Christian Burgess and Omar Bogle sit out for Portsmouth

Posted Friday, March 01, 2019 by PA

Portsmouth will be without Christian Burgess and Omar Bogle for Saturday’s League One clash with Bradford.

Central defender Burgess limped out of Tuesday’s 3-0 Checkatrade Trophy semi-final victory at Bury with an ankle problem, while on-loan Cardiff striker Bogle missed that game with a hamstring injury picked up during the 0-0 draw with Barnsley last weekend.

However, manager Kenny Jackett is hopeful that both men could return for next weekend’s trip to Charlton.

Defender Nathan Thompson resumed after a knee injury in midweek as Pompey, who have drawn their last five league games, won for the first time in nine outings in all competitions.

Caretaker manager Martin Drury will pick the Bradford team following David Hopkin’s departure earlier this week.

Hopkin called it a day after less than six months in the job following Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at 10-man Walsall, who had striker Andy Cook sent off with just six minutes gone.

One of Drury’s first acts was to install full-back Paul Caddis as captain in place of Anthony O’Connor as the Bantams battle to drag themselves out of relegation trouble.

Defender Kelvin Mellor made his first appearance since December as a late substitute at Walsall following his return from a foot injury, while Josh Wright and Joe Riley were among 20 players training this week, although they are not expected to be involved at Fratton Park.