Portsmouth fans reminded to stay away from Fratton Park for Oxford game

The Blues face the U’s at 5.30pm as they begin their last-gasp bid to return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

The match will be played behind closed doors as football sticks to government guidelines around mass gatherings and social distancing.

Meanwhile, supporters have been advised not to congregate in the areas surrounding Fratton Park to ensure match-day safety measures are adhered to.

That’s despite the easing of lockdown measures in recent weeks.

The police have been working closely with Pompey in an attempt to get the message out there, with both parties keen to avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on the emergency services.

And as kick-off fast approaches, the Hampshire Constabulary reiterated their plea for fans to respect current Covid-19 guidelines.

A statement read: ‘It is the club’s responsibility to ensure fixtures can go ahead without placing further pressure onto emergency services.

‘Hampshire Constabulary is working closely with PFC who will be encouraging their fans not to congregate and to continue to adhere to the social distancing guidelines set out by the government.‘Coronavirus remains a deadly disease and there are still restrictions in place to prevent its spread, we would encourage everyone to adhere to the current guidelines.’

The visit of Oxford will be the first time in 115 days Pompey have been in action.

Their last game came against Fleetwood on Tuesday, March 10, at Fratton Park – days before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a UK-wide lockdown.