Our prediction for this League 1 match:
Portsmouth will look to build on a 3-2 win over Barnsley when they take on Lincoln in the League One round 9. The Pompey have been scoring goals for fun of late and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. A man to watch in the home team will be Colby Bishop, who has already netted five goals in the new League One campaign, while John Mousinho has no fresh injury worries.
The Imps, on the other hand, head into Saturday’s clash following back-to-back draws with Bristol Rovers and Carlisle. Lincoln, though, are not regarded as good travellers and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Portsmouth’s party at Fratton Park. As for the away team, Teddy Bishop returns to the starting XI after he was rested in the EFL Trophy defeat to Derby County in midweek.
Highlighted Player (Teddy Bishop):
Having joined Ipswich as an eight-year-old, Teddy Bishop rose through the ranks at Portman Road to become one of the key players for the Tractor Boys. Bishop’s road to prominence hit a serious roadblock in his first year of the academy scholarship when he endured a serious back injury, but it was in 2014 that he went from strength to strength – proving his worth at the club and emerging as one of the most promising players in the squad.
The total of 36 appearances in his debut season with the first team were more than enough to make an impression on the fans and the club hierarchy which offered him a new long-term deal.
This deep-lying midfielder in characterized by impressive passing accuracy, vision and great reading of the play. Bishop is an asset defensively as well, but he is most comfortable sitting just above the back line, spraying balls around. As a two-footed midfielder, Teddy Bishop is regularly being watched by a number of Premier League biggest clubs.
Highlighted Team (Portsmouth):
During Milan Mandaric’s era at the club, Portsmouth played an important role in the Premier League, with the team finishing their debut season (2003/2004) in the 13th position in the standings. The club impressed in the 2008/2009 season, with Nwankwo Kanu’s goal helping them beat Cardiff City in the FA Cup final.
As a result, Portsmouth represented England in the Europa League, with the team progressing in the group stages of the competition thanks to a win over Vitoria Gimaraes in the final qualifying round. The current club was formed in 2013, but the original amateur club was founded back in 1883. Nowadays Portsmouth host their rivals at Fratton Park, with the venue holding up to 20,620 spectators.
The likes of Sol Campbell, David James, Glen Johnson and aforementioned Nigeria international Nwankwo Kanu are considered one of the club’s most notable players. Portsmouth wear blue shirts, white shorts and red socks when hosting their rivals at Fratton Park, while wearing white and blue colours when playing on the road.