Pompey will search for just a second away league victory of the season when they face Bristol Rovers on Saturday. Kenny Jackett’s side remain unbeaten on home soil, but have collected only four points on their travels. Their opponents are sitting in 11th position and with five more points, albeit having played two games more. But Graham Coughlan’s men go into the contest on the back of successive 2-0 defeats to Doncaster and Bolton, becoming the first team to lose to the latter this season. That brought to an end an impressive eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which included four league triumphs. The Pirates are aiming to improve on last term’s 15th-placed finish, with just four points separating them from the drop zone. They are competing at this level for a fourth consecutive campaign following their dramatic final day promotion in 2016. Pompey won 2-1 in last season’s corresponding fixture, with Ronan Curtis netting a late winner after Chris Lines’ penalty had cancelled out Gareth Evans’ opener. TEAM NEWS Pompey have no new injury concerns ahead of the weekend, but Brett Pitman is still a major doubt with a groin strain. Oli Hawkins (foot), Bryn Morris (groin) and Jack Whatmough (knee) are definitely all missing for the Blues. Bristol Rovers will be without their top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris (calf), while former Fratton loanee Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Josh Hare and Sam Matthews are all long-term absentees. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 23 wins Bristol Rovers: 11 wins 9 draws At Bristol Rovers Pompey: 8 wins Bristol Rovers: 9 wins 5 draws TICKETS Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets for Saturday’s game and none will be available to buy at the Memorial Stadium on the day of the game. Supporters who are collecting tickets can do so next to the away end from 1pm. OFFICIALS Referee: Darren Handley Assistants: Thomas Harty and Marvyn Amphlett Fourth Official: Daniel Lamport BETTING Pompey are the 7/5 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while the hosts can be backed at 15/8.
Bristol Rovers 32 Anssi Jaakkola 16 Tom Davies 5 Tony Craig 15 Alfie Kilgour 33 Alex Rodman 8 Ollie Clarke 6 Ed Upson 4 Abu Ogogo 11 Luke Leahy 29 Victor Adeboyejo 17 Tyler Smith Substitutes 1 Jordi van Stappershoef 2 Mark Little 7 Liam Sercombe 10 Tom Nichols 18 Michael Kelly 23 Kyle Bennett 24 Rollin Menayese Two former Pompey players - Tom Davies starts the match in defence, and winger Kyle Bennett starts on the bench.
Attempt saved. John Marquis (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Gareth Evans. 13th minute.
Attempt blocked. Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. 15 minutes.
Not for the first time in this game, Portsmouth counter from a poor Rovers corner and Ryan Williams feeds Marquis, but his shot is superbly blocked by Abu Ogogo. 21 minutes.
The corner is drifted in and met by the head of Sean Raggett, but Jaakkola gets down superbly to tip it away one handed. Fantastic stop! 22nd minute.
Brilliant play from Ed Upson to flick the ball over his marker and try his luck from 30 yards - it bounces just wide and the ref awards a corner, so it must have taken a deflection. 25 minutes.
