Hereford v Portsmouth preview: what's been said, team news, predicted XIs, form guides and key stats

Here’s all the stats and big-match details ahead of the game (7.55pm).

What’s been said

Josh Gowling

‘It’s a big jump for us to play a team like that.

‘We’ve got to be at 100 per cent and at our maximum and if we’re not then we’ll get found wanting.

‘The club has already won in the sense it’s put the club back in the spotlight which it hasn’t been for a while.

‘Financially it’ll be great for the club. If we win we’ll just look at the next one. We’re not going to get too high or too low, we just need to keep on an even keel and look to get a result on Friday.

‘The lads are raring to go. A big area of my background that I can help the lads with is coping mechanisms and how we cope under pressure.

‘We’ve got to drill these lads that when the pressure is on that all they are focusing on is what we’ve done in training.

‘They are expected to win, they’re on television, they’re a Football League club and they’re expected to win comfortably, while nothing is expected from us.

‘But if they’re not on their game then they’ll get found wanting.’

Danny Cowley

‘Genuinely, we are going into this match believing it’s our toughest game of the season.

‘We know we must have absolute focus to get the outcome that everyone associated with Pompey will want.

‘We know we’ll see the very best version of Hereford and our challenge is to make sure we match them in terms of our work ethic and our attitude.

‘Not only that, but we must make sure that, going into the game, we have done all our preparation so we can set our players up to have success.

‘We understand these games, we know they will be very, very difficult, and there will be many challenges.

‘It won't be perfect, but we have to make sure we find a good performance that allows us to progress.’

Hereford team news

The Bulls have had their injury worries in recent weeks, with manager Josh Gowling down to the ‘bare bones’ for his side’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round win against Bromley.

Since then, though, the treatment room has become less busy, with Kane Thompson-Sommers and Jordan Thompson both back in action.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Brad Wade is closing in on a return to a action after an arm injury.

Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Zak Lilly, Ryan Lloyd and Jack Holmes remain out, though.

Tonight’s fixture could see former Pompey striker Miles Storey line up against his old club.

Predicted XI: Dale Eve; Jared Hodgkiss, Jack Evans, Kane Thompson-Sommers, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Harry Pinchard, Miles Storey, Jethro Hanson, Orrin Pendley, Tyrone Barnett, Jordan Thompson.

Pompey team news

The Blues were dealt a blow in the lead-up to the game at Edgar Street with news that Joe Rafferty will be out for three months with a groin injury that needs surgery.

He now joins Louis Thompson and Jayden Reid on the long-term injury list.

Yet there’s better news on the injury front, with midfielders Tom Lowery and Marlon Pack closing in on returns following hamstring injuries.

Sean Raggett is showing progress on his back injury, while no further setbacks were reported after Tuesday night’s Papa John’s Trophy draw with AFC Wimbledon.

Only four of Pompey’s loan players have so far been granted permission by their parent clubs to play in the FA Cup for the Blues.

Predicted XI: Josh Griffiths, Zak Swanson, Michael Morrison, Clark Robertson, Connor Ogilvie, Owen Dale, Jay Mingi, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Ronan Curtis, Colby Bishop, Dane Scarlett.

Matchday odds (Bet365)

Hereford: 16/1

1-0 16/1, 2-0 40/1, 2-1 18/1, 3-0 80/1, 3-1 50/1, 3-2 40/1.

Pompey: 1/3

1-0 7/1, 2-0 6/1, 2-1 8/1, 3-0 15/2, 3-1 10/1, 3-2 25/1.

Draw: 11/2

0-0 16/1, 1-1 11/1, 2-2 22/1, 3-3 66/1, 4-4 350/1.

Key Stats (all competitions)

Hereford

Record this season: P14 W6 D3 L5

League position: 14th

Top goalscorer: Tyrone Barnett (7)

Most Assists: N/A.

Discipline: N/A.

Pompey

Record this season: P16 W9 D8 L3

League position: 5th

Top goalscorer: Colby Bishop (9)

Most Assists: Owen Dale (4)

Discipline: 24 yellows cards, 1 red card

Form guide

Hereford

W 3-1 Curzon Ashton (A) – National League North

W 2-1 Fylde (H) – National League North

L 1-0 Bradford PA (A) – National League North

W 4-2 Boston United (A) – National League North

D 0-0 Leamington (H) – National League North

Pompey

D 1-1 AFC Wimbledon (H) – Papa John’s Trophy

D 1-1 Shrewsbury (H) – League One

D 1-1 Oxford United (H) – League One

W 1-0 Forest Green Rovers (A) – League One

L 3-0 Charlton (A) – League One

Selected other fixtures (3pm kick-offs unless stated)

Tonight

Sheffield Wednesday v Morecambe (7.45pm)

Saturday

AFC Fylde v Gillingham, Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley, Boreham Wood v Eastleigh, Bradford City v Harrogate Town, Bristol Rovers v Rochdale, Burton Albion v Needham Market, Charlton Athletic v Coalville Town, Chesterfield v Northampton Town, Chippenham Town v Lincoln City, Crawley Town v Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town v Oxford City, Grimsby Town v Plymouth Argyle, MK Dons v Taunton Town, Peterborough United v Salford City, Port Vale v Exeter City, Shrewsbury Town v York City, South Shields v Forest Green Rovers, Wycombe Wanderers v Walsall.

Sunday

Torquay United v Derby County, Woking v Oxford United (2pm).

Monday

Bracknell Town v Ipswich (7.45pm).