Battle of
the Ports is the main focal point on Sky Sports, Saturday Lunchtime, when
Plymouth Argyle welcome Portsmouth to Home Park in a 12:15pm kick-off. Let’s see who can win the Dockyard
Derby.
No win in
four matches for the Pilgrims, Portsmouth are searching for their third
successive victory, the match at Home Park. Just two places between the two
sides in SkyBet League Two it is all to play for in front of the nation.
Not meeting
in the League since January 1st 1992 at Home Park Plymouth Argyle
won the Derby 3-2 in Division Two. The club
have risen and fallen heavily since that meeting. Three years ago Portsmouth were competing
against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal and now competing
against Oxford and Hartlepool. This time
three years ago Plymouth Argyle were challenging for a play-off spot in the Championship
and now sit 17th in SkyBet League Two.
Since 1992,
Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth have had very troubling years which are behind the
two clubs. Portsmouth were the first
premier league club to go into administration in 2010 and were deducted 9points
of a subsequence of that. Following several
months of Portsmouth not paying their players, they were in £135million (estimate)
of debt and manager at the time Avram Grant was forced to sell many of his top
earners at the club at that time. On the 1st June 2011 Portsmouth
exited administrated with Convers Sports Initiatives owned by
Russian Vladimir Antonov completing the takeover of the club. Portsmouth
still in administration Plymouth Argyle entered administration on 4th
March 2011 with former Chairman Paul Stapleton issuing a statement ‘best thing
for club’. Following much discussion of the new owner James Brent had saved the
Pilgrims from Liquidation after being named by Argyle administrator Brendan
Guilfoyle, who threatened to quit, in October 2011. It’s bad enough to enter administration once
but twice, yes twice, Portsmouth were put into administration once again on 17th
February 2012, twice in two years. This was
just after there then owner Vladimir Antonov was arrested and bailed for alleged asset
stripping at a Lithuanian bank. As a
result of entering administration Pompey were deducted 10points with a debt
estimated to be £58million. On 19th
April Portsmouth exited administration with the supporters group agreeing to
buy the club following two successive relegations.
John
Sheridan is look set to hand Brentford Loanee Paul Hayes his Home Park debut in
front of the Sky Sports cameras. The
striker joined Argyle last Saturday and has participated in both games since, a
3-1 defeat to Exeter City last Saturday and a 2-1 defeat to Swindon Town on
Tuesday evening in the Johnstone Paint Trophy.
One striker who is doubtful for the clash is striker Marvin Morgan, the
30year old has a back problem. Guy
Branston, Paul Wotton and Lewis Alessandra are among the players who are set to
be named straight back into the squad following the players having no input in
Tuesday’s defeat. Former Argyle central
defender Bondz N’Gala is set to return to Home Park for the first time since
departing, when Portsmouth are the visitors to Devon. The West Ham apprentice
ended his contract in 2011 by natural consent.
Before his move to Fratton Park the 23year old has had spells at Yeovil,
Stevenage and a loan spell at Barnet.
Portsmouth manager Guy Whittingham is without David Connelly for the
trip through a calf injury. Tom Craddock
and Danny East remain doubtful through a knee injury and a hamstring
strain.
Available: - Jake Cole, Luke McCormick, Guy Branston, Curtis Nelson, Paul Wotton, Maxime Blanchard, Jamie Richards, Neal Trotman, Durrell Berry, Andre Blackman, Jamie Reckord, Ben Purrington, Andres Gurrieri, Conor Hourihane, Romuald Boco, Dominic Blizzard, Hamza Bencherif, Luke Young, Ryan Lane, Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid, Tyler Harvey, Isaac Vassell, Nick Chadwick, Paul Hayes
Doubtful: - Marvin Morgan (back injury)
Unavailable: - Matt LeCointe (knee injury)
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