Matchday Live: Cherries v Portsmouth (From Thisisdorset)

4:55pm

Full report and post-match video reaction to follow on the website shortly.... Thanks for joining us and see you at Crewe on Tuesday.

4:49pm

Sub Matt Tubbs is denied by Eastwood when clean through. Great chance.

4:48pm

Brett Pitman is replaced by Shaun MacDonald in stoppage time.

4:46pm

Score Update: Bashley now 2-1 up against Kettering.

4:45pm

Score Update: Doncaster losing 2-1 at home to Walsall... A potentially good result for Cherries.

4:42pm

Attendance is 9,135.

4:40pm

Harry Arter being replaced by Richard Hughes for Cherries.

4:39pm

Shaun Cooper being replaced by Liam Walker for Pompey. Lewis Grabban replaced by Matt Tubbs for Cherries.

4:36pm

Non-League Score: Poole Town 1-0 North Leigh (Marvin Brooks)

4:32pm

Pugh's shot from the edge is scuffed and trickles wide.

4:31pm

Adam Reed blasts over from distance for Pompey.

4:29pm

Therry Racon is replaced by Jed Wallace for Pompey.

4:28pm

Marc Pugh pictured during the first half...

4:26pm

Steve Cook in action for Cherries during the first-half

4:23pm

Patrick Agyemang is replaced by James Keene for Pompey.

4:22pm

Portsmouth assistant boss Andy Awford really unhappy with that goal. Seems to be claiming Josh McQuoid handballed in the build-up.

4:20pm

Brett Pitman in action during the first half.

4:18pm

Eddie Howe gives his instructions during the first half this afternoon.

4:17pm

Dan Butler's shot is tipped over by Jalal.... Pompey coming into this now.

4:12pm

A real let-off for Cherries as an unmarked Agyemang heads narrowly wide following a swift break. 

4:11pm

Pitman's free kick is spilled by Eastwood but Pompey clear away for a corner.

4:10pm

Foul on Pugh on the edge of the box and a free kick to Cherries in an inviting position.

4:09pm

Good ball into the box from Ritchie, but Eastwood collects.

4:07pm

Jalal races out of his box to meet the onrushing Agyemang and does well to challenge the striker.

4:04pm

Simon Eastwood in the Pompey goal gathers well from Pitman at the start of the second half, before the Channel Islander fires narrowly wide. Good start from Cherries after the break.

3:45pm

Pitman's header flies back off the crossbar from Francis's cross from the right.... Two minutes added time.

3:45pm

Nervy moment as Agyemang took advantage of lapse play from Harry Arter but Cherries clear as the big centre forward closes in on goal.

3:40pm

Good save from Shwan Jalal to deny Adam Reed.

3:38pm

Non-League Goal: Blackfield go 1-0 in front against New Milton in the Wessex League.

3:37pm

Lewis Grabban really unlucky after latching on to Pitman's ball over the top. Keeper Eastwood does enough to put him off and he fires over from an acute angle.

3:35pm

Therry Racon blasts well over from distance for Pompey...

3:31pm

Non-League Goal: Kettering go 1-0 in front at Bashley (27).

3:30pm

Harry Arter's volley from the edge of the box is well blocked....

3:29pm

McQuoid rises well to so nearly meet Pugh's cross, but it's just too high...

3:28pm

Seaborne clears well and Cherries break...

3:27pm

Corner to Pompey now....

3:26pm

Very quiet spell here. Plenty of posession for Cherries but nothing clear cut in the way of chances.

3:26pm

Lee Barnard puts Oldham 1-0 up at home to the "best team in League One". According to Karl Robinson....

3:21pm

Appeals for handball in the Pompey box, but referee Andre Marriner gives it the other way for a push on Rocha.

3:20pm

Agyemang then follows up with an ambitious overhead kick but it's wide.

3:20pm

A rare venture into the final third for Pompey, but Agyemang's cross is too long for Akinde.

3:17pm

Great ball through to Grabban, but it's just too long for the striker...

3:10pm

Travelling fans suggesting Cherries are "not very good" as they still haven't scored after nine minutes.... Still well on top in terms of possession though.

3:06pm

Another corner to Cherries after good work by Pugh. Well on top.

3:02pm

Good opening phase from Cherries, but Marc Pugh blasts over from the left channel.

3:00pm

Steve Cook captains Cherries today in the absence of Tommy Elphick..... Kick-off moments away.

2:58pm

2:46pm

The gaffers

Eddie Howe told the Echo: "Everyone on the outside will look at it and assume we will win but we know that football has a dangerous way of reminding you how fragile form can be. We have been trying to remind the players of that all week.

"To see one of my former clubs, and a club I have got great respect for, in such a difficult position is not easy to watch from afar but it must be a lot harder being involved directly.

"We have got a couple of injury doubts but I would prefer to keep them under wraps. We have got a few players who will be having late fitness tests to see if they can make it and, hopefully, they will.

"If not, we may have to make a couple of changes.”

2:45pm

The gaffers

Guy Whittingham told the Portsmouth News: "They have done tremendously well under Eddie.

"It was a fantastic move by Bournemouth to bring him back to the club.

"He’s Bournemouth through and through, he knows the club inside out and he has worked wonders there.

"I’ve asked him what the secret is and he wouldn’t tell me!

"He said there wasn’t one.

"It's a really tough ask for us because they are going really well. They are in great form.

"It’s important we pick the lads up and go there thinking we can win the game – that’s the most important thing."

2:37pm

Pompey danger man - James Keene

Former Cherries loanee Keene was on target in Pompey's 3-2 defeat to Colchester last weekend.

The striker is on loan at Fratton Park from Swedish side Elfsborg and has made four appearances for the Blues.

Guy Whittingham also bolstered his resources by signing free agent John Akinde on a one-month deal and Patrick Agyemang and Therry Racon on loan earlier this week.

Keene starts on the bench today, with Akinde and Agyemang making their Pompey debuts.

2:32pm

Form guide
Pompey, still in administration and having used almost 50 short-term contract players already this season, are without a league win in 17 games. Their last victory was a 3-1 triumph over Shrewsbury at Fratton Park on October 20.

Cherries, meanwhile, have tasted defeat only once in the league since the beginning of October, a defeat at Walsall on January 19.

2:28pm

Here are all the stats.....

Head to head (league)

2012-13: Portsmouth 1-1 Cherries.

1989-90: Portsmouth 2-1 Cherries; Cherries 0-1 Portsmouth.

1988-89: Cherries 1-0 Portsmouth; Portsmouth 2-1 Cherries.

1982-83: Cherries 0-2 Portsmouth; Portsmouth 0-2 Cherries.

1979-80: Cherries 0-1 Portsmouth; Portsmouth 4-0 Cherries.

Last time out (league)

Izale McLeod handed thrown-together Pompey a 19th-minute lead at Fratton Park, before Saints loanee Lee Barnard rescued a point for Cherries 12 minutes from time.

2:26pm