Long Tuesday trip may be Pompey promotion party

PORTSMOUTH could be celebrating promotion from League One when they host Barnsley from 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Pompey are seven points clear at the top and nine clear in top two.

John Mousinho’s side are due to visit third-placed Bolton Wanderers tomorrow knowing a win would take them into the Championship.

If they draw at Bolton, a win over the Reds would send them up.

Portsmouth are unbeaten in 15, winning 11 including a 3-1 success over Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

That was a sixth victory out of seven at home, the other being a 2-2 draw with second-placed Derby last week.

They have the best home record in the division with 47 points from 21 games.

They are the only side with more away points than the Reds who have already set a club record for the most points on the road in a season.

The match was due to be played on

March 23 but Portsmouth postponed it due to international call-ups.

Portsmouth won 3-2 at Oakwell in September, going 3-0 up after 16 minutes before Barry Cotter and Callum Styles replied in the second half.

The two clubs have met 57 times, with Barnsley winning 19 and losing 23.

The Reds’ only win in the last six meetings was a 3-1 home success in March last year.

The previous month, they had drawn 1-1 at Fratton Park thanks to a late Liam Kitching equaliser.

Since 1980, the Reds have only won once in 22 games at Portsmouth, losing 14 times. That victory was a 3-1 success in 1999 with goals by Craig Hignett, an own goal, and Bruce Dyer.

After that, they have drawn three and lost five of their eight games there.

Ex-Red Josh Martin has made nine appearances for Pompey this season but none since early March.