boosted by the return of fans, which has shown in their first two League One games this season, seeing the men in blue beat both Shrewsbury and Crewe Alex without conceding a goal.
Manager Mark Bonner is wary of the threat Danny Cowley’s teams possess and it will be up to his U’s side to break down a seemingly invincible Pompey defence at Fratton Park on Saturday.
How The U’s respond to last weekend’s defeat
The U’s must be better this weekend after shipping five goals at home, no doubt, as they prepare to face an equally tough opposition this weekend. The U’s boss mentioned while talking to the press how his side didn’t handle The Imps’ counters well enough, and it was something that would be worked on ahead of the trip to Fratton Park.
However Bonner was, at times, happy with his U’s side play throughout the second half but must they take their chances better if they are to get anything from this weekend’s game.
Goal-shy Pompey
Despite boasting a wealth of attacking threats that would be the envy of most sides in the division, as well as winning three of their opening six League One games this season, Danny Cowley’s side have only managed to net on four occasions.
The Blues boss must quickly strike a balance between his side’s impressive defensive shape and his goal-shy offence or Pompey may face another frustrating season in the third tier.
