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Portsmouth fell out of the League One playoff places last weekend following a goalless home draw against Derby County.
That result represented their four consecutive league draw, but in cup competitions, they have managed to record a number of victories.
They swept aside Hereford via a 3-1 scoreline to book their place in the second round of the FA Cup, while in their most recent outing, they beat Ipswich 2-0 in the EFL Trophy.
Dane Scarlett found the net moments before half time to give Danny Cowley‘s side a slender lead, before Zak Swanson wrapped up the win with a 94th-minute strike, helping Pompey seal their place in the third round of the EFL Trophy.
Pompey will look to maintain their unbeaten home record in all competitions this season when they face MK Dons, although their last five home matches have finished all square after regulation time.
Meanwhile, MK Dons have endured a difficult League One campaign after picking up just 14 points from 18 games, leaving them in the relegation zone.
In their last two league games, they lost 3-1 to both Derby County and Barnsley, and that scoreline was replicated in their midweek EFL Trophy tie against Newport County, but it was MK Dons who managed to emerge victorious on that occasion.
Darragh Burns opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Matthew Dennis and Will Grigg added their names to the scoresheet, ensuring that their side progressed to the third round despite Newport scoring a late consolation thanks to a Jack Tucker own goal.
Portsmouth are unable to call upon the services of Tom Lowery, Louis Thompson and Jayden Reid due to injury issues, while Joe Morrell is away at the World Cup with Wales.
Cowley rotated his side for the win over Ipswich, but he could name a similar lineup to the one that began the goalless draw against Derby.
Colby Bishop is expected to feature in the forward line for Pompey, and he will be looking to add to the 11 goals that he has scored in all competitions this season.
As for the visitors, they made a number of changes to the side for the midweek cup game, but the likes of Zak Jules and Dean Lewington are set to return to the lineup.
Josh McEachran will also be brought back into the starting XI, and he is expected to partner Bradley Johnson in central midfield.
Grigg has dropped down to the bench for MK Dons’ last two competitive games, but he could be given the responsibility of leading the line on Saturday.
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Swanson, Raggett, Robertson, Ogilvie; Hackett, Tunnicliffe, Pack, Koroma; Bishop, Pigott
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Cumming; O’Hora, Lewington, Jules; Lawrence, Johnson, McEachran, Harvie; Barry, Holland, Grigg
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
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“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life