The build up to Portsmouth match thread

Game took it time to sell out of tickets, Now it is a full house

Man in the middle CHRISTOPHER SARGINSON 36 Games 111 YELLOWS 7 REDS

Assisted by Marvyn Amphlett and Christopher Husband

Fourth Official John Brooks

Portsmouth fans on Argyle

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Got her ladyship to give my bobble hat an extra wash for this one

Portsmouth run in support

Pompey fans are flocking to roar their team onto promotion as the season reaches its finale. The sold out signs have already been hung out in Fratton Park home sections ahead of visits from Plymouth and Cheltenham – with 1,000 extra Milton End tickets for the latter game to go on general sale from 10am tomorrow.

The arrival of Cambridge United (April 22) is also heading for a full house in terms of Blues followers. Meanwhile, Pompey are closing in on 4,000 tickets sold for the Easter Monday trip to Notts County.

Tickets for the remaining game at Mansfield do not go on sale until next week, with the visitors allocated 1,500 seats. Currently eight points clear with five matches remaining, Paul Cook’s men are locked in on automatic promotion. And ticket sales reflect how the Fratton faithful are determined not to miss a minute of a potentially glorious end to the campaign.

Fratton Park’s biggest crowd remains the opening day fixture against Carlisle United. That generated an attendance of 17,570, with 481 away followers. Friday’s clash with Plymouth could well surpass that figure, with the second-placed visitors this afternoon selling out their 2,600 allocation.

On Monday, Cook’s men travel to Meadow Lane with 3,950 tickets so far snapped up. Notts County have already handed over a second allocation of 2,200 seats, increasing the total potential away crowd to 4,100. For the Fratton clash with Cambridge, so far 16,453 home seats have been taken. A section of the Milton end may also be opened up should the U’s fail to dispose of their 500 allocation.

Grandson has had his hair cut for his big day.

Alan Knight:

A Pompey box ticked as we prepare for promotion rivals

We showed a different side of our character to defeat Yeovil. And it’s going to be necessary for the players and fans to do the same again going into Plymouth.

Bouncing back from the blow of the freak leveller at Fratton Park on Saturday was another big promotion box tick.

I thought we started really well at the start of the second half and created a couple of chances. But then they broke away and scored a bit of a lucky goal.

In the past, heads could have gone down and even a bit of fear could’ve crept in at that stage. Fair play, though, the lads stayed with it – and so did the fans who may have let frustration creep in at times in similar positions this season.

There was a confidence and belief we can focus on when things go against us.

At times you have to dig deep – the players did that. Gary Roberts had one of his best games for a long while. He worked his socks off and chased a lost cause to win the penalty.

The Conor Chaplin substitution changed it, though, because Kal Naismith was freed up after playing that role up front.

It’s a thankless task that position and we’ve seen a few try to play there without success. You have to do a job for the team there.

Kal missed a decent chance and then told the crowd to calm down – and he did come good afterwards. It’s nice to keep the run going and maintain the confidence.

Hopefully, it bodes well going into a big game on Friday.

We have to forget about anything going on at the Plymouth end of things. We have to concentrate on what we’re doing.

If you look at their success, Graham Carey is the one who stands out.

Their stats show they score a lot of goals late, too, and a lot of goals from set-pieces.

So we’ll have to be concentrated in that area, especially late on, as we’ve found to our cost before.

There is a bit of ill-feeling there. I don’t think you can hide from that fact.

I wasn’t overjoyed with some of the reaction to the last game up at their place. You have to keep that in your mind and, maybe, what goes around comes around.

We have to stay focused, though, keep our composure and keep 11 players on the pitch to get the result.

Muvver reckons 2-1 argyle, £2 on it.

Thanks to Portsmouth in agreeing for my grandson to be the Argyle mascot for this game and the Argyle ticket office for their help in the tickets. I hope ATD will give him a good cheer, he is called Freddie and he will be nine on Easter Saturday. To finish the weekend off at the Newport match and courtesy of the 50/50 draw Freddie and I will be having a three-course meal in Tribute Lounge and the extras that goes with the prize. He is a lucky boy.

