Away Match Day Thread 06/04/2026 - MDT: Portsmouth v Oxford United

[SteMerritt]

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

Don't see why we persist with MPH.

 

[JOHN BOY]

Really don’t understand why Donley’s playing as a right-side striker in possession and not a number 10, he’s been completely anonymous and the only space is central between the Pompey lines

He sometimes looks a bit lightweight.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Terrible stuff. The crossing, both from throws and out wide, has hardly got anywhere near a yellow shirt. The passing is too slow and laboured. We look as likely to concede a second as we do to equalise, against 10 men.

I really hope the manager doesn't 'give it another 20 minutes' and that he makes changes at half time. We need to try to win this - if that leaves us open to losing by more goals, then so be it.

 

[Jimmycarterxi]

Time for Bloomfield to show his worth now. Tactical changes needed to be made.

 

[GreenMachine]

Utter gutless dire performance so far. It's like they don't want to stay up why so passive and slow. We deserve to go down. Awful.

 

[TailsWeWin]

We are so predictable. Placheta for MPH, now.

If we can’t win this, we don’t deserve to survive.

Exactly my thoughts - we don’t deserve a place in this division. Pathetic first half.
We’ve been lucky with the red card - guaranteed the ref will even things up though .

 

[Obstructed view]

Maybe counter intuitive but would consider bringing Makosso on for Helik to have better passing/driving from the back. Maybe also prelec for Konak and shemmy for mph

 

[OX14]

If we don't improve in the second half i would not blame any of the 2k away fans there if they stuck around at full time to vent their frustration at the manager and players. Embarrassing against 10 men against a side who have lost their previous 4 home games.

 

[Nadi-]

Pretty clueless so far from Donley and Peart Harris.. And Lankshear ability to give away free kicks and possession is a one off.

 

[Oxymoron]

Need to get a new game plan into the players for the second half - we're still set up to play against eleven men.

 

[Canadian_Yellow]

Looks like Bloomfield tried to go to a back 3 in possession after the red card?? Spencer and Mills as wing backs - crazy, in my view - our only outlet (Mills) being closer to our goal and Spencer is poor going forwards.

 

[Toe knee]

Vaulks?????

 

[Mateo Corbo's Tackle]

Exactly my thoughts - we don’t deserve a place in this division. Pathetic first half.
We’ve been lucky with the red card - guaranteed the ref will even things up though .

Funnily enough I think if it goes 10v10 at 1-0 down it might help us.
They might be less inclined to sit.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Honestly have we got anything

Don’t think we have Bazzer

 

[Chippy]

We never have the bottle to change 3 or 4 players from previous team when we have a midweek match, the lack of energy shows. They are physically stronger too which we always struggle against.

COYY massive 2nd half coming up

 

[Daviddidcotexile]

If only MPH could go round a player like Mills. Consequently only really attacking on tight. Agree with overall sentiment- just lacking urgency

 

[Victor1986]

Utter gutless dire performance so far. It's like they don't want to stay up why so passive and slow. We deserve to go down. Awful.

Yes, hard to understand isn't it.

 

[JayOx88]

Would take Brown off at half time - need a defender who can pass so Massoko please.

Would also be looking to get Ter Avest on for Long, or move Long to CB and take off Helik instead. We just look completely unable to move Portsmouth and are relying on hoofing it into the box against ten men.

Absolutely this. Not only has Brown's distribution been abysmal, he's also struggling against Bishop physically and we need some more aerial dominance at the back for those moments when they pump the ball forward or get it into our box.

That first half was a disaster and we need quicker movement of the ball if we're going to basically salvage our season. I actually despaired at the red card because it has required us to have more of the ball - not a situation we thrive in.

We need to get at Portsmouth with more frequency so I'd also get Placheta straight on in place of Peart-Harris, who is putting in another casual performance that lacks conviction. We need as much pace on the pitch as we can get and be more direct with out attacking.

This is a big half-time for Bloomfield - some big calls needed.

 

[Fat bloke]

Need Harris as he's the man for the occasion.

 

[holdsteady]

That’s one and a half games against Pompey where we have been terrible this season, we just don’t seem able to break them down, even ten men, hopefully this is the half we can do that.

 

[Kamal]

We need to go 2 up top. We cannot spend 45 mins against 10 men with only Will Lankshear in the box.

 

[holdsteady]

Vaulks?

Can’t see what that does to help us going forward.

 

[Swaby39]

Will Vaulks coming on to change the game…..

 

[Northstandboy]

Vaulks coming on… WHY??

 

[BrockBuster]

Vaulks coming on. Ooof.

 

[Cass63]

Vaulks warming up.

 

[Sarge]

COME ON YOU U'S

 

[Toe knee]

Head scratching

 

[Older Shotts]

Shemmy should be coming on for MPH. Not sure why vaulks is coming on or who for

 

[Billyox]

Vaulks on extra man to throw it in