Preview: Cheltenham Town vs. Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups

While Pompey currently lead the way in the third tier, the Robins are languishing in the League One relegation zone.

Match preview

After claiming maximum points in games against Carlisle United and Shrewsbury Town, Cheltenham have gone on to experience a couple of underwhelming results.

The Robins gave up a two-goal lead to draw with Reading in their final match of 2023, before they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in their away clash with Northampton Town on New Year's Day.

Kieron Bowie's 66th-minute penalty ultimately proved decisive, as it helped Northampton claim all three points, while it also condemned Cheltenham to their 14th loss of the League One season.

Although only three of those defeats have taken place in their last 12 league games, Cheltenham are currently sitting in 23rd place with three points separating them from safety.

Ahead of a tricky meeting with the league leaders, Darrell Clarke's side may look to draw inspiration from the fact they have lost just one of their previous seven home league matches (W3, D3).

Meanwhile, Portsmouth will head into Saturday's fixture in a buoyant mood after they edged out Stevenage in their opening match of 2024 to end a four-game winless run in all competitions.

Paddy Lane saw his 12th-minute opener cancelled out by former Pompey midfielder Louis Thompson, before Colby Bishop restored his team's slender advantage just after the 30-minute mark.

Although another ex-Portsmouth player, Nathan Thompson, was sent off in stoppage time, there was to be no further goals in the encounter, ensuring John Mousinho's side could celebrate their eighth home league win of the season.

Having won 15 and drawn eight of their 25 league matches, Pompey sit top of the table with a two-point buffer to second-placed Bolton and a four-point cushion to Peterborough United in third position.

Although they have failed to win either of their last two road trips, Portsmouth currently boast the joint-best away record in the division after picking up 25 points from their 12 away league matches.

Cheltenham Town League One form:

D

L

W

W

D

L

Portsmouth League One form:

W

W

D

L

D

W

Portsmouth form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

D

W

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Team News

Cheltenham have doubts over the availability of Rob Street after the forward missed the opening game of the new year through injury.

Curtis Davies returned to the squad on Monday to make a substitute appearance against Northampton, and the experienced defender could be brought into the lineup for Saturday's contest.

Midfielder Liam Sercombe is also in contention for a starting place after dropping out of the side for Monday's defeat.

As for Portsmouth, they are expected to be without Zach Swanson, Regan Poole, Connor Ogilvie, Tom Lowery and Tino Anjorin.

Forward Kusini Yengi is currently on international duty after being called up to the Australian squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar.

After seeing his side return to winning ways on Monday, Mousinho could decide to name an unchanged lineup for Saturday's contest.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Smith, Davies, Freestone; Long, Bonds, Sercombe, Thompson, Pett, Ferry; Goodwin, LLoyd

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaugnessy, Sparkes; Morrell, Pack; Kamara, Robertson, Lane; Bishop

We say: Cheltenham Town 0-2 Portsmouth

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