PS. because one of the family cannot make the game, we have one adult ticket going spare.

Who are going up early?

We be leaving on Thursday as soon as my hospital appointment is over, stopping off in Poole to catch up with a Portsmouth supporter. Staying in a Holiday Inn in Southampton. Parking at Fratton Park is ok has Portsmouth FC as provided us with a free parking space.

I am going for a hard fought 1 - 1 draw

DEFENDER Jakub Sokolik should be fit for Argyle's top-of-the-table League Two clash against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Sokolik was ruled out of the Pilgrims' come-from-behind 2-1 win away to Crawley Town last Saturday by a hip problem.

However, the Czech centre-back took a full part in training on Wednesday, according to manager Derek Adams as preparations for the Good Friday fixture continued.

Sokolik was ruled out of the Pilgrims' come-from-behind 2-1 win away to Crawley Town last Saturday by a hip problem.

However, the Czech centre-back took a full part in training on Wednesday, according to manager Derek Adams as preparations for the Good Friday fixture continued.

Adams said: "We have got the same squad as we have had for a couple of weeks now, so we are in good shape.

"Sokolik has trained and seemed to be okay, but we will see if there is any reaction."

Yann Songo'o was recalled to Argyle's starting line-up against Crawley in the absence of Sokolik, who was signed by Adams in January after leaving League One outfit Southend United.

Sokolik has gone on to make 12 starts and two substitute appearances.

Adams took 23 players to Crawley, in the interests of togetherness among the squad, and will do the same for the trip to Portsmouth.

"It's important we keep the squad together," said the Pilgrims' boss.

"We have to come to the stage in the season where there isn't any reserve games for the players to play in so we will take them all with us.


taken from the web

SKY SPORTS presenter Scott Minto has praised Derek Adams for leading Plymouth Argyle to the brink of automatic promotion in League Two following the club's play-off final heartbreak last season.

Minto thought it was 'absolutely fantastic' the way that Adams had rebuilt the Pilgrims into a stronger unit this term after the bitter disappointment of losing to AFC Wimbledon at Wembley.

Adams agreed a new four-year contract at Argyle on the eve of the current campaign and that show of confidence in him by the board of directors has been rewarded.

The Pilgrims are second in League Two, 12 points clear of the play-off positions with five games remaining, as they go into their Good Friday clash away to third-placed Portsmouth.

Minto will be the host of Sky's coverage of the top-of-the-table encounter, which will be the first of a three-match EFL triple-header for the broadcaster.

It will be followed by two games from the Championship, with Wolverhampton Wanderers at home to Brighton and Hove Albion (5pm) and then Newcastle United taking on Leeds United at St James' Park (7.45pm).

A former left-back for Charlton Athletic and Chelsea, Minto has been impressed by the way that Adams has led Argyle into such a good position in the League Two table.

Minto told Herald Sport: "When you look at what happened last season, I'm sure a lot of the players – and the manager himself – will feel they just didn't turn up for the play-off final.

"He then changed things around in the summer and they didn't start the season too well.

"It takes a very strong character, and someone who believes in himself and is a very good man-manager, to convince the players that this is the way to go.

"So I think what he has done is absolutely fantastic.

"Quite clearly, by giving him a long-term contract in the summer, the board (at Argyle) could see the work he had done and wanted to do, and they wanted to go along with that.

There was despair for Argyle after they lost the League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley last May

"You see so often in football now that appointments are made willy-nilly and they are sacked willy-nilly.

"You just think at what point are people going to do their homework on someone and then stick with them, and not sack them at the first bit of failure and bring someone else in.

"It was really good to see the board sticking with Derek Adams after what happened last season but he has earned the right.

"He has earned his stripes. Clearly, he's very good at what he does and he knows where the club needs to go.

"He know it's a long-term plan, and for him to put the club in this position right now is testament to him."

Sky's extensive coverage of the EFL is primarily based around the Championship, but games from the two divisions below that are occasionally broadcast.

