Pompey travel to Burton upon Trent for the first time in their history looking to finally win their first league game on the road after three consecutive 2-2 draws.
Team News
Tom Craddock may return to the squad earlier than expected as his knee injury is healing quicker than anticipated. Marcos Painter is fit again and should replace Danny East at right back but David Connolly serves the final match of his three game ban.
Burton defender Ian Sharps is banned from Saturday's match after being sent off last week against Oxford so Phil Edwards or Zander Diamond are likely to replace him. Alex McDonald and Billy Kee are still out with long term injuries.
The Match
We all know the pattern by now. Pompey dominate periods of games away from home, go in at the break 2-1 up, waste big chances to put the game to bed and then concede a frustrating late equaliser through backing off and careless defending.
Will it happen again? Quite possibly, but with Painter hopefully coming back into the defence there'll be a much more solid look about the team, which is just as well as Burton are one of those teams that like to "mix it up" and have long throw merchant Rory Delap in their side.
For those who have watched Pompey's previous two away games in the league, I expect this one to be more like the Mansfield match rather than the Cheltenham one. Expect plenty of long balls and crosses into the box with some of our players being "physically tested" by the bigger players in the Brewers team.
Hopefully, the likes of Joe Devera and John Sullivan have been working on their communication and composure during the week because I fear that their indecisiveness could well lead to a Burton goal or two tomorrow.
The defence is surely key to winning this game as Pompey have plenty of attacking prowess going forward and the wingers should pose the Burton defence plenty of problems. So long as good chances aren't wasted and Pompey are two goals or more up by the time the inevitable Agyemang withdrawal in the 70th minute comes around, a first win on the road might finally happen!
However, if the mentality in this team doesn't change then Pompey fans can expect a major headache to go with their Sunday morning hangover after their trip to the Breweries.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Burton
GK: Dean LYNESS
RB: Rory DELAP
CB: Zander DIAMOND
CB: Marcus HOLNESS
LB: Damien McCRORY
RM: Alex MacDONALD
CM: Lee BELL
CM: Robbie WEIR
LM: Chris HUSSEY
CF: Michael SYMES
CF: Rene HOWE
Pompey
GK: John SULLIVAN
RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL
CB: Sonny BRADLEY
CB: Joe DEVERA
LB: Marcos PAINTER
RM: Ricky HOLMES
CM: Jed WALLACE
CM: Johnny ERTL
CM: Simon FERRY
LM: Andy BARCHAM
CF: Patrick AGYEMANG
My Prediction
Pompey to cause plenty of problems going forward but the defence will struggle with Burton's "direct" style of play. It could well be the same old story again for the Blues.
Burton Albion 2 Portsmouth 2