Preview: Fleetwood Town vs. Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Fleetwood Town will want to avoid a third straight defeat when they welcome Portsmouth to Highbury Stadium for a League One meeting on Tuesday.

The visitors, meanwhile, have the chance to claim consecutive victories after John Mousinho began his tenure as Pompey boss with a 2-0 win over Exeter City.

Match preview

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After claiming successive wins over Shrewsbury Town and Queens Park Rangers in the league and FA Cup respectively, Fleetwood have gone on to lose their last two games.

Despite taking the lead against Oxford, they conceded two second half goals - including a 90th-minute winner - to lose 2-1 and another defeat followed against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

Will Vaulks scored the only goal of the game to condemn Fleetwood to a narrow 1-0 away defeat, leaving them in 17th place and five points above the relegation zone.

Scott Brown's side return to Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, where they have picked up just 11 points from 12 games - only MK Dons have collected fewer home points in the third tier this season.

They have also lost all of their last three home league matches by a 2-1 scoreline, but their FA Cup victory over QPR demonstrated that they have the capabilities to perform on home turf.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth are under new management after Mousinho left his role as player-coach at Oxford to become Pompey's head coach.

After being appointed on Friday, Mousinho had little time to work with his players prior to Saturday's home meeting with Exeter City, which proved to be a successful outing.

Second-half goals from Marlon Pack and Joe Morrell ensured that Mousinho began his managerial career with a 2-0 victory, which also ended a run of 10 games without a league win for Pompey.

Portsmouth, who are currently in 15th place, will now look to avoid a fourth consecutive away defeat after failing to win any of their last five away matches in all competitions.

The visitors can draw inspiration from the fact that they have won their last two away meetings against Fleetwood by a 1-0 scoreline.

Team News

After joining on a free transfer from Celtic, Scott Robertson came off the bench on Saturday to make his Fleetwood debut, and he is expected to be among the substitutes on Tuesday.

Despite losing narrowly to Sheffield Wednesday, Brown could decide to name an unchanged lineup for the midweek contest.

Admiral Muskwe will continue to lead the line, and the Luton Town loanee will be looking to add to the three goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Clark Robertson, Joe Rafferty, Tom Lowery and Jayden Reid due to injury issues.

Goalkeeper Matt Macey joined Pompey on loan from Luton on Friday, and he will be looking for another shutout after keeping a clean sheet on his debut.

Ryley Towler was given his first start for the club against Exeter following his recent loan arrival from Bristol City, and the defender will retain his place in the backline, with Mousinho expected to select the same starting XI that began Saturday's 2-0 victory.

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Earl, Andrew; Warrington, Sarpong-Wiredu; Omochere, Vela, Hayes; Muskwe

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Macey; Swanson, Raggett, Towler, Ogilvie; Tunnicliffe, Pack, Morrell; Dale, Jacobs, Bishop

We say: Fleetwood Town 1-2 Portsmouth

Mousinho would have been pleased to begin his managerial career with a victory, and after taking confidence from their win over Exeter, we think that Pompey will go on to claim all three points against a Fleetwood side who have lost their last two games.

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