Damien Delaney replacing the injury Ibrahima Sonko at the heart of the defence seems likely to be the Blues’ only change when they take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park tonight looking for their third win in three games (KO 7.45pm). The Town stand-in skipper dislocated a rib in Saturday’s abandoned match against Middlesbrough and will be out for up to a month.
Caretaker-manager Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland says Town’s coaches and players were shocked to hear of manager Roy Keane’s sacking when they arrived at Playford Road this morning. McParland will take charge of a much-weakened Blues side in the FA Cup at Chelsea on Sunday with midfielder Jake Livermore also now ruled out of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Chief executive Derek Bowden has confirmed that Town have held talks with former Drogheda central defender Graham Gartland, but says the 25-year-old is yet to be offered a contract. Free agent Gartland recently spent a week training with the Blues.