Portsmouth v Bournemouth FA Cup team news and stats

Benik Afobe: In form for Bournemouth

Benik Afobe: In form for Bournemouth

Bournemouth will bid to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1989 when they make the short journey to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Team news

Portsmouth boss Paul Cook will be without midfielder Danny Hollands, who has a leg injury.

Defender Kieron Freeman, who joined Pompey on loan from Sheffield United until the end of the season on Thursday, is cup-tied after playing for the Blades earlier in the competition.

Pompey are fifth in League Two and beat Championship outfit Ipswich Town 2-1 in the third round.

Bournemouth will have captain Tommy Elphick back in the squad following the defender’s recovery from ankle surgery.

Midfielder Junior Stanislas is expected to be out for two weeks following a knee problem sustained in the Premier League match at Sunderland.

Manager Eddie Howe is likely to rotate his squad, but forwards Callum Wilson and Max Gradel both continue their long-term rehabilitation.

Opta stats

Portsmouth have met Bournemouth once before in the FA Cup, at this very stage in 1991 – Pompey won 5-1 at Fratton Park.

However, these two sides did meet as recently as two seasons ago with Eunan O’Kane scoring the only goal in a 1-0 Bournemouth victory in the League Cup.

This is Pompey’s first appearance in the fourth round since they went all the way to the FA Cup Final in 2010.

The Cherries haven’t reached the Fifth Round since 1989 when they lost in a replay against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In fact, Bournemouth have only managed to reach the Fifth Round on two other occasions (1929 and 1957).

Bournemouth have lost just one of their last seven competitive away matches (W3 D3 L1).

Benik Afobe will be looking to score in three successive club appearances for the first time since April 2015.