The 2017/18 fixtures are out and Pompey fans have started to make their plans for the coming season.

You can view the fixtures in full here.

A bumper crowd can be expected at Fratton Park for the season opener against Rochdale on Saturday August 5th. Dale finished 9th last season in League One and will provide a key test, although the Blues’ fans will naturally want to get off to a winning start.

The following week, Pompey travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United who have seen their manager Michael Appleton move to Leicester City to become assistant manager. The U’s finished 8th last season in League One.

Walsall at home on Saturday August 19th is followed by an eagerly awaited trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday August 26th, where Pompey will meet former boss Paul Cook’s new side. Without doubt, Blues’ fans will be in particular fine vocal form that day and it certainly will be a tasty encounter.

There are four home matches during September with Rotherham United, Fleetwood Town, Bristol Rovers and Oldham Athletic all scheduled to visit Fratton. The Blues’ face away trips to AFC Wimbledon, Northampton Town and Scunthorpe United.

International breaks will see Sky Sports select League One and/or League Two fixtures to televise live.  Could Pompey be selected perhaps?

Sat Sept 2nd Rotherham H
Sat Oct 7th Gillingham A
Sat Nov 11th Blackpool A
Sat Mar 24th Oxford Utd H

October appears on paper to possibly be a tricky month.  The Blues’ travel to Gillingham on Saturday October 7th, home with MK Dons on Saturday October 14th, before a midweek trip to Doncaster and another long haul north to Blackburn on Saturday October 21st.

The month ends for Pompey on Saturday October 28th at home to Bradford City, who missed out on promotion last season, losing to Millwall in the play-off final at Wembley.

The 1st round of the FA Cup opens November followed by four league matches – Blackpool and Northampton away – Southend United and Plymouth Argyle at home.

Blues’ fans will be pleased that Blackpool away is scheduled for a Saturday this season, however key to note it is an international break weekend so depending how the two teams are faring, could Sky Sports select it as one of their televised matches?

All being well, Pompey will be in FA Cup second round action in December before they face Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town away, with Bury, AFC Wimbledon (Boxing Day) and Northampton Town making the trip south.

It’s great to see Pompey at home twice over the festive period unlike last season, and a New Years Day trip to Bristol Rovers will hopefully help to banish any hangovers.

A potential reschedule could materialise on Saturday January 5th with the Blues’ set to entertain Fleetwood Town, however this is also the FA Cup third round weekend – chances are either one or perhaps both teams will still be in the competition?

The rest of the month will see two home – Scunthorpe United and Shrewsbury Town – and one away – Rotherham United.

February has five matches scheduled – Doncaster Rovers, Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool at home – MK Dons and Southend United away. Could be a key month for Pompey?

Into the tail end of the season, which hopefully will see Pompey in the top part of the table pushing for the play-offs or possibly higher?

Just two matches at Fratton in March – Gillingham and Oxford United – with a tough away trip to start the month at Bradford City, and away trips to Oldham Athletic and Walsall.

The Walsall match scheduled on Easter Saturday could move by agreement of both clubs to Friday March 30th.

Into April – and what a match for Easter Monday at Fratton Park – Paul Cook’s Wigan Athletic.

The last five matches see away trips to Rochdale and Plymouth Argyle, a home clash with Charlton Athletic, away at Bury before the Blues’ wrap up their season at Fratton Park against Peterborough United on Saturday May 5th – with a later KO time of 5:30pm.

How do you see Pompey faring this season? What are your expectations? Let us know by commenting below or get in touch on Twitter or Facebook.

Play up Pompey!

[Fixture Image/Map: Portsmouth News]