Portsmouth fans begin to take their seats for Oxford game as Blues aim to hit 1000 mark

And the arduous process of ensuring those die-hard supporters are all present and correct for Friday’s first leg tie has already begun.

The Blues announced the scheme earlier this month, with fans unable to attend the crunch matches against the U’s.

It costs £25 to be present at the behind-closed-doors game, if not in person but in spirit.

And it appears Pompey fans have well and truly got into the spirit of things by sending in their pictures to ensure they’ll be there to support Kenny Jackett’s troops.

The original deadline for supporters to take part has now been extended until 11.59pm on Wednesday, with the Blues hoping to have 1000 cutouts in place for the visit of the U’s.

Yet that will mean more hard work for those assigned to making sure the cardboard fans take their seat before the 5.30pm kick-off, with a crew of workers already at Fratton Park to get the Fratton faithful ready for the big game.

The North Stand lower is filling up nicely – surely the earliest fans have taken to their seats in order to catch Pompey in action.