The lower league clubs continue to play in England and on the 26th of November we have a meeting between Portsmouth and Milton Keynes Dons in the second round of the FA Cup. The match will be played at Fratton Park and both teams know the potential of meeting a Premier League team in the third round awaits.
Portsmouth come into the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Ipswich Town in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. Portsmouth opened the scoring shortly before half time and added a second goal late in the game to reach the third round of the competition.
🔵 Zak Swanson chats after tonight's win at Portman Road#Pompey pic.twitter.com/VKTz1qw4F8— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) November 22, 2022
🔵 Zak Swanson chats after tonight's win at Portman Road#Pompey pic.twitter.com/VKTz1qw4F8
That victory means Portsmouth are undefeated in their last 8 fixtures in all competitions. In addition to the win at Ipswich in the EFL Trophy, Portsmouth have beat ACF Wimbledon via penalties in the same competition, Forest Green Rovers in League One, and Hereford in the FA Cup. There have also been 4 draws in those 8 games, all of which have come in League One.
Home form shows Portsmouth have been tough to beat but have struggled to win recent matches.
They are undefeated in their last 11 home fixtures in all competitions but have drawn 4 of their last 5 matches on home soil. Trend show Portsmouth have won 4 of their 6 most recent home FA Cup ties.
Milton Keynes Dons travel to Fratton Park having beat Newport County 3-1 at home in the second round of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
Milton Keynes Dons opened the scoring in the 27th minute and were 3-0 up going into the final 10 minutes of the match before the visitors scored a consolation goal.
That was the first victory in 3 games for Milton Keynes Dons having lost their previous 2 fixtures. The defeats both came in League One and Milton Keynes Dons lost 3-1 at home against Derby County and by the same score at Barnsley.
Away form shows Milton Keynes Dons are undefeated in 3 of their 4 most recent away trips in all competitions. They beat Walsall away in the EFL Trophy and Charlton Athletic 2-0 in League One.
Away form in the FA Cup shows Milton Keynes Dons have lost their last 2 fixtures on the road, losing at Stevenage and via a penalty shootout at Burnley.
Team news and Portsmouth are expected to be without Michael Jacobs, Tom Lowery, Joe Rafferty, Jayden Reid, and Louis Thompson due to injury. Joe Morrell is away on World Cup duty with Wales.
Milton Keynes Dons are expected to make changes to their starting XI from the win over Newport County. Mohamed Eisa will be hoping to start having been rested on Tuesday night.
If the League One table is anything to go by, we expect Portsmouth to win this game. However, Portsmouth have been struggling to win recent home matches and may have to settle for a single goal victory to progress to the third round of the FA Cup.