Bouncebackability?

Following our dismal performance in the cup one could be forgiven for thinking that playing Portsmouth away would be ideal. History certainly backs that up. However, we are currently a team with a few injuries and one that seems only capable of managing one decent half of football.

However, Portsmouth are currently enjoying a long unbeaten run and sit atop League One.

I think it’s safe to say there will be change to Sunday’s starting line up although may be just shy of the eleven that Appleton made for that game.

Like may others I’m still seething. His comments about still be in the competition to right that wrong and nonsense about players being “anxious” really didn’t help my mood on Sunday evening.

I’ve no idea what Appleton was thinking last week. You simply can’t make that many changes. There are very few clubs that can do that at any level.

Realistically on Saturday anything other than defeat will be a good result all things considered.

John Mousinho has enjoyed a great start to his managerial career since leaving Oxford where he was player/coach. It’s been a fantastic appointment by Pompey.

The jury is very much still out on Appleton despite what the BBC commentary team had to say last weekend. I’d acknowledge a degree of improvement in attacking terms in our side but defensively the issues remain.

As stated above in inability to deliver anywhere near 90 minutes of a solid performance is cause for concern.

Hopefully Edun will return to the league starting eleven and I’d like to think that Tedic will also start in the main striker role.

When I looked at last week’s line up (after having recovered from the initial shock) I was pleased to see the Man City loanee where he should be. Sadly, he didn’t have the best support and I feared that he come in for some stick unless he bagged a hat-trick or similar.

Let’s give him the opportunity to show what he can do in a fairly decent side and in the right position.

As much as we all lauded the first half display against Wigan it ought to be remembered that fate lent a hand. Had Camara not been got injured then Alfie May would have stayed out wide and his goals may well have not been scored.

With no one in defence taking their chance to impress one assumes a back four of Edun, Hector, Jones and Asiimwe/Watson (T).

Watson (L) ought to start assuming Appleton is no longer spouting the guff about the oppo getting in behind him (something a lot of people don’t see apparently).

Mickey has preferred Fraser (he even made him captain on Sunday!). Of course the tough tackling, non-stop running of him would see him get the nod! Scott is a luxury player of the type we can’t afford so in another tough league game he shouldn’t start.

Let’s hope and pray that our hold over Pompey continues and that we inflict another defeat whilst ending another club’s unbeaten run (we can be good at that !). There's never been a better time to bounce back!

Come On You Reds!