SAME FACES, same performance, same result - it's not much for Pompey manager Alan Ball to ask for tomorrow's trip to Shepherd's Bush.

Having ended their worrying four-game losing streak emphatically with Tuesday night's 5-1 win over Walsall, Ball will hand the task of carrying the baton on to the same players for what promises to be a tougher trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Ball is unlikely to take even the little leeway his injury-limited options offer him, and he said: "The same players who did well on Tuesday night deserve another chance."

But the Pompey boss is also looking beyond the immediacy of tomorrow's trip, demanding: "I want those players who played the other night to make it difficult for those others when they come back from injury."

Although none of those are likely to return tomorrow, both Jeff Peron and Mike Panopoulos declared themselves as possible starters for next Tuesday's trip to Grimsby and Ball has warned he will not be afraid to make changes.

"Tuesday night's win was a big lift for everyone," said Ball who tempered that with a cautious note. "But we're under no illusions. It's going to be a long, tough, hard season of stabilisation.

"What recent results have shown is that any team can beat any other in this league, which is what everyone has always said."

With no injury problems to concern him Ball is likely to name the same starting line-up and that will continue Sammy Igoe's rehabilitation back in first-team football.

"Sammy did well the other night but we've found a system that suits him. He's strong when breaking from midfield and running at the opposition and when we play with a central defensive trio it allows him to do that without being too concerned about defensive duties. That's also been helped by Thomas Thogersen who holds in and gives us that bit of size and strength in the middle of the pitch."

Lee Bradbury is fired up and looking to add the goal he scored on his return on Tuesday, and an unchanged team would mean him continuing his partnership up front with Steve Claridge.

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