Preview: Portsmouth vs. Charlton Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Having suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat in October's reverse fixture, Dean Holden's men will head into the weekend looking to get one over the home side and kick off the new year on a high.

Match preview

Portsmouth failed to find their feet in the League One as they bottled their lead twice before settling for a somewhat disappointing 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on Thursday.

In an action-packed contest, Marlon Pack and Colby Bishop both found the target to put the hosts ahead but Cameron Burgess and Conor Chaplin restored parity on each occasion to force a share of the spoils.

Danny Cowley's men have now failed to win any of their last eight league outings, picking up six draws and losing twice since a 1-0 victory away to Forest Green Rovers on October 22.

While the results have been hard to come by in the League One, Portsmouth picked up a comfortable 3-0 victory over Stevenage on December 13 to reach the fourth round of the EFL Trophy, while they saw off Milton Keynes Dons 3-2 in November's FA Cup second-round clash.

Pompey have now picked up seven wins, 10 draws and lost four of their 21 matches this season to collect 31 points and sit 10th in the league standings, level on points with Exeter and Bristol Rovers.

Charlton Athletic, on the other hand, suffered a 3-1 defeat against Oxford United when the sides squared off at the Kassam Stadium on Thursday.

Billy Bodin and Marty Taylor scored in a four-minute spell to hand the Yellows a two-goal lead heading into the interval, and after Miles Leaburn pulled one back for the visitors in the 67th minute, Gatlin O'Donkor put the result beyond reach with an 82nd minute strike.

Prior to that, Holden's side beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties in round four of the EFL Cup on December 21 before holding out for a 1-1 draw against Peterborough United five days later.

Like Sunday's hosts, Charlton Athletic head into the weekend winless in each of their last eight league matches, picking up just three points from a possible 24 since October's 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury Town.

With 25 points from 23 games, the Addicks are currently 18th in the League One standings, three points above Accrington Stanley in the relegation spot, but could potentially rise as high as 15th place with all three points this weekend.

Charlton Athletic will be backing themselves to kick off the new year on a high and steer clear of the relegation zone as Sunday's game pits them against a Portsmouth side who have failed to win any of their last three meetings, losing twice and claiming one draw since a 3-1 win in February 2021.

Portsmouth League One form:

D

D

L

L

D

D

Portsmouth form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

D

D

Charlton Athletic League One form:

D

L

L

L

D

L

Charlton Athletic form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

L

Team News

Portsmouth will have to cope without Joe Rafferty, who has been sidelined since September, while 24-year-old midfielder Tom Lowery is set to sit out his 10th consecutive game through injury.

Louis Thompson continues his long road to full fitness after coming off injured in August's 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers and the former Norwich City man will play no part in Sunday's game.

With his strike in Thursday's draw with Ipswich Town, Bishop now has 10 league goals to his name and we expect the 26-year-old to lead the hosts' attack once again.

Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic will take to the pitch without Scottish midfielder Conor McGrandles, who has missed the last 11 matches through a muscle problem.

He is joined on the club's injury table by the defensive duo of Eoghan O'Connell and Mandela Egbo, who have been out of action since October.

Leaburn turned in an impressive cameo off the bench against Oxford United last time out and the 19-year-old, who has three goals in his last four league matches, could be rewarded with a place in the XI.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Griffiths; Swanson, Raggett, Robertson, Ogilvie; Dale, Tunnicliffe, Pack, Hackett; Pigott, Bishop

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:

Maynard-Brewer; Lavelle, Inniss, Ness; Clare, Dobson, Fraser, Sessegnon; Payne, Leaburn, Rak-Sakyi

We say: Portsmouth 2-2 Charlton Athletic

Both winless in eight consecutive league matches, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic will head into Sunday's game in search of a pick-me-up as they look to attest their slump. Pompey are unbeaten in 10 of their 11 home matches this season, claiming seven draws and three wins in that time, and we predict they will hold out for another share of the spoils.

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