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Kenny Jackett’s Portsmouth could claim the 2019/20 EFL Trophy on Saturday in a ‘Wembley Weekender’ after a prolonged wait due to COVID-19.
Last season’s final was scheduled for 5th April 2020 but due to the on-going pandemic, the fixture has been postponed for the best part of a year. Despite all of the adversity, the game was shown a green light last month allowing Portsmouth to have the chance to collect the trophy this weekend against Salford City.
The EFL described the plans for the trophy as a ‘Wembley Weekender’, with both 2019/20 and 2020/21 finals taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
Current holders of the EFL Trophy, Kenny Jackett’s side could become the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons. Jackett’s men are familiar with the circumstances having won two FA Cups and two titles on Wembley soil before.
Manager Jackett has lifted the trophy twice before. His first EFL Trophy was with Swansea City in 2006. Adebayo Akinfenwa scored the winner as Jackett’s men defeated Carlisle United 2-1.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss’ most recent triumph in the EFL Trophy was with Pompey in 2019.
Portsmouth won the final despite going 1-0 down and nearly chucking away the victory in the 119th minute to an Aiden McGeady equaliser which forced penalties. Regardless, former Pompey striker Oliver Hawkins dispatched the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout to gift Portsmouth the trophy.
Pompey’s road to Wembley
Portsmouth went unbeaten in their group stage, hence topping the table.
They kickstarted their win-streak after beating Crawley Town 1-0 on the 3rd September 2019 before cruising past Norwich Under-21s (3-1).
In October 2019, Pompey’s final group stage game ended 2-2 against Oxford United but Jackett’s side came out on top, winning 5-4 on penalties.
Portsmouth hosted Northampton Town in Round Two, beating the Cobblers 2-1 courtesy of goals from Leon Maloney and Marcus Harness.
They celebrated the new year in style, defeating Walsall 2-1 at the Banks’s Stadium on 7th January 2020 before knocking Scunthorpe United out of the competition two weeks later.
Pompey’s most entertaining encounter came in the semi-final against Exeter City. The holders booked their place in the final in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in additional time to come from behind to beat the Grecians 3-2. John Marquis headed Portsmouth to the final in the 96th minute at Fratton Park.
Current form
Pompey’s complacency in League One has allowed the likes of Accrington Stanley and Ipswich Town to close down their grip on a play-off place. The form has meant promotion for the south coast side is looking uncertain as Jackett’s side are winless in four league matches.
They are struggling to hit the back of the net, failing to score more than once in their previous seven games.
Portsmouth travel to Wembley on the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Sunderland midweek. Jackett’s men failed to hit the target throughout the entire game nor create any clear cut chances for the likes of Marquis and Ellis Harrison to convert.
Pompey will look to use the EFL Trophy Final as a stepping stone to get firing in League One again.
Ones to watch
John Marquis
The Lewisham-born striker has 18 goal involvements in 33 league matches this campaign and his 96th minute winner in the EFL Cup semi-final is the reason why Pompey are travelling to Wembley. He averages 1.04 shots per 90 and scores 0.48 goals per game which is a respectable shot to goal ratio.
Marquis has started 82% of Pompey’s matches in the third tier this campaign and is one of the first names on manager Jackett’s teamsheet. He’s already scored five more league goals and two more assists compared to his first season for Portsmouth.
The 28-year-old has scored three braces in a row in League One this campaign. His first brace was scored in Portsmouth’s 3-1 away win against Sunderland. That day, the poacher scored with his stronger right foot as well as a penalty.
However in the following match against Northampton he bagged both of his goals with his left foot. For a third consecutive game, Marquis scored twice, this time against promotion rivals Lincoln City, scoring with his right foot as well as a header, epitomising his versatility in front of goal.
It’ll be tough to keep big-game player Marquis quiet on Saturday afternoon.
Marcus Harness
Born in Coventry, Marcus Harness is a forward utilised in a variety of positions for Pompey. He’s clocked five goals and seven assists in 30 starts in League One this season, a career high for the 25-year-old.
It’s Harness’ second campaign at Fratton Park. Since arriving from League One side Burton Albion, he’s supplied 22 goal involvements in 58 appearances for Jackett’s side.
The 2020/21 season has been physically demanding for Harness as he’s clocked a career high of 2,525 minutes. Hence, he was rested for the vast majority of the game midweek against Sunderland, but provided a 10 minute cameo in Pompey’s miserable 2-0 defeat.
Ryan Williams
A nuisance for a full-back, Ryan Williams is an Australian midfielder who plays most of his football as a right-midfielder.
Williams is enjoying his second season on the south coast and has featured 54 times for Portsmouth since arriving from Rotherham United, who were at the time relegated from the Championship in 2018/19.
The 26-year-old’s goal involvements don’t do him justice. He’s a great dribbler and can play off both feet, which is a nightmare for full-backs to position themselves accordingly.
Williams has seven goal contributions so far this season in 21 starts for Jackett’s side, averaging a goal involvement every three games.
After his cameo against Sunderland on Tuesday, it is highly likely Williams will occupy a part of Portsmouth’s attack at the weekend.
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