Pompey's Festive Fixtures Suspended!

The EFL have today announced that Portsmouth Football Club's next two league fixtures will be played at a later date, as a result of five Blues players testing positive for COVID-19.

Kenny Jackett's side were scheduled to take on Swindon Town at Fratton Park on Boxing Day before making the short trip to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday the 29th of December, however the squad has been hit by a wave of positive COVID-19 results.

Fears of a spread amongst the team began on Friday afternoon, when defender Jack Whatmough was left out of the side which travelled to Hull City, after feeling unwell earlier that morning.

The 24-year-old had his results returned on Saturday, where it became clear he had tested positive, prompting the club to follow protocol and roll out immediate tests to the rest of the team.

Blues boss Jackett revealed to Pompey Live commentator Andy Moon that all five positive test results came from members of the first-team playing squad.

#Pompey boss Kenny Jackett says the 5 positive cases are all players, a few are feeling “pretty tough” at the moment

— Andrew Moon (@mrandrewmoon) December 23, 2020

Pompey's playing squad and coaching staff, who would have come into contact with those who have tested positive, will now follow Football League and Government guidelines in self-isolating for the required period of time.

It is not yet known at this moment the names of the players who have contracted the virus.

As a result of the postponements over the festive period, the Blues are next expected to fulfil a match on Saturday the 2nd of January, 2021, when they are scheduled to take on Accrington Stanley away from home.

Pompey currently sit top of the League One table, following Friday's 2-0 victory at Hull City and Doncaster Rovers' 1-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

Jake Smith, Ryan Stillwell and Sam Macey will be discussing this news, the impact it will have on Pompey and a short review of the season so far on The Football Hour, between 6-7pm on Thursday the 24th of December (Christmas Eve)!