'There's always an edge against Oxford United': Sean Raggett on the Portsmouth fixture where controversy, heartache and FA inquiries are never far away

Struggling Oxford United visit Fratton Park tonight seeking to climb the table following an awful start to the campaign.

Not that Karl Robinson’s 19th-placed team should be underestimated, with Raggett bearing the scars from previous battles.

He was a member of Kenny Jackett’s team which agonisingly lost on penalties in League One play-off semi-finals in July 2020.

Then last season Nathan Holland won a February encounter at the Kassam Stadium in the sixth minute of time added-on, after Joe Morrell was harshly dismissed.

Up until the 82nd minute, Pompey were poised to pull off a miraculous 2-1 victory – then the late drama arrived.

An FA investigation was also launched after a member of the U’s backroom staff was taken to hospital following a medical incident a half-time, while 11 players were booked.

At least Danny Cowley’s men triumphed 3-2 at Fratton Park the following month, albeit after initially falling behind.

Now they’re primed to lock horns this evening (7.45pm) on the south coast.

Raggett told The News: ‘They always seem quite lively, I enjoy them. I like there to be a bit of an edge to some games.

‘They have some good players, some lively characters like us, and we’ve had some really good battles over the years.

‘Last season it was a harsh sending off for Joe at their place and that showed the character of the group to dig in. We were so unfortunate to come away losing.

‘They scored two great goals by the end, but it was a gritty team performance that day and we took a lot of spirit from that game.

‘It was heartbreaking, we used so much energy and character to come out leading 2-1 at one point and felt we’d done enough to get something out of the game.

‘That loss actually started a little run for us and when we met them again at Fratton Park not long after, we put in a really good performance to beat them.

‘There have been some real ups and downs against Oxford in my time at Pompey, so I’m looking for another up on Tuesday night.

‘I don’t know what it is, there always seems to be a bit of an edge to it. We will relish it – and I’m sure they will too.’

Raggett and Ronan Curtis are the only survivors from that play-off semi-final defeat more than three years ago.

But, for the central defender, the memory still stings.

He added: ‘We played well in the first leg at Fratton Park and were maybe a bit harshly done by to not get a couple of penalties.

‘Then we went away to their place and scored first, only to concede an unfortunate own goal and end up losing on penalties. We couldn’t get over the line that day.

‘Hopefully it will be happier when we play them on this occasion.’