MATCHWATCH : Portsmouth (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday August 12 2025, 7.45pm
Where : Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Milton, PO4 8RA
Capacity : 20,899

Reading’s League Cup charge to Wembley begins in the depths of Hampshire with a visit to (probably) Portsmouth reserves.

This will be Pompey’s first home game of the season so will probably attract a decent amount of home interest for a league cup game, John Swift could start for the Sailor Boys.

Plenty to get revenge on for Reading after the diabolical showing in the PSF a couple of weeks ago but then this is likely to be not much more than another PSF for both sides with fringe first teamers and those needing minutes being given priority over a genuine concerted effort to go far in the competition, despite the possible attraction of getting a decent draw in the next round.

If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes there will NOT be any extra time and the game will go straight to penalties.

Wing should definitely miss the match along with Dorsett, O'Connor, Yiadom and Tuma after that perm any squad of 18 from those needing minutes and being fringe players or needing minuted. Expect Jack Stevens to make his debut in goal but other than that the rest of the squad is up for grabs. Hoping for a raft of new signings on Monday so we can put them all into the mix as well

Referee

Farai Hallam

Previously

No history

Historically

Fratton Park is usually not a pleasant place for Reading. The 22 previous visits to this particular spot on the south coast has seen a return of just 2 victories while Portsmouth have inflicted 13 defeats. Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet there since 1997 which is 9 games ago and have only scored more than 2 in a league game there on 1 occasion and that was in the process of losing 7-4!

However in the league cup things are different as the Biscuitmen have played one league cup game at Fratton, back in 2015 when they won 2-1, so have a 100% winning record in the competition v the Sailor Boys.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. NOW app/Red button
3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
4. Ring/text a mate for updates
5. Use a RoyalTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Mid Sussex Royal]

This could be anything....in a way similar to the Millwall game a couple of years ago; lets play the likes of Osho, Sackey, Ahmed & Spencer and see how they do.

I did see a rare win at Fratton in 1978 (1-0) in the FA Cup when Steve Death had a blinder.

[Snowflake Royal]

CB and upfront will be interesting.
It's a tough tie, and we'll want to give our forwards the best chance of getting scoring, but would expect changes in midfield and fullback.

................Stevens
Ahmed, Duah, Jacob, Ryan
..................Fraser
...........Doyle, Borgnis
Lane...........................Kelvin
..............O'Mahoney

Subs: Rowley, Burns, Garcia, Spencer/Sackey, Elliott, Camara, Osho

Something like that.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Would expect Burns, Fraser, O'Mahoney and Doyle to start, maybe even Jacobs

[Hound]

Anyone who was sub Saturday can certainly start. Ahmed and Ryan. Osho if possible. I’d give Stickland another game

Stevens
Ahmed Stickland Burns Ryan
Fraser Sackey
Doyle
Osho O Mahony Kelvin

Gk, Jacob, Camara, Elliot, Abrefa, Okine Peters, Borgnis

Or something like that. I’m assuming O Connor will be fit for next Saturday. Hunt needs to be positive in this one, really go for it. I was really disappointed the way we dropped off on the pressing after the subs Saturday. Get that front 3 working their backsides off and play high and aggressively

[windermereROYAL]

Or something like that. I’m assuming O Connor will be fit for next Saturday

He`s out for 2 or 3 weeks, meaning Christmas.

[Hound]

Or something like that. I’m assuming O Connor will be fit for next Saturday

He`s out for 2 or 3 weeks, meaning Christmas.

Fair enough

Forgot Garcia again…

Put him LB and Ahmed CB. Ryan RB

[MR. CYNICAL]

Anyone got an idea of how many tickets we've sold for this one?

[South Coast Royal]

It already feels as though this season may well be one when we won't challenge for promotion but will look to start building the team for next season or the season after.

So, why not do something different this season and try to progress as far as possible in the 3 cup competitions.

Now that we are a 3rd division club, highlights of the season could well revolve around how we do in cup competitions just as they used to in the days when we spent so long at this level.
The benefits are:-
Extra revenue
Extra interest for the fans
and in the light of Hunt's comments yesterday about the players needing to" learn the structure" surely playing more regularly as a unit helps that process.

The argument put forward for not playing what might be considered as the best team is about injuries and players getting experience.
Injuries happen (as we have found out to our cost recently) and you can't wrap players in cotton wool.
As for experience, I think this season the youngsters will get that through playing more league games (see Stickland yesterday) and if good enough they would keep their place and get even more experience.

Throwing together makeshift teams for cup games that we often lose doesn't IMHO necessarily provide valuable experience.

So come on Hunty, do what you want and need to improve the understanding of the structure and you might find that with some limited success in the cups it could mean you keeping your job whereas a mid-table league season probably wouldn't.

[Snowflake Royal]

Anyone who was sub Saturday can certainly start. Ahmed and Ryan. Osho if possible. I’d give Stickland another game

Stevens
Ahmed Stickland Burns Ryan
Fraser Sackey
Doyle
Osho O Mahony Kelvin

Gk, Jacob, Camara, Elliot, Abrefa, Okine Peters, Borgnis

Or something like that. I’m assuming O Connor will be fit for next Saturday. Hunt needs to be positive in this one, really go for it. I was really disappointed the way we dropped off on the pressing after the subs Saturday. Get that front 3 working their backsides off and play high and aggressively

O'Connor is out for the rest of the month isn’t he?

