The Bluebirds and Pompey will face off this Saturday with a few familiar faces for both sets of fans. The sides have shared a whole host of players in recent years.
Marlon Pack
The current midfielder for Portsmouth has spent lengthy spells with both clubs throughout his career. Pack came through the academy in Portsmouth after spending his childhood with a season ticket at Fratton Park. After becoming a big name in the Pompey youth sides he earned himself a place in the squad for a League Cup match against Crystal Palace. He came on as an extra time substitute and scored in the resulting penalty shootout. His potential was visible in the youth sides which found him a couple of loan moves to League Two with Dagenham & Redbridge and Cheltenham Town. After his loan move he ended up moving to Cheltenham Town on a permanent deal before moving onto Bristol City a few years later.
In August 2019 after six seasons with the Robins, Pack made the move to the Welsh Capital joining up with the recently relegated Bluebirds. Pack brought a wealth of Championship experience to City and provided stability in the heart of midfield across the three seasons in CF11. He made over 100 appearances for City before leaving after the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2021/22 season.
It was then Pack returned to his hometown club after 11 years since he left. Pack became ever present for Pompey in his first season which led to John Mousinho rewarding the local hero with the captains armband. Pack captained his side to League One glory and was included in the PFA team of the season and was named the Portsmouth Player of the Season. Pack is still an integral part of Mousinho’s side and has started Pompey’s previous three games. He could start alongside another former City man Ebou Adams this Saturday.
Gary O’Neil
The current Ipswich Town manager is another midfield man who has lined up in both City and Portsmouth colours. Just like Pack, he began his career with Pompey and made his debut aged only 16 under Welshman Tony Pulis. O’Neil scored his first ever professional goal in a 3-0 victory over Barnsley on the final day of the season where Pompey had to win to keep their place in the First Division.
At the end of the 2001/02 season a managerial change caused an overhaul of players at Fratton Park. O’Neil survived this and became a part of the new look Pompey team under Harry Redknapp. This side went on to get promoted to the Premier League which meant gametime was no longer a guarantee for O’Neil who found himself moving out on loan to Walsall. The loan was cut short due to an injury crisis however O’Neil travelled to be England Under 20’s captain at the FIFA World Youth Championships. Upon his return the need for him to play had eased due injured players returning and he found it difficult to break back into the side.
This resulted in O’Neil going out on loan again the following season, this time to Cardiff City. O’Neil was a great addition to Lennie Lawrence’s side in the opening games of the season. The midfielder scored against his boyhood club Millwall while with City however another injury crisis at Pompey meant they had no choice but to recall O’Neil just like the season prior. After returning to South Hampshire this time O’Neil became a regular starter for the next three seasons under different managers and racked up 174 appearances before eventually moving onto Middlesbrough.
Alex Robertson
The current Bluebird began his career in Football originally with the Manchester United academy before switching to the blue side of Manchester at Under 15s level. He quickly rose through the ranks with the Sky Blues and trained with the first team on occasion. During his time at Manchester City, Robertson worked under then Under-23’s manager Brian Barry-Murphy.
Robertson made the move to join up with John Mousinho’s Pompey on loan during the 2023/24 season. Robertson was a crucial player in the first half of their title winning season playing in midfield alongside Marlon Pack. Robertson stood out as a brilliant player with a lot of potential, however his season at Fratton Park came to an abrupt end after tearing his hamstring in training.
Despite the unfortunate injury, Robertson had impressed enough that the Bluebirds made a permanent move for the Australian. His Uncle, ex-bluebird Gavin Rae helped inspire Robertson to move to South Wales. Rae himself had history with Pompey as he started the 2008 FA Cup Final for City against them.
Robertson became one of the most impressive players for City upon joining. One of Robertson’s best performances in his first season came in a 2-0 City victory over Portsmouth at Cardiff City Stadium. Last season Robertson was reunited with his former boss, BBM and is now an integral part of his Cardiff City side. Robertson will be hoping he can put in a sublime performance when he faces his former side this weekend.
Josh Murphy
Another player City could face this weekend is Josh Murphy. Murphy joined the Bluebirds at the beginning of their Premier League season under Neil Warnock from Norwich City in 2018. Despite his season being struck by injury early on, Murphy came back to score his first goal in a 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley before getting on the scoresheet crucially to help City to their first win of the season as 4-2 winners over Fulham.
After a disappointing relegation back to the Championship, Murphy stayed a part of the City side making 33 appearances that season. His most notable fixture was against Middlesbrough away at the Riverside where he netted a brace to help City make their way to the play-offs.
Murphy found it difficult to gain form with City and was loaned out to Preston North End before his contract expired and ultimately left the club to sign for Oxford United. After two successful seasons with them including helping them win promotion alongside Pompey, Murphy made the switch to Fratton Park. Back in the Championship Murphy kept up his form from the previous season. He scored seven times and assisted 14 from the left hand side of midfield and even assisted both goals in Portsmouth's 2-1 victory over the Bluebirds.
Murphy struggled to find as much game time last season however he still assisted seven times and has featured twice for Portsmouth this season.
Gavin Whyte
Whyte started his football journey in Northern Ireland. He came up through the ranks with Crusaders before becoming a crucial member of their team in the 2014/15 season. During his time with the Crusaders, Whyte won three league titles and played European football. His impressive form saw interest come in from England where he signed for Oxford United. At United he had a very fine first season scoring seven goals and getting three assists in League One. Whyte was signed by Cardiff City the following season and made his debut as a substitute when he replaced Josh Murphy. During his time with the Bluebirds Whyte could only manage to find the one goal which came in a 2-2 draw in the Emirates FA Cup against Carlisle United.
Unfortunately, Whyte could never quite find form for City so went out on loan to Hull City and then back to Oxford United. At the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Whyte made the move to Portsmouth in League 1 where he made 34 appearances and scored once in the EFL Trophy. Whyte then went on to move back across the Irish Sea to Derry City where he is currently playing after never quite finding the form he had in Northern Ireland.