Whittingham: Full steam ahead for Cherries friendly

Guy Whittingham is adamant Pompey's pre-season friendly with Bournemouth will go ahead, despite being drawn against each other in the Capital One Cup.
The Pompey players celebrate penalty shootout success over Bournemouth in the Johnstones Paint Trophy last season at Fratton ParkThe Pompey players celebrate penalty shootout success over Bournemouth in the Johnstones Paint Trophy last season at Fratton Park
The Pompey players celebrate penalty shootout success over Bournemouth in the Johnstones Paint Trophy last season at Fratton Park

The south coast rivals will go head-to-head in the first round of the competition following yesterday’s draw.

Taking place on the week commencing August 5, the fixture will be a fortnight after the two teams are scheduled to meet in a friendly on Tuesday, July 23.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Blues boss Whittingham insists the Dean Court fixture will remain.

He said: ‘It won’t change, we will still be playing Bournemouth in pre-season.

‘I suppose you could say it is the luck of the draw but I can’t see any reason why either team would scrap the friendly.

‘That is part of both teams’ summer schedule and we are not going to change anything now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Besides, I’m sure there will be very different sides on display for that Capital One Cup match.

‘It’s a tough draw for us but one a lot of people will be eager to attend.’

It will be a second successive season that the Blues have faced Bournemouth in a cup competition.

Last year they defeated the Cherries on penalties in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, after the first-round fixture finished 2-2.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pompey have been eliminated at the first round stage of the Capital One Cup in the previous two years.

Ticket details will be released once a date has been agreed between the clubs.

Full draw:

Bury v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Bolton, Middlesbrough v Accrington, Doncaster v Rochdale, Preston v Blackpool, Barnsley v Scunthorpe, Tranmere v Mansfield, York v Burnley, Notts County v Fleetwood, Sheff United v Burton, Oldham v Derby, Carlisle v Blackburn, Morecambe v Wolves, Nottingham Forest v Hartlepool, Leeds v Chesterfield, Huddersfield v Bradford, Rotherham v Sheffield Wednesday, Port Vale v Walsall, Gillingham v Bristol City, Bournemouth v Pompey

Wycombe v Leicester, Brentford v Dagenham and Redbridge, Exeter v QPR, Charlton v Oxford, Southend v Yeovil, Millwall v AFC Wimbledon, Swindon v Torquay, Birmingham v Plymouth, Stevenage v Ipswich, Cheltenham v Crawley,

Bristol Rovers v Watford, Northampton v MK Dons, Orient v Coventry, Colchester v Peterborough, Brighton v Newport.