Portsmouth vs Oxford predictions: U’s can prolong Pompey pain
- Portsmouth have lost four of their last five league games
- Oxford performed well in a 2-2 draw at Luton on Tuesday
- Recommended Bet: Oxford Draw no Bet
Portsmouth must bounce back from their midweek mauling at Stoke when they host Oxford in their latest Championship game at Fratton Park on Saturday.
Pompey, who have yet to win a game this season, will be keen to put Wednesday night's 6-1 hammering in the Potteries behind them.
That left them second from bottom in the Championship table, seven points behind the mid-table U’s, who are still looking for their first away win of the campaign.
But Des Buckingham’s men will be buoyed by their fightback from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw at Luton on Tuesday.
Team news
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has promised there will be changes to his starting XI with goalkeeper Will Norris under scrutiny after being at fault for at least two goals on Wednesday night.
But back-up Nicolas Schmid, signed from BW Linz for an undisclosed fee in August, has still to make his first-team debut.
Defender Jacob Farrell, who made his debut at Sheffield United last weekend, suffered a recurrence of a knee issue his week when slipping in training.
Pompey have lost both Kusini Yengi (groin) and Conor Shaughnessy (calf) in recent weeks, after they went down in warm-ups ahead of games at Fratton Park.
As for Oxford, captain Elliot Moore is a doiubt for their trip to Fratton Park after coming off against Luton with a knock in midweek.
Doubts also remain over Matt Phillips' involvement after he sat out the trip to Kenilworth Road.
Greg Leigh should have recovered from the sickness that kept him out of the squad for Luton in midweek while Josh McEachran stands by for a return to action.
The U’s will still be without Cameron Brannagan, Przemysław Płacheta and long-term absentee Joe Bennett this weekend.
The stats
Pompey’s 6-1 defeat at Stoke was the club’s biggest reverse in 16 years.
The result means Portsmouth are still on their longest winless start to a season since the war.
Oxford have not won any of their last five games against the south coast club, although three of those games have been drawn.
Prediction
These two clubs have experienced differing fortunes since coming up together last May.
After showing early signs of promise in their thrilling opening weekend draw at Leeds, Pompey have picked up only three further points in seven Championship matches.
No one is pushing the panic button, but Mousinho’s men need to get their first win of the season before they become detached at the bottom.
Confidence in the camp is as low as it could be after their midweek capitulation and that will encourage Oxford to target all three points.
The U's enjoyed 58% possession and managed eight shots on goal against a Luton side that were expected to challenge for promotion and any repeat of those performance levels should be too much for Pompey to handle.
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