Preview: MK Dons vs. Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are currently sitting in 19th position in the League One table, while the visitors are in ninth place.

Match preview

After losing 1-0 to Port Vale on March 4, MK Dons were languishing in the relegation zone with four points separating them from safety.

However, they have managed to mount an escape bid in recent weeks, recording three consecutive victories before drawing 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend.

Despite taking the lead through Daniel Harvie, their trip to Adams Park looked set to end in defeat when David Wheeler scored a brace to turn the game in Wycombe's favour.

However, Jonathan Leko managed to restore parity in the 70th minute, ensuring that MK Dons ended the matchday five points clear of the drop zone.

Although MK Dons were beaten by Pompey in the second round of the FA Cup, they have won their last four league meetings against Friday's opponents, including a 2-0 away win when the two sides met in December.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, have reignited their playoff hopes in recent weeks after picking up 10 points from their previous four matches.

Consecutive victories were followed by a 2-2 draw against Port Vale, but John Mousinho's side quickly returned to winning ways last weekend, recording a 1-0 home victory over Forest Green Rovers.

Owen Dale's second-half strike was enough to guide Pompey to a narrow win, moving the ninth-placed side to within three points of the top six.

With seven games left to play, Pompey know that they will need to keep picking up victories if they are to finish in the League One playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Having won all eight away league games this season where they have scored the first goal, Portsmouth will be keen to make a positive start on Friday.

MK Dons League One form:

D

L

W

W

W

D

Portsmouth League One form:

L

L

W

W

D

W

Team News

MK Dons boss Mark Jackson has revealed that Sully Kaikai will miss the next two games with an injury problem.

Warren O'Hora has been sidelined since February, but MK Dons are hopeful that he could be involved in some capacity on Friday.

Anthony Stewart made his debut against his former club, Wycombe, on Saturday, and he is expected to retain his place in the backline with Jackson set to name an unchanged lineup.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Zach Swanson and Ronan Curtis due to injury issues.

Having recently returned from injury, Clark Robertson was given his first start since December on Saturday, and he is expected to retain his place in the backline.

After serving a three-match suspension, Joe Pigott could return to the starting lineup to operate behind lone striker Colby Bishop.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Stewart, Tucker, Lewington; Watson, Maghome, McEachran, Harvie; Leko, Grant, Eisa

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Macey; Rafferty, Raggett, Robertson, Ogilvie; Morrell, Tunnicliffe; Dale, Pigott, Jacobs; Bishop

We say: MK Dons 1-2 Portsmouth

Both teams will head into Friday's encounter in confident mood, but we think that playoff-chasing Pompey will have the extra quality needed to claim a narrow victory.

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