Portsmouth host Derby in an important Sky Bet Championship clash affecting both ends of the table.
Victory will lift Portsmouth up to 19th in the table, whilst Derby will stay eighth regardless of the result.
Team News
Regan Poole could return for Portsmouth after he missed their 2-1 loss at home to Swansea last Tuesday due to an ankle injury.
Conor Shaughnessy (fitness) is a doubt for selection.
Thomas Waddingham, Aji Alese (both quad), Andre Dozzell (ankle), Josh Knight (back), Mark Kosznovszky (ACL/MCL), Keshi Anderson, Franco Umeh (both hamstring), Makenzie Kirk (Achilles), Josh Murphy (metatarsal) and Florian Bianchini (knee) remain sidelined.
Derby will be without goalkeeper, Josh Vickers after he suffered a groin injury during their defeat at Millwall last Tuesday evening.
Jacob Widell Zetterstrm (illness), Max Johnston, Sondre Langas (both hamstring), Callum Elder (toe/knee), Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, Liam Thompson (both calf) and Danny Batth (Achilles) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Portsmouth host Derby at Fratton Park on Monday 16 March at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Portsmouth are winless in their last seven meetings against Derby (D6, L1).
- Derby have avoided defeat in their last five league visits to Portsmouth (W1, D4).
- Each of Portsmouth’s last two home matches against Derby ended in 2-2 draws.
- Portsmouth have claimed four points from five home matches in 2026 (W1, D1, L3).
- Ben Brereton Diaz and Matt Clarke have both scored in two of Derby’s last three matches (W2, L1).
Prediction
Sat only one point above the relegation zone, Portsmouth really need to start picking up wins if want to stay up but they do have a worryingly large injury crisis, yet are still finding goals despite their defensive fragility which cost them against Swansea in an otherwise fairly-even contest.
Derby meanwhile know that this is must-win if they’re to keep pace with Southampton in their pursuit of the last play-off spot occupied by Wrexham, but they will have to be more clinical than they were in their narrow defeat at Millwall.
This fixture though has been closely fought in recent seasons and I do expect more of the same, but this is the type of game that Derby must win if want a shot at the play-off spots and I fancy them to have the edge here despite their recent away dip.
Prediction: Portsmouth 1-2 Derby
Result: Portsmouth 0-1 Derby
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