2017–18 Portsmouth F.C. season
# 2017–18 Portsmouth F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Portsmouth's 119th season of existence and their first back in League One following their promotion as champions last season. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

## Players

### Squad details

    As of 5 May 2018

| No. | Name | Pos. | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (Age) | Club apps | Club goals | Int. caps | Int. goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | Contract End |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Luke McGee | GK | Edgware | (1995-09-02) 2 September 1995 (age 27) | 50 | 0 | – | – | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 July 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2020 |
| 13 | Stephen Henderson | GK | Dublin | 2 May 1988 (age 29) | 28 | 0 | - | - | Nottingham Forest | 31 January 2018 | Loan | 30 June 2018 |
| 35 | Alex Bass | GK | Huntingdon | (1998-04-01) 1 April 1998 (age 25) | 3 | 0 | – | – | Academy | 12 August 2014 | Trainee | 30 June 2018 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Anton Walkes | RB/DM | Lewisham | 8 February 1997 (age 20) | 12 | 1 | - | - | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 January 2018 | Loan | 30 June 2018 |
| 3 | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | LB | Farnborough | (1995-10-31) 31 October 1995 (age 27) | 1 | 0 | – | – | Huddersfield Town | 5 July 2017 | Loan | 30 June 2018 |
| 5 | Matt Clarke | CB | Barham | (1996-09-22) 22 September 1996 (age 26) | 115 | 5 | – | – | Ipswich Town | 20 May 2016 | Swap | 30 June 2020 |
| 6 | Christian Burgess | CB | Barking | (1991-10-07) 7 October 1991 (age 31) | 127 | 6 | – | – | Peterborough Utd. | 25 June 2015 | Undisc. | 30 June 2020 |
| 16 | Jack Whatmough | CB | Gosport | (1996-08-19) 19 August 1996 (age 26) | 66 | 1 | – | – | Academy | 19 August 2013 | Free | 30 June 2019 |
| 20 | Nathan Thompson | RB/CB/DM | Chester | (1990-11-09) 9 November 1990 (age 32) | 40 | 0 | – | – | Swindon Town | 22 June 2017 | Free | 30 June 2019 |
| 29 | Sylvain Deslandes | LB/CB | Kouoptamo | 25 April 1997 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | – | – | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 January 2018 | Loan | 30 June 2018 |
| 38 | Brandon Haunstrup | LB | Waterlooville | (1996-10-26) 26 October 1996 (age 26) | 26 | 0 | – | – | Academy | 25 June 2015 | Free | 30 June 2018 |
| 39 | Joe Hancott | LB | Isle of Wight | (2001-03-08) 8 March 2001 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | – | – | Academy | 15 August 2017 | Trainee | 30 June 2019 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Danny Rose | CM | Bristol | (1988-02-21) 21 February 1988 (age 35) | 59 | 5 | – | – | Northampton Town | 3 June 2016 | Free | 30 June 2018 |
| 7 | Stuart O'Keefe | CM | Eye | (1991-03-04) 4 March 1991 (age 32) | 25 | 2 | – | – | Cardiff City | 31 August 2017 | Loan | 31 May 2018 |
| 11 | Matty Kennedy | LW/RW | Irvine | (1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 (age 28) | 33 | 3 | – | – | Cardiff City | 31 August 2017 | Loan | 31 May 2018 |
| 14 | Connor Ronan | CM/AM | Rochdale | 6 March 1998 (age 19) | 17 | 0 | – | – | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 January 2018 | Loan | 30 June 2018 |
| 17 | Dion Donohue | CM/LM/LB | Bodedern | (1993-08-26) 26 August 1993 (age 29) | 35 | 0 | – | – | Chesterfield | 18 August 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2019 |
| 18 | Jamal Lowe | RW/LW | Harrow | (1994-07-21) 21 July 1994 (age 29) | 64 | 12 | – | – | Hampton & Richmond | 1 January 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2020 |
| 22 | Kal Naismith | RW/LW/ST | Glasgow | (1992-02-18) 18 February 1992 (age 31) | 93 | 21 | – | – | Accrington Stanley | 28 May 2015 | Undisc. | 30 June 2018 |
| 26 | Gareth Evans | RW/RB | Macclesfield | (1988-04-26) 26 April 1988 (age 35) | 131 | 18 | – | – | Fleetwood Town | 28 July 2015 | Free | 30 June 2019 |
| 30 | Adam May | CM | Southampton | (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 25) | 25 | 0 | – | – | Academy | 17 April 2015 | Free | 30 June 2018 |
| 33 | Ben Close | CM | Portsmouth | (1996-08-08) 8 August 1996 (age 26) | 72 | 2 | – | – | Academy | 9 May 2014 | Free | 30 June 2020 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||
| 8 | Brett Pitman | ST | Saint Helier | (1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 (age 35) | 41 | 25 | – | – | Ipswich Town | 13 July 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2020 |
| 9 | Oliver Hawkins | ST/CB | Ealing | (1992-04-08) 8 April 1992 (age 31) | 35 | 8 | – | – | Dagenham & Redbridge | 31 August 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2020 |
| 15 | Nicke Kabamba | ST | Brent | 1 February 1993 (aged 24) | 5 | 0 | | | Hampton & Richmond | 18 January 2017 | Undisc. | 30 June 2018 |
| 19 | Conor Chaplin | ST/LW | Worthing | (1997-02-16) 16 February 1997 (age 26) | 121 | 25 | – | – | Academy | 20 October 2014 | Free | 30 June 2019 |

