Claridge's Portsmouth handed trip to Abbey

Cambridge will meet up again with their former striker, Steve Claridge, after the Abbey Stadium side were drawn against his current team, Portsmouth, in yesterday's Worthington Cup first round draw.

Cambridge will meet up again with their former striker, Steve Claridge, after the Abbey Stadium side were drawn against his current team, Portsmouth, in yesterday's Worthington Cup first round draw.

Roy McFarland's side host Pompey in the first leg on 21 August and the return match is at Fratton Park on 4 September.

David Preece, Cambridge's assistant manager, is looking forward to the tie against Tony Pulis' First Division side but appreciates his men will be in for a tricky ordeal. "Steve is a former player of ours, and it will be nice to see him back at the Abbey Stadium," he said. "We know all about him. He scored a lot of goals in the First Division last year, and Portsmouth will be a good test for us."

Elsewhere, Tranmere - last season's beaten finalists - play Halifax, Jean Tigana's first cup match in charge of Fulham is against Northampton and Danny Wilson's Bristol City play their Second Division rivals, Brentford. Another attractive tie see Rotherham play their Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley.