Lack of Portsmouth fans could help Dons at Fratton Park

Playing in empty stadiums is becoming more and more normal, but it might help MK Dons this Saturday against Portsmouth.

Fratton Park averaged almost 18,000 fans last season as Kenny Jackett's side finished fifth in League One before losing to Karl Robinson's Oxford United in the play-offs behind closed doors.

The raucous Portsmouth fans create a tense atmosphere at the close-knit ground, but can also be quick to turn on their own when things aren't going right.

"It's a really tough place to go, and we have to use that to our advantage," said Russell Martin, discussing the prospect of playing at an empty Fratton Park. "It's not the same playing at home without your fans, the energy is different and I'm sure Portsmouth are feeling that because their fans create a fantastic atmosphere down there.

"It's an old school stadium in terms of the tradition and history, with a set of fans who are used to football at a higher level. The demands are high. But it might also help the Portsmouth players with the expectation on them from the fans, who expect them to beat most teams at this level. It works both ways. Maybe it will help some of their players."

Portsmouth only picked up their first league win last weekend against Burton, with pressure mounting on manager Jackett prior to their 4-2 triumph. Despite their start though, Martin believes Pompey will be fighting at the sharp end of the table.

He said: "It's a massive club for this level, and I think their fans expect them to be competing at the very top, but it's such early days. Portsmouth are not going to be in this position at the end, I expect them to be at the top end of the league, and there will be people at the top of the table at the moment who won't be there come the end. Kenny has proven he is a really successful manager at this level, and we expect them to be up there."

Poor starts to both halves cost Dons dearly in the reverse fixture last season as they went down 3-1, with Andy Cannon netting after four minutes, and John Marquis on 49 minutes, either side of an Alex Gilbey penalty in first half stoppage time, before Marcus Harness' 90th minute third.

But Martin feels his side are a different prospect heading to Fratton Park this time around, and predicts his side have a better chance of winning than they did back in February.

He said: "We had two really good performances against them last season, one here where we won and at their place we conceded too early but after that we were excellent and lost. If -we can produce those performances I'm confident we can go there and win.

"Once we got that goal, I felt we were going to get something from the game but they had a lot of good players and experience and it paid off for them. I feel we're a different team with a different mentality this time. I feel like that's where we've improved most."