Preview: Portsmouth vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

The top two in League One will go head-to-head when Portsmouth welcome Derby County to Fratton Park on Tuesday evening.

Pompey are currently sitting top of the standings, while their promotion rivals are sitting five points adrift in second place.

Match preview

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Portsmouth are just eight points away from securing promotion after beating Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 in Friday's clash at Adams Park.

Colby Bishop found the net on either side of a Matt Butcher effort to give Pompey a narrow half-time lead, before Christian Saydee added a third in the second period to wrap up a third consecutive victory.

Having put together a 13-game unbeaten run, the league leaders finished the weekend with a sizeable 11-point cushion over Bolton Wanderers in third position.

Although there may be some room for error, Pompey will still be determined to continue their impressive home form in Tuesday's clash, having won each of their last five matches at Fratton Park.

The hosts have avoided defeat in their previous five games against Derby, although each of the last three head-to-head meetings have finished all square.

Derby will travel to the South coast in a positive mood after they bounced back from a defeat against Northampton Town to edge out Blackpool in Friday's encounter at Pride Park.

Ebou Adams' 40th-minute proved to be enough to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory and their fifth win in the last six matches.

The victory helped Derby tighten their grip on second spot and round the weekend off with a six-point advantage over third-placed Bolton, who have a game in hand.

After recording a fourth consecutive home win, Paul Warne's side will now head on their travels, where they will attempt to improve upon their recent away form, having lost two of their last three road trips.

Having failed to win either of their last four head-to-head games, the Rams are hoping that they can beat Portsmouth for the first time since winning 2-1 in April 2012.

Team News

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Portsmouth are still having to cope with a lengthy injury list which includes Tom McIntyre, Regan Poole, Joe Morrell, Tom Lowery, Alex Robertson and Terry Devlin.

Ben Stevenson and Tino Anjorin are closing in on a return, but it remains to be seen whether they will be passed fit for Tuesday's contest.

After seeing his side dispatch Wycombe on Friday, Pompey boss John Mousinho could be tempted to select an unchanged lineup.

As for the Rams, they are expected to be without the services of Craig Forsyth, Jake Rooney, Ryan Nyambe, Josh Vickers, Max Bird, Tyreece John-Jules and Tom Barkhuizen.

Former Portsmouth defender Sonny Bradley is set to serve the second game of a three-match suspension after being sent off against Northampton earlier this month.

Derby's top scorer James Collins returned from injury to feature as a substitute in Friday's win over Blackpool, but it remains to be seen whether he will be deemed fit to start at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup: Norris; Swanson, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Pack, Moxon; Kamara, Saydee, Lane; Bishop

Derby County possible starting lineup: Wildsmith; Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Sibley; Ward, Adams, Smith, Blackett-Taylor; Mendez-Laing, Washington

We say: Portsmouth 1-1 Derby County

Portsmouth and Derby will both be determined to claim three points to aid their respective promotion bids, but with the last three meetings finishing all square, we think that they will play out another draw in Tuesday's contest.

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