Week 21 – Friday – Sport Grill

Derby host relegation battling Portsmouth in a Championship clash at Pride Park. 

Victory will see Derby move up to 14th in the table, whilst Portsmouth can move up to 21st position with a win and three points clear of the relegation zone.

Team News

Derby have no fresh injuries or suspensions to report following their goalless draw at Burnley, with Ryan Nyambe (knee) and David Ozoh (quad) both sidelined.

Portsmouth will welcome Callum Lang and Andrea Dozzell back into contention but Regan Poole (unspecified) is a doubt, after he was substituted in their goalless draw against Norwich on Tuesday evening.

Jacob Farrell, Kusini Yengi (both knee), Mark O’Mahony (hip), Jordan Williams (hamstring), Conor Shaughnessy (calf) and Ibane Bowat (tendon)

When is Kick-Off?

Derby host Portsmouth at Pride Park on Friday 13 December at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Stat Attack

• Derby have avoided defeat in their last eight meetings against Portsmouth (W3, D5).
• Portsmouth are winless in their last five visits to Derby (D3, L2).
• Derby have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven home games against Portsmouth.
• Paul Warne’s Rams have lost each of their last two home games by 2-1 results.
• Portsmouth are looking to go five matches unbeaten for the first time since a 17-match streak from January – April 2024.

Prediction

With just one win in their last 11 matches, Derby have slid into the grasps of a relegation battle but to draw at Burnley after losing at Leeds is a solid result, which should do good for their confidence but they need to now start winning more.

Portsmouth though are hitting form now that Colby Bishop is back in the team and with clean sheets in their last two, they can go to Pride Park with confidence especially with Lang back in the squad.

Both teams though were held to goalless draws in midweek so I am not expecting a classic, and frankly wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in another draw.

Prediction: Derby 1-1 Portsmouth