.jpg "Derby County vs. Portsmouth Preview: Championship Clash at Pride Park")
Derby County vs. Portsmouth Preview: Championship Clash at Pride Park
Portsmouth will seek to make it five games without defeat when they travel to Pride Park to take on Derby County in a highly-anticipated Championship clash on Friday. With both teams in mid-table, this promises to be an exciting fixture as they fight for points to secure their places in the Championship for the long haul.
Team News
Derby County
Derby County will be hoping to build on their solid form, sitting comfortably in 16th position, four points clear of their opponents. With a mix of youth and experience, the Rams have shown flashes of quality in their games so far this season. They need to raise their game in order to keep their opponents at bay against Portsmouth.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth, on the other hand, are just outside the relegation zone on goal difference. Their recent run of results, which includes four games unbeaten, has given them a much-needed boost. With confidence high, manager John Mousinho will be looking for his side to keep their momentum going against another newly-promoted team.
Key Players to Watch
Derby County
- James Collins: The striker has been one of the standout players this season for Derby. He will be needed to find the net once again if the Rams are to get all three points.
- Max Bird: In midfield, Bird has played an important role in maintaining control in the tempo of games while serving the attacking players at his disposal with the right service.
Portsmouth
- Colby Bishop: The Portsmouth forward has been in great form. His chance creation ability should be pivotal to breaking Derby's back line.
- Ryan Tunnicliffe: His experience has made him the driving force in running Pompey's wheel of unbeatables of late, with the ability to fight for the ball back and retain possession a major tool in the middle of the park against Derby.
Prediction
With both teams relatively evenly matched, this game could go either way. Derby County’s home advantage gives them the edge, but Portsmouth’s current unbeaten run cannot be ignored. This could be a tightly contested match, but Derby County are likely to edge this one with a 2-1 win, especially if they can capitalize on their home form.
Final Score Prediction: Derby County 2-1 Portsmouth
Lineups (Possible)
Derby County (4-3-3)
GK: Joe Wildsmith
RB: Korey Smith
CB: Craig Forsyth
CB: Curtis Davies
LB: Lee Buchanan
CM: Max Bird
CM: Jason Knight
CM: Tom Lawrence
RW: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
CF: James Collins
LW: Louie Sibley
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1)
GK: Gavin Bazunu
RB: Kieron Freeman
CB: Sean Raggett
CB: Michael Morrison
LB: Lee Brown
CDM: Joe Morrell // CDM: Ryan Tunnicliffe RW: Ronan Curtis CAM: Marcus Harness LW: Aiden O'Brien CF: Colby Bishop
This game will most definitely be full of drama and an opportunity for one of these newly-promoted sides to move a bit further away from the bottom of the Championship table. Stay tuned for matchday updates as both sides are looking to continue in decent form this season!