Our prediction for this League 1 match:
High-flying Portsmouth will look to extend their winning run to seven games when they welcome Plymouth to their Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon. The Pompey recorded a routine 2-0 win at Burton on Tuesday, with Colby Bishop scoring his fifth goal of the season. There are no fresh selection worries in the home team, but both Ryan Tunnicliffe and Louis Thompson should miss out with injuries.
The Pilgrims, on the other hand, are eyeing their fifth consecutive league win, but Portsmouth will pose a much bigger threat for the visitors than their previous rivals. Talented forward Morgan Whittaker should return to Plymouth’s starting XI after scoring the winner against Oxford, with James Wilson pushing for a start as well after making his return from suspension in the midweek triumph. In their last meeting at Fratton Park the two teams played out a 2-2 draw, but given the Pompey’s splendid form, home win should be considered this time out.
Highlighted Player (Ellis Harrison):
Highlighted Team (Plymouth):
Nicknamed the Pilgrims, Plymouth are a professional football club that host their rivals at Home Park. The stadium, which can hold up to 18,600 people, was built in 1892 and opened the following year. Plymouth footballers wear dark green jerseys and white shorts when playing in front of home fans, while light green and white are the dominant colours of their away kit.
The Pilgrims made it to the FA Cup semi-finals in the 1983-84 season, with the team advancing to the Football League Cup semis on two occasions (1964-65, 1973-74). The Pilgrims recorded their biggest win against Millwall on January 16, 1932, with the team beating the Lions 8-1, and they repeated the success in 1994 as they rolled over Hartlepool United in the Second Division.
The club suffered their heaviest defeat against Stoke City (0-9) on December 17, 1960. Fellow Devon teams Exeter City and Torquay United are seen as the club’s fiercest rivals.