## Statistics

    As of 26 March 2018

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Luke McGee | 43 | 0 | 37+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Anton Walkes | 9 | 1 | 9+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Danny Rose | 19 | 0 | 13+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Matt Clarke | 38 | 3 | 34+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Christian Burgess | 36 | 0 | 32+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Stuart O'Keefe | 19 | 2 | 14+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | Jersey | Brett Pitman | 33 | 19 | 27+3 | 18 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Oliver Hawkins | 32 | 8 | 21+7 | 7 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | SVK | Milan Lalkovič | 2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Matty Kennedy | 30 | 3 | 20+6 | 3 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | IRL | Stephen Henderson | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Connor Ronan | 12 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Jack Whatmough | 10 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | WAL | Dion Donohue | 29 | 0 | 23+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Jamal Lowe | 41 | 7 | 30+5 | 5 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+2 | 2 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Conor Chaplin | 30 | 5 | 11+13 | 5 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Nathan Thompson | 32 | 0 | 26+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | SCO | Kal Naismith | 23 | 3 | 12+7 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Kyle Bennett | 22 | 0 | 10+7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Drew Talbot | 7 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Gareth Evans | 29 | 2 | 19+5 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 1 |
| 29 | DF | FRA | Sylvain Deslandes | 2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Adam May | 18 | 0 | 10+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Ben Close | 36 | 2 | 28+3 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 35 | GK | ENG | Alex Bass | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 38 | DF | ENG | Brandon Haunstrup | 16 | 0 | 10+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 39 | DF | ENG | Joe Hancott | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| Player(s) out on loan: ||||||||||||||
| 15 | FW | ENG | Nicke Kabamba | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| Player(s) who left the club: ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | IRL | Damian McCrory | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Carl Baker | 4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Curtis Main | 9 | 1 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 1 |

### Goals record

    As of 26 March 2018

| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | | CF | Brett Pitman | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 2 | 9 | | CF | Oliver Hawkins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | 18 | | RW | Jamal Lowe | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | 19 | | CF | Conor Chaplin | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 | | CB | Matt Clarke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | 7 | | CM | Stuart O'Keefe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | 11 | | LW | Matty Kennedy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | 22 | | AM | Kal Naismith | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | 26 | | RW | Gareth Evans | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | 33 | | CM | Ben Close | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 2 | | RB | Anton Walkes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | N/A | | CF | Curtis Main | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 48 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 59 |

### Disciplinary Record

    As of 26 March 2018

| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League One | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 20 | | CB | Nathan Thompson | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 6 | | CB | Christian Burgess | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 5 | | CB | Matt Clarke | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 17 | | CM | Dion Donohue | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 7 | | CM | Stuart O'Keefe | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 8 | | CF | Brett Pitman | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 18 | | RW | Jamal Lowe | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 26 | | RW | Gareth Evans | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | 11 | | LW | Matty Kennedy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 30 | | CM | Adam May | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | 1 | | GK | Luke McGee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 9 | | CF | Charlie Hawkins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 16 | | CB | Jack Whatmough | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 22 | | CF | Kai Naismith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 38 | | LB | Brandon Haunstrup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | N/A | | RW | Kyle Bennett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 46 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 3 |

