Our prediction for this League 1 match:
LNER stadium will be the centre of attention when Lincoln and Portsmouth go head to head in an eagerly-awaited League One derby. As a win over Portsmouth will see Lincoln book their spot in the playoffs, we are positive that the hosts are going to leave their hearts on the field. Barring any fresh injury worries, Michael Skubala is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated Cheltenham Town at the weekend.
The Pompey, on the other hand, have already secured automatic promotion, meaning that John Mousinho is likely to mix the squad. As Lincoln are desperate to pick up all three points from Saturday’s showdown, we predict that the visitors are going to return home with their hands empty. As for the away team, both Myles Peart-Harris and Paddy Lane are pushing for recalls to the starting XI after the duo came off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Wigan Athletic.
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.