An example of that was when Argyle's 1-0 win away to table-topping Doncaster Rovers last month was televised live, with Minto watching on from the Sky studios in west London.

Minto said: "Dipping into League One and League Two, I love watching the games. The quality of football is really impressive."

There will be a full house at Fratton Park as Portsmouth host Argyle so it should make for a great occasion.

Minto said: "I'm doing a triple-header on Friday and I'm looking forward to this game as much as I am looking forward to the other two.

"You have got two quality teams in this division, really going for it. It's going to be a really fascinating game."

Rob Palmer will be the commentator at Fratton Park, with analysis from former Nottingham Forest and Manchester United striker Garry Birtles.

Sarginson the Ref

The Staffordshire-based official was last in charge of an Argyle game in February this season when the Greens lost 3-2 to Leyton Orient at Home Park, the opinion of many Argyle fans at that game was that Sarginson had a poor game. He the one that did not see the ballball pushed over by the Orient player

Tgwu wrote:

Rob Palmer will be the commentator at Fratton Park, with analysis from former Nottingham Forest and Manchester United striker Garry Birtles.

Who can forget the immortal first words of Terry Waite and John McCarthy coming down the plane stairs after five terrifying years in captivity with "has Garry Birtles scored yet"......

Worth re-iterating that Friday's game kicks off at 2.30pm, instead of the usual 3pm.

And beware the Good Friday delays. Portsmouth isn't quite Morecambe, but bear in mind Bank Holiday traffic, allow plenty of time

If you have Portsmouth tickets to collect from us, you can do so until 11am on THURSDAY. After that, please collect from Fratton Park.

PAFC

I am surprise that no one as took up the offer of the chance to obtain an adult ticket for this game.

Nothing to be celebrated. The fans have suffered years of mediocrity on the pitch and contempt off it. Getting promotion is simply one step towards Argyle being at an acceptable level. If the club expect fans to jizz over a 6 year promotion campaign from league two then they need to go to Bideford and get stripes boy to thumb them one.

Par for the course with nowt better to do footy fans. Football is not the only area where this sort of thing exists.
Just be grateful the squire has seen fit to sow a successful crop. Food doesn't just happen as a matter of course. Every crop needs a guiding patriarch.

Morning all, Let wake up with a talk from Mr Cook

Can't disagree with anything Cook says in that video.

Whatever the limitations of achievement in getting promoted from League Two it will be a great atmosphere on Saturday at Fratton Park and I wish I could go.

Just looking to the confirmation of promotion now and then, more importantly, what happens with the ground and squad strengthening for League One.

Innocent Egbunike wrote:

Just looking to the confirmation of promotion now and then, more importantly, what happens with the ground

that will be become clear within 48/72 hours of confirmed promotion need to bury the bad news thats coming when the avivas will still be brown nosing the squire

Had to post a number of "[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]" stickers off yesterday to a couple of well known ATDers who are enjoying some corporate entertainment at tomorrows match.

alannotivvy wrote:

Had to post a number of "[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]"  stickers off yesterday to a couple of well known ATDers who are enjoying some corporate entertainment at tomorrows match.

Looking forward to the strip search

BBC1 wrote:

alannotivvy wrote:

Had to post a number of "[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]"  stickers off yesterday to a couple of well known ATDers who are enjoying some corporate entertainment at tomorrows match.

Looking forward to the strip search

 ..if it comes on top beeb let the flares off in there

rather more corporate entertaiment and stickers at Pompey

Nothing is more hierarchical and demanding of loyalty than the modern day english football club. Body searches, prove your ID, prove your loyalty online buying. One day soon, there WILL be a ban for you historical non believers. The dossier will be enacted.

RegGreen wrote:

BBC1 wrote:

alannotivvy wrote:

Had to post a number of "[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]"  stickers off yesterday to a couple of well known ATDers who are enjoying some corporate entertainment at tomorrows match.

Looking forward to the strip search

 ..if it comes on top beeb let the flares off in there

You'll have D&C's finest arresting us at Plymouth Train Station with talk like that!