Portsmouth host Championship leaders, Middlesbrough in a stand-out clash ahead of October’s international break.
Should Birmingham draw at Wrexham and depending on results elsewhere, victory could see Portsmouth climb as high as tenth in the table.
Middlesbrough will stay top with a win as a draw won’t be enough, due to their inferior goal difference to second-placed Coventry who currently sits two points behind the Teessiders.
Team News
Portsmouth have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-2 draw against Watford in midweek.
Thomas Waddingham (quad), Franco Umeh (leg), Nicolas Schmid (hand), Callum Lang, Conor Shaughnessy (both hamstring), Josh Murphy (ankle) and Jacob Farrell (knee) remain absent.
Middlesbrough will be without George Edmundson after he suffered a hamstring injury in their goalless draw at home to Stoke in midweek.
Callum Brittain could return after he sat out the Potters clash due to a foot injury, but Seny Dieng, Darragh Lenihan (both Achilles) and Riley McGree (muscle) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Portsmouth host Middlesbrough at Fratton Park on Saturday 4 October at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Portsmouth have lost one of their last eight meetings against Middlesbrough (W2, D5, L1).
- Middlesbrough have lost two of their last six visits to Portsmouth (W2, D2, L2).
- Two of Portsmouth’s last six home games against Middlesbrough ended in 0-0 draws.
- Portsmouth have won one of four league games at home this season (W1, D1, L2).
- Middlesbrough conceded first in their last two away games (D2).
Prediction
Despite their extensive injury crisis and inconsistent results, Portsmouth have proven a difficult teams for many to beat as shown by their fightback against Watford after conceding from 1-0 up, and I don’t expect any less here if they bring that same graft but tighten up on the ball.
Middlesbrough meanwhile dominated large parts of their draw against Stoke who took the defensive bus parking approach in the first half, before an edgy second half saw both teams lack the clinical final touch but Boro are still unbeaten despite one win in four games.
Two of those three draws came in their last two away games after conceding first though so Boro really need to cut out those errors, especially at a tricky tight-knit team like Portsmouth who won’t make things easy for them but if they score first then this could be an away win.
Prediction: Portsmouth 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Portsmouth 1-0 Middlesbrough
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