SHOCKS, JO-JO, OR KNIGHT AT NUMBER 6?
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What are the latest updates on Pompey and Middlesbrough?
The latest Pompey news updates every day from the Pompey Sound News Desk.
Football news agency Sports Mole have been previewing the Middlesbrough versus Pompey game and this is their summary.
Middlesbrough's automatic promotion hopes have been dented by a five-game winless run that started with a 1-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic. Borough then played out back-to-back draws against Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers, before they gave up a slender lead in a narrow 2-1 defeat to promotion rivals Millwall. Kim Helberg's side dropped more points in Monday's trip clash against Swansea City, which produced three penalties, one for Borough and two for the Swans, in a 2-2 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium. With five games to play, Borough are sitting in third place, level on 72 points with Millwall and Ipswich Town, who occupy second and fourth spot respectively. Middlesbrough may already have one eye on next weekend's fixture against Ipswich, who have two games in hand over Borough.
But first, they will attempt to claim their first win over Portsmouth, since running out 3-1 winners at Fratton Park in March 2012.
How has Middlesbrough's recent performance affected their promotion hopes?
Borough will also be hoping to rediscover their goalscoring touch on home turf, after failing to score more than one in any of their previous six outings at the Riverside Stadium. Portsmouth meanwhile are in a fierce battle to preserve their championship status after winning 10, drawing 12, and losing 18 of their 40 league matches this term. In fact, John Massinio's Chargers have gone eight games without a win since they recorded their most recent victory over Millwall on February 21. Pompey have at least managed to avoid defeat in their last two outings, playing out a one-all scoreline away to Norwich City, before rescuing a 2-2 draw from Monday's home clash against relegation rivals Oxford United.
The South Coast side, who played over 70 minutes with 10 players following Connor Ogilvie's red card, looked set to fall to a narrow 2-1 defeat before Andre Dizel netted a late leveller to salvage a precious point, leaving them in 21st spot and one point clear of Leicester City and Oxford. Pompey are now preparing for a tricky run of fixtures that will see them take on the Championship's top three in their next four outings, including their game in hand against Ipswich Town at Fratton Park on Tuesday. Portsmouth's current focus will be on Saturday's trip to Teesside, and while they lost just one of their last nine league games against Middlesbrough, they are winless in their previous five visits to the Riverside, since a 4-0 triumph in August 2006.
We say, Middlesbrough won, Portsmouth won. Middlesbrough will be desperate to return to winning ways, but considering they have won just one of their previous nine meetings with Pompey, we think they will be held to a draw on Saturday, especially as the south coast side have shown signs of improvement in their last two outings
sports mole on Saturday's match against Middlesbrough. That seems like a pretty balanced and fair and sufficiently extensive 360-degree overview of the game. What I found really refreshing is that they didn't go down the obvious route with their prediction, which would have been a 2-1 win to Middlesbrough or a 3-1 win, something like that. They've gone for what's a slightly brave prediction of us. Nicking a draw.
Take that, wouldn't we? Pompey fans, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the team sheet on Saturday, are facing a confusing dilemma in their own minds as to which of our centre-halves will start the game, partnering Regan Poole. The return to fitness of Connor Shocknessy, albeit subject to game-time rationing to protect his legs, coupled with the return to fitness of Josh Knight, and the promising performance of Jojo Deer in that position makes team selection at the back anyone's guess. The availability of Thomas Waddingham provides John Massino an opportunity to bring on a second striker if needed for the latter part of the game against Middlesbrough. And the newfound availability of Knight and Waddingham is not as uplifting as would be the news Adams is fit to travel and play in the North East.
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