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Pompey's powers of recovery put to test again at Oxford
Friday, 18th Jan 2019 21:08 by pompey-fans.com staff

When you're top of the table, any defeat puts a little pressure on and gives your closest challengers hope - so it is that Pompey are on their guard as they go to Oxford this weekend.

They have bounced back from each defeat well this season - winning two and drawing one of the league matches that have followed League One losses so far.

It's a record they will be aiming to keep up at the Kassam Stadium and goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray knows they will need to keep the high standards that have taken them to the top of the division.

He told the club website: 'There are 19 games left this season and we all know that if we stay where we are after that, then we all get a crack at the Championship. A lot of players never have the chance to do that, so it would be a brilliant achievement if we get the job done.

'We know that we need win the majority of matches that remain in order to get promoted, which is our ultimate aim. It’s weird feeling for us when we lose a game and we did look flat against Blackpool last week — we weren’t ourselves.

'But whenever we’ve had a defeat so far this season, we’ve been able to bounce back and that’s what we have to do at Oxford.'

The defence in front of MacGillivray is likely to welcome Lee Brown back into its ranks, the defender having recovered from the injury that saw him limp off at Fleetwood. But the other first-choice full back, Nathan Thompson, is still out.

Also back in contention is midfielder Ben Close, who is vying with new man Bryn Morris and less-new man Andy Cannon to play alongside Tom Naylor in the deep midfield roles. Gareth Evans played there against Blackpool but seems likely to be pushed further forward against Oxford.

Karl Robinson's team are 21st but can climb out of the drop zone with a win. Ex-Blues winger Ricky Holmes will miss the game through injury.

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