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 April 2017 | AM | Jez Bedford | Academy | Promoted |
| 10 April 2017 | CM | Theo Widdrington | Academy | Promoted |
| 1 July 2017 | CB | Nathan Thompson | Swindon Town | Free |
| 12 July 2017 | GK | Luke McGee | Tottenham Hotspur | Undisclosed |
| 14 July 2017 | CF | Brett Pitman | Ipswich Town | Undisclosed |
| 18 August 2017 | MF | Dion Donohue | Chesterfield | Undisclosed |
| 31 August 2017 | CF | Oliver Hawkins | Dagenham & Redbridge | Undisclosed |

Total losses: £0

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2017 | CM | Stanley Aborah | Waterford | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | RB | Calvin Davies | Bognor Regis | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | CM | Michael Doyle | Coventry City | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | ST | Noel Hunt | Wigan Athletic | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | CM | Amine Linganzi | Swindon Town | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | GK | Liam O'Brien | Coventry City | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | LB | Enda Stevens | Sheffield United | Free |
| 8 July 2017 | ST | Harvey Bradbury | Watford | Free |
| 8 August 2017 | LW | Gary Roberts | Wigan Athletic | Mutual consent |
| 31 August 2017 | RM | Carl Baker | Free agent | Mutual consent |
| 31 August 2017 | CB | Tom Davies | Coventry City | Undisclosed |
| 31 August 2017 | CF | Michael Smith | Bury | Mutual consent |
| 19 December 2017 | RB | Drew Talbot | Chesterfield | Mutual consent |
| 3 January 2018 | ST | Curtis Main | Motherwell | Free transfer |
| 31 January 2018 | LW/RW | Milan Lalkovič | Free agent | Mutual consent |
| 31 January 2018 | LW/RW | Kyle Bennett | Bristol Rovers | Free transfer |

* ↑ Stanley Aborah joined Waterford following his release.
* ↑ Calvin Davies joined Bognor Regis following his release.
* ↑ Noel Hunt joined Wigan Athletic following his release.
* ↑ Gary Roberts joined Wigan Athletic following his departure.
* ↑ Michael Smith joined Bury following his departure.

Total gaining: £0

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 July 2017 | LB | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | Huddersfield Town | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | LB | Damien McCrory | Burton Albion | January 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | CM | Stuart O'Keefe | Cardiff City | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | RW | Matty Kennedy | Cardiff City | 30 June 2018 |
| 3 January 2018 | LB | Sylvain Deslandes | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 June 2018 |
| 3 January 2018 | CM | Connor Ronan | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 June 2018 |
| 29 January 2018 | RB | Anton Walkes | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 January 2018 | GK | Stephen Henderson | Nottingham Forest | 30 June 2018 |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 31 August 2017 | CF | | Nicke Kabamba | Colchester United | January 2018 | |
| 5 January 2018 | CF | | Nicke Kabamba | Aldershot Town | June 2018 | |

## Competitions

### Friendlies

As of 22 June 2017, Portsmouth have announced five pre-season friendlies against Salisbury, Eastleigh, Havant & Waterlooville, AFC Bournemouth and Crawley Town.

On 19 June 2017, A joint decision was made to cancel the scheduled friendly against Cardiff City as the clubs were drawn together in the first round of the EFL Cup.

### League One

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 71 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 59 | −1 | 68 | |
| 8 | Portsmouth | 46 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 57 | 56 | +1 | 66 | |
| 9 | Peterborough United | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 64 | |
| 10 | Southend United | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 58 | 62 | −4 | 63 | |

* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the EFL Championship.

**Result summary**

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: 9 December 2017. Source:

**Results by matchday**

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | L | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | L | L | D | W | L | L | W | L | L | W | W | W | W | D | D | L | L | L | W |
| Position | 3 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 |

**Matches**

On 21 June 2017, the league fixtures were announced.

### FA Cup

On 16 October 2017, Portsmouth were drawn away to Luton Town in the first round.

### EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Portsmouth were drawn away to Cardiff City in the first round.

### EFL Trophy

On 12 July 2017, Portsmouth were drawn in Southern Group A against Charlton Athletic, Crawley Town and Fulham U23s. After winning the group stages, Portsmouth were drawn at home to Northampton Town in the second round. A third round trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea U21s was next for Pompey.

| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | L2 | Yeovil Town | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Reading U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | L1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | |
