Preview: Portsmouth vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Having ended a run of six games without a victory last time out, Portsmouth welcome Doncaster Rovers to Fratton Park on Saturday.

The visitors, on the other hand, will be seeking to record a third consecutive away triumph and move off the bottom of the League One table.

Match preview

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Portsmouth recorded their first league win since the turn of the year at the sixth time of asking by narrowly beating Burton Albion 2-1 on Monday.

First-half goals from Sean Raggett and Michael Jacobs put Danny Crowley's men in the box seat before Gassan Yahyai pulled one back for his side five minutes into the second half.

As a result, Pompey have moved up into the top half of the standings but are still 12 points adrift of the last playoff spot currently occupied by Wycombe Wanderers.

Lying in store next is a clash versus an opposing side with just one defeat in the last 12 meetings between the outfits dating back to November 2012.

Only two teams in the entire division have conceded fewer goals this term than Saturday's hosts whose struggles have mainly been at the other end of the pitch.

Doncaster Rovers were beaten on home turf for the sixth game running following a 1-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at the Eco power Stadium on Monday.

Tyreeq Bakinson opened the scoring six minutes shy of the interval and that was enough to put Gary McSheffrey's men to the sword in a tight affair.

With just 22 points amassed from their 31 outings so far, The Reds remain rooted to the bottom of the League One table, eight points adrift of safety with a third of the campaign left to play.

A major Achilles' heel for Saturday's visitors has been their woes on the road, as they have scored the joint-fewest number of goals in away games while also conceding the most.

Team News

Thirty-year-old Michael Jacobs has been directly involved in five goals - three goals and two assists - in his last three outings and is one to keep an eye on.

Ronan Curtis is walking a suspension tightrope heading into this weekend's game as he sits one yellow card from number 10 for the season, which would result in a ban.

Last season's leading scorer, Fejiri Okenabirhie, remains without an appearance this term since damaging his knee in Doncaster's pre-season campaign.

John Bostock is set to miss a 17th consecutive match as he continues to nurse a muscle injury he picked up back in November's stalemate against Lincoln City.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Ogilvie, Raggett, Carter; Romeo, Thompson, Jacobs, Hume; Curtis, Walker, Hirst

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Mitchell; Jackson, Olowu, Williams, Younger; Smith, Rowe, Martin; Seaman, Odubeko, Griffiths

We say: Portsmouth 2-1 Doncaster Rovers

Portsmouth do not have a great record in this fixture but now is as good a time as any to buck the trend given Doncaster's dire run of form. We are tipping the home side to come away with all three points come the end of the 90 minutes.

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