Portsmouth vs Southend United. Sky Bet League One.
Fratton ParkAttendance18,062.
Friday 7 December 2018 16:52, UK
Tom Naylor has returned to fitness to come into contention for Portsmouth's Sky Bet League One clash with Southend.
The midfielder missed Pompey's FA Cup second-round win at Rochdale with a groin problem. Forward Joe Mason is also fit following a groin problem and featured as a substitute in the Checkatrade Trophy against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Midfielder Dion Donohue (hamstring) is back in training and about a week away from a return to action, but on-loan QPR winger David Wheeler (back/hamstring) is still out.
Southend midfielder Timothee Dieng is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. Forward Simon Cox (knee) is also doubtful for the Shrimpers, while defender Jason Demetriou (knee) is definitely out.
Southend have a host of long-term absentees, including defender Harry Kyprianou (Achilles), centre-back Harry Lennon (fractured leg) and goalkeeper Ted Smith (leg muscle). Sam Barratt, left-back Ben Coker, midfielder Lewis Gard and forward Tom Hopper are also out for extended periods.
Portsmouth have lost six of their last seven league contests with Southend United, winning the other 1-0 in their last such clash at Fratton Park in November 2017.
Southend have won two of their last three league visits to Portsmouth (L1), this after having won none of their first 13 in the Football League.
Portsmouth have lost just one of their last 20 games in League One (W14 D5), and are unbeaten in the competition since a 0-2 defeat against Gillingham at Fratton Park in October (P7 W5 D2 since).
Since a run of three consecutive away victories, Southend have lost each of their last three on the road in League One, scoring just a single goal in the process - they last lost four on the bounce away from home over the Christmas and New Year period last season.
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett has never lost a home league game against Southend as a manager (W3 D3), winning both of his last two without seeing his sides concede a goal.