Feel we really need to protect Stickers and Burns as long as Dorsett and O'Connor are out, or until we sign another CB. No unnecessary games for either.

Very short there with O'Connor, Dorsett and Yids all out.

[Snowflake Royal]

It already feels as though this season may well be one when we won't challenge for promotion but will look to start building the team for next season or the season after.

So, why not do something different this season and try to progress as far as possible in the 3 cup competitions.

Now that we are a 3rd division club, highlights of the season could well revolve around how we do in cup competitions just as they used to in the days when we spent so long at this level.
The benefits are:-
Extra revenue
Extra interest for the fans
and in the light of Hunt's comments yesterday about the players needing to" learn the structure" surely playing more regularly as a unit helps that process.

The argument put forward for not playing what might be considered as the best team is about injuries and players getting experience.
Injuries happen (as we have found out to our cost recently) and you can't wrap players in cotton wool.
As for experience, I think this season the youngsters will get that through playing more league games (see Stickland yesterday) and if good enough they would keep their place and get even more experience.

Throwing together makeshift teams for cup games that we often lose doesn't IMHO necessarily provide valuable experience.

So come on Hunty, do what you want and need to improve the understanding of the structure and you might find that with some limited success in the cups it could mean you keeping your job whereas a mid-table league season probably wouldn't.

Welcome back.

Any news on where Garcia is going?

[Snowflake Royal]

Or something like that. I’m assuming O Connor will be fit for next Saturday

He`s out for 2 or 3 weeks, meaning Christmas.

Fair enough

Forgot Garcia again…

Put him LB and Ahmed CB. Ryan RB

Also forgot Garcia

Editing now.

[Hound]

Agree on going fairly strong in the cup

Dorsett should be back for next sat shouldn’t he? That was a concussion one iirc

[Snowflake Royal]

Agree on going fairly strong in the cup

Dorsett should be back for next sat shouldn’t he? That was a concussion one iirc

Not sure on the exact timing. And the age cut off for when it's doubled.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

It already feels as though this season may well be one when we won't challenge for promotion but will look to start building the team for next season or the season after.

So, why not do something different this season and try to progress as far as possible in the 3 cup competitions.

Now that we are a 3rd division club, highlights of the season could well revolve around how we do in cup competitions just as they used to in the days when we spent so long at this level.
The benefits are:-
Extra revenue
Extra interest for the fans
and in the light of Hunt's comments yesterday about the players needing to" learn the structure" surely playing more regularly as a unit helps that process.

The argument put forward for not playing what might be considered as the best team is about injuries and players getting experience.
Injuries happen (as we have found out to our cost recently) and you can't wrap players in cotton wool.
As for experience, I think this season the youngsters will get that through playing more league games (see Stickland yesterday) and if good enough they would keep their place and get even more experience.

Throwing together makeshift teams for cup games that we often lose doesn't IMHO necessarily provide valuable experience.

So come on Hunty, do what you want and need to improve the understanding of the structure and you might find that with some limited success in the cups it could mean you keeping your job whereas a mid-table league season probably wouldn't.

Very good points indeed....I guess the counter argument is Millwall 2 years ago where the likes of Bindon, Abbey, Vickers & Kelvin started and as a result of that game the likes of the Toms, Carroll & NGW etc were largely binned off.

[Sutekh]

Agree on going fairly strong in the cup

Dorsett should be back for next sat shouldn’t he? That was a concussion one iirc

Not sure on the exact timing. And the age cut off for when it's doubled.

Think there have been some changes on protocol for concussion.

Players with suspected concussion must be symptom free for 24 hours before they can start the FA’s GRTP (Graduated Return To Play) protocol.

The GRTP protocol consists of six stages, and players must complete each stage without experiencing any symptoms. The duration at each stage can vary, but it typically takes a minimum of 5 to 7 days to complete the protocol if the player remains symptom-free.

Presume the FL follow this and wouldn’t add their own interpretation just to confuse things for everyone.

[South Coast Royal]

It already feels as though this season may well be one when we won't challenge for promotion but will look to start building the team for next season or the season after.

So, why not do something different this season and try to progress as far as possible in the 3 cup competitions.

Now that we are a 3rd division club, highlights of the season could well revolve around how we do in cup competitions just as they used to in the days when we spent so long at this level.
The benefits are:-
Extra revenue
Extra interest for the fans
and in the light of Hunt's comments yesterday about the players needing to" learn the structure" surely playing more regularly as a unit helps that process.

The argument put forward for not playing what might be considered as the best team is about injuries and players getting experience.
Injuries happen (as we have found out to our cost recently) and you can't wrap players in cotton wool.
As for experience, I think this season the youngsters will get that through playing more league games (see Stickland yesterday) and if good enough they would keep their place and get even more experience.

Throwing together makeshift teams for cup games that we often lose doesn't IMHO necessarily provide valuable experience.

So come on Hunty, do what you want and need to improve the understanding of the structure and you might find that with some limited success in the cups it could mean you keeping your job whereas a mid-table league season probably wouldn't.

Welcome back.

Any news on where Garcia is going?

[Clyde1998]

Would expect a team something like (depending on availability):

Stevens
Ahmed - Stickland - Burns - Garcia (Ryan)
Sackey - Elliott - Spencer
Camara - Ehibhatiomhan - Doyle

Would play Dorsett and O'Connor at CB if either or both are available. Wouldn't be surprised if we played someone like Fraser or Savage in central midfield though.