Page 3 - Jay Tabb News Today

Town boss Kieran McKenna says Preston North End, who the Blues meet at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon, remain a difficult proposition, despite falling away after a promising start to the season.

v match reports submitted by TWTD.co.uk visitors

They may be the best of pals now but Town team-mates and brothers, Noel and Stephen Hunt, weren’t always on friendly terms.

Town boss Mick McCarthy warns that Saturday’s opponents Wigan Athletic will still be a threat, despite the Latics current position of second-bottom of the Championship, eight points from safety.

Town boss Mick McCarthy has named the anticipated entirely changed XI for this evening’s FA Cup third round replay at League Two Portsmouth.

Town’s FA Cup run ended at the third round stage for the sixth successive year as the 10-man Blues were beaten 2-1 by League Two Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Former Blue Gary Roberts netted a penalty in the 32nd minute, then Marc McNulty added a second five minutes later to give Pompey a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead, then after the break Ainsley Maitland-Niles pulled one back before Piotr Malarczyk was sent off for two bookable offences.

Former Blue Gary Roberts netted a penalty in the 32nd minute and Marc McNulty added a second five minutes later to give Portsmouth a comfortable 2-0 lead over Town in their third round replay at Fratton Park at half-time.

Town boss Mick McCarthy believes League Two Portsmouth’s players will go into tonight’s FA Cup third round replay at Fratton Park expecting to beat the Blues having performed so well in the first game at Portman Road, which ended 2-2. McCarthy is set to field a young side and, as he did at Manchester United in the Capital One Cup earlier in the season, could even switch his entire XI.

TWTD understands Town are closing in on the loan signing of Birmingham City midfielder Stephen Gleeson.

Jay Tabb has emphasised his desire to stay with Town, even when a pre-season chat with manager Mick McCarthy left him with the option to move elsewhere.