More than 2,100 Leeds United fans will make the long trek to Portsmouth this weekend to cheer on Daniel Farke’s side. It will be the first time the Whites have faced Pompey at Fratton Park since 2012.
Portsmouth are in a strong position to retain their Championship status. They are 17th in the table, eight points clear of the drop zone, and can also take heart from the fact they held the Whites to an entertaining 3-3 draw on the first day of the season back in early August.
Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack said: “We now need to win as many games as we can before the end of the season to stay in the division. Results, bar the odd poor game in the November period, have been really consistent and our performances have been too.
“We are starting to show that we belong at this level, it’s now down to us to make sure we get over the line.”
Head coach John Mousinho will be without a raft of fist team players for Sunday’s lunchtime showdown. Forward Callum Lang (hamstring), Hayden Matthews (ankle), Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Paddy Lane (all knee) are definitely sidelined for the rest of the season.
Bristol City loanee Rob Atkinson (calf) is poised to miss six to eight weeks and ex-United defender Conor Shaughnessy (hamstring) is unlikely to return to action until next month. Full-back Jordan Williams (hamstring) is a big doubt. He has not figured since their 5-1 drubbing at West Bromwich Albion back in January. Mousinho is expected to provide a fitness update on striker Thomas Waddingham at his news conference today.
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