Prestonvs.Portsmouth

Preston will be desperate to end a six-game winless league run, while Portsmouth will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Match preview

Preston are sitting in 15th place in the Championship table after winning nine, drawing 17 and losing 11 of their 37 league matches this season.

They have won just one of their last seven competitive matches, with that victory taking place in their FA Cup fifth-round clash against Burnley.

The Lilywhites looked set to claim a rare victory in Wednesday's away clash with Sunderland after taking a 65th-minute lead through Emil Riis, only to be denied all three points by Romaine Mundle's 86th-minute equaliser, meaning they have now gone six league games without a win since beating Norwich City on February 11.

Preston have at least proven to be a tough team to beat on home turf, having avoided defeat in each of their last 11 Championship matches at Deepdale, conceding no more one goal in any of those matches.

However, they have had to settle for draws in four of their previous five league outings at Deepdale, including their last three home games against Burnley, Millwall and Swansea City.

Preston have reason to be confident of claiming a positive result in Saturday's fixture after avoiding defeat in each of their last 10 home league games against Portsmouth since losing 5-0 in February 1973 (W6, D4).

After winning three consecutive matches, Portsmouth's survival bid has lost some of its momentum in recent weeks, having lost two of their last three games.

Pompey fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, before they bounced back with an impressive 1-0 home victory over Championship leaders Leeds United.

However, just three days later, John Mousinho's side were brought down to earth by a 2-1 defeat against basement side Plymouth Argyle at Fratton, representing just the second time they have lost at some since the end of October.

Sunderland loanee Adil Aouchiche netted a late goal to halve the deficit shortly after Matthew Sorinola had been given his marching orders, but Pompey were unable to take advantage of 11 minutes of stoppage time, ensuring Plymouth could celebrate their first away league win of the season.

Pompey still have a sizeable seven-point buffer to the relegation zone, but they will be keen to extend that gap on Saturday as they go in search of their third Championship away win of the season.

The visitors are also searching for their first league double over Preston since 1969-70 after recording a 3-1 victory in November's reverse fixture.

Preston North End Championship form:

D

D

L

D

L

D

Preston North End form (all competitions):

D

L

W

D

L

D

Portsmouth Championship form:

W

W

W

L

W

L

Team News

Preston midfielder Brad Potts has joined Ali McCann and Jack Whatmough on the sidelines after he picked up a hamstring injury in midweek.

Duane Holmes was also on Preston's injury list with a broken leg, but he has recently left the club to sign a deal with MLS side Houston Dynamo.

Jordan Storey and Milutin Osmajic are making progress in their respective injury recoveries, with the duo looking to prove their fitness in time for Saturday's home clash.

As for Portsmouth, Callum Lang, Paddy Lane, Jacob Farrell, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat are set to miss the rest of the season through injury.

Pompey are also without the central defensive duo of Rob Atkinson and Conor Shaughnessy, who are sidelined with calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

Christian Saydee and Jordan Williams will not be ready for Saturday's away trip, although they could return to fitness for the first game back from the international break against Blackburn Rovers on March 29.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Gibson, Porteous, Meghoma; Kesler-Hayden, Thordarson, Greenwood, Ledson, Hughes; Riis, Keane

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Swanson, Poole, Pack, Ogilvie; Dozzell, Potts; Ritchie, Aouchiche, Murphy; Bishop

We say: Preston North End 2-0 Portsmouth

Written by

Ben Sully

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