All you need to know about League Two clash

Pompey can make another giant stride towards automatic promotion with victory at Hartlepool this weekend.





Fans will be hoping their side can increase the gap on the chasing pack, especially as fellow contenders Luton and Blackpool are playing each other.





Their opponents are down in 21st position, but there is a healthy eight-point cushion between Hartlepool and the drop zone.





Dave Jones’ side go into Saturday’s contest on the back of successive defeats to Wycombe and Blackpool.





But they were victorious in three of the four games immediately prior to that in order to ease any relegation fears.





Jones took charge back in January following the departure of Craig Hignett, despite having been out of the game for three years.





It finished goalless when Pompey hosted Hartlepool back in December – the same outcome as three of their past four meetings at Victoria Park.





But the Blues triumphed in the north-east last season, with Kal Naismith and Conor Chaplin on target in a 2-0 win.









TEAM NEWS

Eoin Doyle is sidelined with a groin injury, while Curtis Main is not ready to feature having recently returned from a knee problem.





But Christian Burgess is available for Pompey again after serving a one-match suspension.





Trevor Carson (shoulder) and Billy Paynter (Achilles) are both missing for the hosts, with Rhys Oates (thigh) also a doubt.









QUOTES

Read what Paul Cook and Matt Clarke have to say about the game or subscribe to Pompey PlayerHD for pre-match video content.









HEAD TO HEAD

Overall

Pompey: 7 Wins

Hartlepool: 1 Win

5 Draws





At Victoria Park

Pompey: 2 Wins

Hartlepool: 0 Wins

4 Draws









TICKETS

Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets and no more will be available to buy at Victoria Park.





Please do not travel to the game if you have not already purchased a ticket.









MATCH COVERAGE

Pompey PlayerHD subscribers can listen to live commentary from Victoria Park from 2pm on Saturday.





We will also have match updates on Twitter and the Pompey Wall





There will be post-match reaction on the website, Pompey PlayerHD and our official YouTube channel , with highlights to follow on Sunday.













BETTING

Pompey are 8/15 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while the hosts can be backed at 11/2













ALSO IN LEAGUE TWO

Grimsby v Doncaster (1pm)

Cheltenham v Morecambe

Crewe v Cambridge

Leyton Orient v Wycombe

Luton v Blackpool

Mansfield v Exeter

Newport v Crawley

Notts County v Colchester

Plymouth v Accrington

Stevenage v Barnet

Yeovil v Carlisle









LAST AWAY MEETING