credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Wed 26 March 2025 13:42, UK

Portsmouth will be keen to bounce back from a defeat as they prepare to face Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.

Pompey fell to a late 2-1 loss against Preston North End last time out, where a Colby Bishop equaliser was cancelled out just four minutes later.

After the international break, attentions return to the Championship where both sides are in need of three points at different ends of the table.

It is John Mousinho and his players’ jobs to make sure they secure a much-needed victory to help them on their way to second-tier safety.

Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers preview

There were few positives to take away from the defeat at Deepdale as Paul Heckingbottom’s side took away a much-deserved win.

The Lilywhites created plenty of chances and arguably should have scored more on the day, which would have subjected the south coast outfit to a heavier loss.

With that being said, Mousinho’s side so nearly secured a point, and that would have certainly helped in their mission to avoid relegation.

The English head coach will be hoping for a better result against a Blackburn side who have gone five games without a win.

This is despite winning three from their prior four Championship games but have struggled since the departure of John Eustace.

Valerien Ismael has failed to have the desired impact since taking over at Ewood Park and will be hopeful of his first win against Pompey.

Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers team news

There is no shortage of injury problems for both sides ahead of the clash at Fratton Park.

Pompey are going to be without Callum Lang, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat, who are all set to miss the rest of the season.

Mousinho also looks likely to be without Conor Shaughnessy, Jacob Farrell, Jordan Williams, Paddy Lane and Robert Atkinson once again.

This number of injury issues have been echoed by Rovers as they to are set to be without eight players themselves.

Andreas Weimann could be out for the rest of the season, while Augustus Kargbo, Danny Batth, Harry Leonard and Harry Pickering are all set to miss out in PO4.

Blackburn are also likely to be without Owen Beck, Scott Wharton and Zak Gilsenan, who all could be ruled out until April.

Predicted line-ups

Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Poole, Pack, Oglivie, Potts, Dozzell, Murphy, Aouchiche, Gordon, Colby

Blackburn Rovers: Pears, Ribeiro, Hyam, Carter, Rankin-Costello, Travis, Tronstad, Ohashi, Cantwell, Dolan, Gueye

Head-to-head

Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Portsmouth (15 January 2025)

Portsmouth 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (13 February 2018)

Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Portsmouth (21 October 2017)

Portsmouth 0-0 Blackburn Rovers (3 April 2010)

Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth (7 November 2009)

Portsmouth v Blackburn Rovers betting odds

Portsmouth: 6/5

Draw: 11/5

Blackburn Rovers: 23/10

(All odds according to Bet365 as of 26 March).

Prediction: Portsmouth 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Realistically, Rovers’ hopes of achieving a playoff spot are fading away thanks to the form of Bristol City, West Brom and Coventry City.

This could play perfectly into Pompey’s hands, as their threat against relegation remains and is a realistic prospect between now and the end of the campaign.

This means that Mousinho’s side has to take advantage of a struggling Blackburn side to extend their gap to the bottom three.

Given that Ismael’s side have scored just three goals in their last five games, the Fratton Park faithful can be hopeful of maintaining a clean sheet.

If the likes of Bishop and Murphy can link up to devastating effect, there is no reason why three points can’t be secured on the south coast.