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Championship | Gameweek 16
Jan 15, 2025 at 7.45pm UK
Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire)
Portsmouth

Blackburn
3 - 0
Portsmouth

Gueye (61'), Brittain (70'), Weimann (76')
Tronstad (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Botts (19'), Murphy (81'), Devlin (87')

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

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Relegation-threatened Portsmouth will travel to Ewood Park for Wednesday's Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers.

The hosts are one point adrift of the playoffs in seventh position, while Pompey are sitting just outside the bottom three on goals scored.


Match preview

John Eustace manager of Blackburn Rovers on August 2, 2024© Imago

Blackburn have endured a poor run of league form ever since their run of six consecutive Championship victories was ended by a 1-0 defeat to Millwall.

Rovers went on to play out draws with Sunderland and Leeds United, either side of a 1-0 home defeat against Hull City, before they suffered another narrow loss in their most recent outing at Ewood Park against rivals Burnley.

However, John Eustace's side produced the perfect response to their derby loss in Saturday's FA Cup tie with fellow Championship side Middlesbrough, with Andreas Weimann scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory to end Blackburn's five-game winless run.

After sealing their place in the fourth round, Blackburn will turn their focus to Wednesday's Championship fixture, knowing that a win will be enough to move them into the top six.

Rovers have not faced Portsmouth since February 2018, but they will take confidence from their head-to-head record, having won four of their previous five meetings with the South-coast side.

The first goal could be crucial in Blackburn's bid to claim all three points, especially as they have won 10 of their 12 league games when they have opened the scoring this term (W10, D2).

Portsmouth's Marlon Pack on December 21, 2024© Imago

In contrast to their hosts, Portsmouth experienced a forgettable outing in the FA Cup third round, falling to a 2-0 defeat in their away meeting with League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers.

While they would have been disappointed with their early exit, Pompey will be able to turn their full focus to their Championship survival bid for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

After winning five, drawing eight and losing 11 league matches, Portsmouth are sitting in 21st place in the Championship table, with only goals scored keeping them above Hull City in 22nd position.

Pompey know that they have to improve on their travels if they are to alleviate their relegation fears, having won just one of their 13 away games in the second tier this season (D4, L8).

In fact, John Mousinho's side have lost six of their previous eight away league games, including defeats in each of their last four Championship road trips.

Pompey's hopes of claiming maximum points on Wednesday may be tempered by the fact that they have not beaten Blackburn since they recorded a 3-2 Premier League home win in November 2008, while their most recent success at Ewood Park took place in September 2007 when they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:


Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):


Portsmouth Championship form:


Portsmouth form (all competitions):



Team News

Yuki Ohashi of Blackburn Rovers during his side's Championship match against Hull City, on December 7, 2024© Imago

Blackburn are expected to be without the injured quartet of Hayden Carter, Yuki Ohashi, Lewis Travis and Arnor Sigurdsson.

Ryan Hedges and Amario Cozier-Duberry could come back into the matchday squad after missing the cup win over Middlesbrough through illness.

Experienced midfielder Adam Forshaw is set to feature among the substitutes after recently arriving on a free transfer following the termination of his Plymouth Argyle contract.

As for Portsmouth, they still have to cope without the services of Mark O'Mahony, Kusini Yengi, Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat and Jacob Farrell.

Pompey captain Marlon Pack is available for selection, having completed his one-match ban for the red card that he received in the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Midfielder Isaac Hayden is set to feature in the matchday squad after arriving on loan from Newcastle United last week.


Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Buckley, Tronstad; Cozier-Duberry, Cantwell, Dolan; Gueye

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Schmid; Swanson, Towler, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Potts, Dozzell; Ritchie, Lang, Murphy; Bishop


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth

Blackburn have won four of their last five matches against Portsmouth, and we think that Rovers will claim another head-to-head victory in Wednesday's clash, especially as Pompey have lost each of their last four Championship away matches.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Blackburn vs Portsmouth

Blackburn Rovers
75.0%
Draw
15.5%
Portsmouth
9.5%
116
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Tables header RHS
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7Middlesbrough301281049391044
8Norwich CityNorwich30119104942742
9Bristol City30101283835342
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds30119104346-342
11Coventry CityCoventry31118124140141
12Watford30125134042-241
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14Millwall301010103027340
15Preston North EndPreston3081393338-537
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd31910123445-1137
17Swansea CitySwansea3097143242-1034
18Stoke CityStoke30711122837-932
19Cardiff CityCardiff30710133351-1831
20Portsmouth3079143652-1630
21Hull City3078153140-929
22Derby CountyDerby3076173241-927
23Luton TownLuton3076173049-1927
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth30510152963-3425


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