PORTLAND United interim boss Gary Bailey expects a “similar situation” to last week as the Blues prepare to host AFC Portchester at the Camp and Satherley Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Bailey and interim coach Reggie Carter will again take the helm after the 8-2 defeat at Fareham Town on Saturday.

Portchy are considered one of the bigger spending sides in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division and Bailey expects a difficult assignment for his youthful squad.

He told Echosport: “We’re going to be in a similar situation as we were last week player-wise.

“We’ll put together a team as strong as we can. It will be full of youngsters again and it’s a good opportunity to test themselves.

“They didn’t let us down at all (at Fareham). The ones that came in held their own and put a good shift in. I’ve got no doubts they’ll do the same again.

“You’ve got to take the positives out of last week and for an hour there were some. We were a match for a very good Fareham side.

“We were our own worst enemies last week. We got punished by our own errors. That’s what we’ve got to stop doing, shipping goals and giving teams a foothold in the game.

“If teams come and outplay us and are better than us on the day, there’s nothing we can do about that.

“We’ve got to stop giving soft goals away and giving teams a way into the game.

“At this level you’re playing against good players and they don’t need a second chance to put you to the sword.

“We must stay organised, stay together and be more ruthless in both penalty areas.”

Lewis Whyton could return, while Alex Halloran (quad) will be assessed.