Portsmouth host Leicester in a blockbuster relegation showdown at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship.
Victory could move Portsmouth seven points clear of the relegation zone if Oxford United lose at Derby, and up to 18th before Charlton visit Sheffield Wednesday in the mid-afternoon kick-offs.
Leicester can move up to 22nd on goal difference with a win if Oxford Utd lose their match.
Team News
Conor Chaplin is available for Portsmouth after he was ineligible to feature in their shock 2-0 victory over his parent club – Ipswich in midweek.
Connor Ogilvie (suspension), Aji Alese (quad), Mark Kosznovszky (ACL/MCL), Franco Umeh (hamstring), Makenzie Kirk (Achilles), Josh Murphy (metatarsal) and Zak Swanson (knee) remain absent.
Leicester have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea last weekend.
Jordan James (heel) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) face late fitness tests.
When is Kick-Off?
Portsmouth host Leicester at Fratton Park on Saturday 18 April at 12:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Portsmouth have avoided defeat in their last five meetings against Leicester (W2, D3).
- Leicester have claimed seven points in their last five league visits to Portsmouth (W2, D1, L2).
- Each of Portsmouth’s last three meetings against Leicester ended in a 1-1 draw.
- Portsmouth are looking to keep three consecutive clean sheets for the first time since a four-match streak between November – December 2023.
- Leicester have won just one of their last 16 league matches (W1, D7, L8).
Prediction
With a huge chance to put themselves seven points above the drop with three more matches left this season, Portsmouth will be right up for this after their clinical performance against a lacklustre Ipswich and a noisy home atmosphere certainly helped, so I hope they bring more of the same here.
Leicester meanwhile were simply wasteful in their dominance against Swansea which ended in a narrow defeat after the Swans were just more clinical, so I want to see them bring more polish and composure because this is a major chance to put pressure on those around them now.
The Foxes have Hull and Millwall to come in their next two games who are fighting for play-off spots and promotion too in the latter’s case, so this is absolutely must-win otherwise they are all but mathematically down and I can see Portsmouth using that pressure to cause frustrations.
If that is indeed the case and Leicester again aren’t clinical then I genuinely can see Portsmouth nicking this.
Prediction: Portsmouth 1-0 Leicester
Result: Portsmouth 1-0 Leicester
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