Portsmouthvs.Burnley

Meanwhile, the relegation-threatened hosts will be looking for a positive response after losing their last two matches.

Match preview

Portsmouth are languishing in 21st place in the Championship table after winning seven, drawing eight and losing 14 of their 29 league matches.

Pompey are just two points clear of the bottom three after they missed the opportunity to extend that gap in Tuesday's game in hand against Millwall.

John Mousinho's side went into the contest looking to bounce back from a heavy 5-1 away defeat to West Bromwich Albion, but it proved to be a disappointing outing, as their seven-game unbeaten home run came to an end with a narrow 1-0 loss against the Lions.

While they may have lost at home for the first time since October, Pompey can still take confidence from the fact they have won four of their last five matches at Fratton Park, giving them a source of inspiration for Saturday's tricky test.

They have also scored at least three goals in five of their previous eight matches at Fratton Park, and they will need to showcase that sort of firepower if they are to trouble a team with the best defensive record in the division.

Having lost their last two home matches against Burnley, Portsmouth will be hoping to claim their first head-to-head home win since recording a 2-0 Premier League victory in December 2009.

Burnley will head into the weekend in third place and just a point adrift of the top two after winning 15, drawing 12 and losing just two of their 29 league matches this season.

The Clarets recently played out a goalless draw against leaders Leeds United to extend their unbeaten run to 16 league matches since they lost away to Millwall on November 3.

As a result of another strong defensive display, Scott Parker's side have now recorded seven consecutive clean sheets in the Championship, meaning they have not conceded a league goal since Watford's Kwadwo Baah found the net in Burnley's 2-1 win on December 21.

Burnley will now head on their travels for Saturday's fixture, with the visitors looking to record a third consecutive away victory after beating Blackburn Rovers and Plymouth Argyle in their last two Championship road trips.

Incidentally, they recorded shutouts in both of those victories, helping keep seven clean sheets in their last eight away league matches.

The Clarets will hope a sturdy backline can provide the foundation for them to complete a league double over Portsmouth after coming from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory in September's reverse fixture.

Portsmouth Championship form:

L

L

W

W

L

L

Portsmouth form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

L

L

Burnley Championship form:

D

D

W

D

W

D

Burnley form (all competitions):

D

W

W

D

W

D

Team News

bu

The hosts remain without Regan Poole, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Paddy Lane, Mark O'Mahony and Kusini Yengi.

Full-back Jordan Williams is unlikely to be involved after sitting out the defeat to Millwall with a hamstring problem.

Bristol City loanee Rob Atkinson could return to the matchday squad after missing Tuesday's outing through illness.

As for Burnley, they are expected to be without the services of Jordan Beyer, Manuel Benson, Enock Agyei, Aaron Ramsey and Nathan Redmond.

January addition Jonjo Shelvey is yet to make a matchday squad due to a lack of match fitness, and it is currently unclear whether he will be ready to play a role in Saturday's fixture.

Zian Flemming will continue to lead the line for the visitors, having scored five goals across his last five competitive appearances.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Swanson, Pack, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Hayden, Potts; Ritchie, Lang, Murphy; Bishop

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent; Anthony, Brownhill, Foster; Flemming

We say: Portsmouth 0-2 Burnley

Written by

Ben Sully

Previews by email