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Blackburn Rovers take on Portsmouth in the 16th round of matches in the EFL Championship on Saturday. The two sides are perched in different halves of the points table.
John Eustace's Blackburn are coming off a 3-1 win at Cardiff City just before the international break. An Andreas Weimann brace on either side of half-time put the Rovers in control of proceedings before Cardiff pulled one back through David Turnbull in the 73rd minute.
However, Lewis Baker's 86th-minute strike restored Blackburn's two-goal lead as they snapped a three-game losing streak. Eustace's side are ninth in the points table with 22 points from 15 games, winning six.
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Meanwhile, John Mousinho's Portsmouth beat Preston North End 3-1 at home in their most recent league outing just before the international break. Josh Murphy and Connor Ogilvie gave Pompey a two-goal lead at half-time before Emil Riis Jakobsen reduced arrears five minutes into the second period.
However, Colby Bishop's 89th-minute strike from the spot gave Mousinho's beleaguered side only their second league win of the season, snapping a four-game winless streak. With 12 points from 15 games, Pompey are off the bottom of the points table, two points clear of rock-bottom Queens Park Rangers.
On that note, here's a look at the head-to-head stats and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips for the Blackburn-Portsmouth Championship clash at Ewood Park.
Blackburn Rovers vs Portsmouth head-to-head stats and key numbers
- In 90 meetings across competitions, Blackburn lead Portsmouth 40-26, with the Rovers winning their last clash 2-1 away in a League One clash in February 2018.
- The Rovers are unbeaten in five games against Portsmouth, winning four, but this will be their first Championship meeting since April 2001.
- Blackburn have two wins in their last five home games across competitions, losing twice.
- Portsmouth have one win and three losses in their last five road outings across competitions.
- Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Blackburn: W-L-L-L-D; Portsmouth: W-L-D-L-L
Blackburn Rovers vs Portsmouth prediction
The two sides have had contrasting campaigns, with Portsmouth recently getting off the bottom place in the standings. Pompey needed 10 games to notch up their first win of the season and have since won once in their next five outings, losing thrice.
The Rovers, meanwhile, are coming off a first win in four games. They enjoy a head-to-head advantage over Pompey, who haven't beaten Blackburn in five games since a 3-2 Premier League home win in November 2008.
Considering that, we expect a narrow win for the Rovers as they seek to climb up the standings.
Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers vs Portsmouth betting tips
Tip-1: Blackburn to win
Tip-2: Blackburn to keep a clean sheet: No (The Rovers haven't kept one in four games.)
Tip-3: Over 2.5 goals: Yes (Four of their last six meetings have had at least three goals.)
