Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Preview: Derby County vs. Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 April 2023, 21:21
Derby County, who have gone five games without defeat, will continue their League One playoff push when they welcome Portsmouth to Pride Park on Saturday.

Pompey do not have much to play for in terms of league position, but they will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Match preview

After being relegated from the Championship last season, Derby remain in the hunt to return to the second tier at the first time of asking.

The Rams followed a 2-1 away win over Exeter City with another narrow victory in Saturday's home game against Burton Albion.

David McGoldrick dispatched his 63rd-minute spot-kick to guide the Rams to a 1-0 win that extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

The crucial three points moved Paul Warne's side into the final playoff position with two games left to play in the 2022-23 season.

Derby could secure their place in the playoffs on Saturday if they can beat Portsmouth and seventh-placed Peterborough United drop points against Bristol Rovers.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, ended a run of four consecutive draws on Saturday with a narrow 1-0 home victory over Accrington Stanley.

Joe Pigott scored the winning goal in the 75th minute to secure all three points, moving Pompey up one place to eighth position.

With seven points separating them from Derby, John Mousinho's side are unable to reach the playoffs, but they will be keen to finish as high as possible.

Having avoided defeat in each of their previous nine matches, Pompey will also be looking to carry their unbeaten run into the summer break.

Although the visitors are unbeaten in five away games, their last three matches on the road have all finished in draws.

Derby County League One form:

L

W

D

D

W

W

Portsmouth League One form:

W

D

D

D

D

W

Team News

Derby defender James Chester has been sidelined since October, and Warne has revealed that he is unlikely to feature again this season.

The Rams are also unable to call upon Tony Springett, who has an outside chance of returning for the playoffs should Derby finish in the top six.

As Derby look to retain their place in the playoffs, Warne could be tempted to opt for consistency and select the same lineup for a third consecutive game.

As for the visitors, they remain without the services of Zach Swanson, Ronan Curtis, Denver Hume and Jay Mingi, who are all sidelined with injury issues.

After serving a four-match suspension, Joe Morrell will return to the matchday squad, but he may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Pigott came off the bench to score the winner against Accrington, and he could be rewarded with a place in Saturday's starting lineup.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Forsyth, Davies, Cashin; Knight, Bird, Hourihane, Roberts; Mendez-Laing, Sibley, McGoldrick

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Macey; Rafferty, Bernard, Towler, Ogilvie; Lowery, Pack; Lane, Pigott, Jacobs; Bishop

We say: Derby County 1-1 Portsmouth

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League stars Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister got on the scoresheet as Argentina celebrated their World Cup qualification with a dominant 4-1 victory over rivals Brazil. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has reportedly attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential summer move. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will complete their quadruple header when they face off in Thursday's Women's Champions League quarter-final second leg. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Highly-sought-after Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly ruled out a possible move to Nottingham Forest this summer. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday, Barcelona Women will face Wolfsburg Women in the second leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-final tie. 25 March 2025 talksport.com There may be a sky full of stars at Wembley in September, but there will be a pitch full of stars two hours north. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Real Madrid will be a force to be reckoned with next season. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez will be fit for Thursday's rescheduled La Liga clash against Osasuna, although Pau Cubarsi faces a battle to prove his fitness in time for the home fixture. 25 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein could barely conceal his shock following a rather bold claim from co-host Darren Bent. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton's Tyler Dibling could be at the centre of a transfer battle in the summer following reports that RB Leipzig have contacted the player's camp. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will return to La Liga action for Thursday's rearranged meeting with Osasuna at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has encouraged the Citizens to prioritise signing at least two "technically brilliant" midfielders in the summer transfer window. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is certainly not the first and won't be the last player to depart his boyhood club. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Contrary to rumours earlier this week, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has not stated he is unsettled at the club, according to a new report. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are set to come up against a former player at this summer's World Cup who has a staggering trophy record as a coach. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Alisha Lehmann claims that online abuse remains an issue despite her ever-growing popularity. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Ally McCoist has omitted two of the Premier League's most celebrated stars from his all-time top three attackers from the division. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mohamed Salah undisputedly has a greater Premier League legacy than Cristiano Ronaldo, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly contacted Olympiacos over potentially signing their teenage sensation Charalampos Kostoulas. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is not in active talks over a move to Saudi Arabia, talkSPORT understands. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to enter talks with Gabriel Magalhaes over a new contract at the Emirates. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Jr are among SIX marquee signings being plotted by the Saudi Pro League this summer, talkSPORT understands. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Stan Collymore has issued a passionate defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold amid fan backlash over his move to Real Madrid. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho is reportedly dreaming of a move to Borussia Dortmund over the summer. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Following the path that Michael Owen and Steve McManaman once ventured down, Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly been unable to resist the bright lights of the Bernabeu. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly entered talks with the representatives of Atalanta BC attacker Ademola Lookman. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Jack Grealish can rediscover his best form at one specific Premier League club if he leaves Manchester City this summer. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal expert Charles Watts has conceded that Riccardo Calafiori may be "susceptible" to frequent injuries following his latest blow on international duty with Italy. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Former England manager Glenn Hoddle was impressed by Morgan Rogers' 'wonderful' performance against Latvia. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Mark Clattenburg has opened up on the explosive interactions he shared with some of the Premier League's most iconic managers.