Relegation-battling Portsmouth host Middlesbrough in a stand-out Championship fixture.
Victory could lift Portsmouth out of the relegation zone depending upon results elsewhere, whilst Middlesbrough can climb to fifth with a win if Blackburn draw or lose at Oxford United.
Team News
Paddy Lane is a doubt for Portsmouth after he suffered a knee injury during their midweek loss at Blackburn.
Jordan Archer (quad), Conor Shaughnessy (calf), Regan Poole (hamstring) and Jacob Farrell (knee) remain sidelined.
Middlesbrough could be without Emmanuel Latte Lath as the forward continues to be linked with a move to Atlanta United.
Luke Ayling and Aidan Morris (both knee) could both return if match fit for selection.
Sol Brynn (shoulder), Seny Dieng (knock), Jonny Howson (knock), Tommy Conway (hamstring), Alex Bangura (Achilles), Darragh Lenihan (fitness/Achilles) and Tommy Smith (Achilles) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Portsmouth host Middlesbrough at Fratton Park on Saturday 18 January at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Portsmouth have lost one of their last seven meetings against Middlesbrough (W1, D5, L1).
- Middlesbrough have lost one of their last five visits to Portsmouth (W2, D2, L1)
- Both teams have scored in two of their last three meetings at Fratton Park, except for a 0-0 draw in March 2011.
- Portsmouth have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches (W3, D1), except for a 4-1 comeback win over Coventry.
- George Edmundson has been booked in his last two away appearances for Boro.
Prediction
Still stuck in the relegation zone following another disappointing away performance in their defeat at Blackburn, Portsmouth certainly need to keep banking points at home if want to stay up as that is where their best hopes of survival lie – particularly given that they’ve claimed 13 points in their last five home matches.
Boro meanwhile have been grinding out the points lately with four draws in their last six league games and with the FA Cup now gone, their sole focus has to be on consolidating a play-off push but Latte Lath will be a loss in firepower if he doesn’t start here given Conway’s current absence.
Nevertheless Boro do have Delano Burgzorg and Ben Doak to fill the void even if they don’t have the same impact but I do expect them to have too much for Portsmouth, albeit if can sort out their leaky defending of late and score first otherwise Portsmouth will sniff at least a point if they get in front.
Prediction: Portsmouth 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Portsmouth 2-1 Middlesbrough