Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Portsmouth and Oxford United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two newly-promoted sides will face off when Portsmouth welcome Oxford United to Fratton Park for Sunday’s Championship contest.
Pompey are languishing in 23rd spot with four points to their name, while the visitors are in 11th place with 11 points to their name.
Match preview
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Portsmouth have experienced a difficult start to their first Championship campaign since 2011-12, having drawn four and lost four of their opening eight matches.
Pompey battled hard to hold Sheffield United to a goalless draw last weekend, but any positives taken from that result were quickly forgotten in Wednesday’s demoralising 6-1 defeat to Stoke City.
Mark O’Mahony scored his first Pompey goal to cancel out Tom Cannon‘s opener, before the latter and Sam Gallagher grabbed a goal apiece to give Stoke a 3-1 lead at the break.
Rather than produce a response, Portsmouth capitulated in the opening stages of the second period, shipping three goals in a five-minute period, including two more for Cannon.
As a result, John Mousinho‘s side slumped to their fourth loss in the last five matches, leaving them languishing in the drop zone with four points separating them from safety.
With Pompey desperate to produce a response, they may be able to take confidence from the fact they have already beaten Oxford this year, with Callum Lang and Christian Saydee finding the net in March’s 2-1 victory at Fratton Park.
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In contrast to their hosts, Oxford will be content with the start they have made after winning promotion via the League One playoffs.
The U’s are currently sitting in midtable and four points above the drop zone after winning three, drawing two and losing three of their eight league games.
Although they will be satisfied with their current position, Oxford may be frustrated by the fact they have failed to win any of their last three matches.
After losing 2-1 to Bristol City, Des Buckingham‘s side went on to draw consecutive games with recently relegated Burnley and Luton Town.
Oxford would have been pleased with the character they showed to fight back from two goals down to take a point from Tuesday’s clash against Luton, with Tyler Goodrham and Ruben Rodrigues getting on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road.
That result ended a run of three consecutive away defeats in the second tier, and they will look to build upon that point by claiming their first away win of the Championship season in Saturday’s trip to the South Coast.
Portsmouth Championship form:
Oxford United Championship form:
Oxford United form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts are still having to cope without the services of Ibane Bowat, Conor Shaughnessy, Kusini Yengi, Colby Bishop and Lang.
Left-back Jacob Farrell will have to be assessed after he was forced to miss Wednesday’s game with a knee injury he sustained in training.
Following a disappointing result in midweek, Mousinho may be tempted to make changes to his side, with Nicolas Schmid, Jordan Williams and Samuel Silvera among those who could be considered for a starting spot.
Murphy registered six goals and four assists in 28 league appearances for Oxford last season, but he will now be looking to get one over his former side when he lines up for Saturday’s fixture.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Cameron Brannagan, Przemyslaw Placheta, Joe Bennett, Max Woltman and Matt Phillips.
Oxford captain Elliot Moore is a doubt for Saturday’s contest after he was forced off with a knock in Tuesday’s draw with Luton.
Kyle Edwards could be rewarded with a starting berth after he came on as a half-time substitute to provide an assist for Rodrigues in midweek.
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Schmid; Swanson, Williams, McIntyre, Ogilvie; Pack, Potts; Silvera, Lane, Murphy; O’Mahony
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kios, Long, Nelson, Brown; Goodrham, Rodrigues, Vaulks, El Mizouni, Edwards; Harris
We say: Portsmouth 1-1 Oxford United
Portsmouth will be desperate to claim their first win of the season before the international break, but we think the hosts will have to settle for a draw against an Oxford side who have seen their last two matches finish all square.
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