Since leapfrogging Rovers to the Sky Bet League Two title in the 2016/17 season, Pompey has been a club flirting with promotion to the second tier.
In 2019/20, the club lost on penalties to Oxford United following a pair of 1-1 draw performances across both legs (home and away), respectfully. At the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign, it was Sunderland advancing past Pompey in the League One play-offs with just a single goal separating the two sides after 180 minutes of football.
Despite topping the tree at Christmas last season, a poor run of form after the turn of the year landed them outside the play-off places. Head coach Danny Cowley arrived at Fratton Park in March 2021 and has quickly helped Portsmouth improve upon what had been a rough patch since the beginning of the calendar year.
Before Cowley’s arrival, Portsmouth had won five, lost nine and drawn two games, however, with Cowley at the helm, the club has managed nine wins in 16 matches. Overall, Portsmouth holds a record of nine wins, nine losses and two draws in their last 20 matches, while tallying a record of five wins, three losses and two draws in its last 10 League One fixtures dating back to the 2020/21 season.
Rovers have fared well in matches with Portsmouth in recent years. Pompey have won just one of the last nine meetings in all competitions against Rovers. That lone victory coming in October 2019.
This season, Pompey has used a preferred 4-2-3-1 formation under Cowley, as his team sit atop the League One table entering the weekend. It’s been three league games played, three league games won for the side from Fratton Park with wins against Fleetwood Town, Crewe Alexandra and Shrewsbury Town.
Portsmouth top Burton Albion on goal difference, with Pompey scoring four goals and conceding none three league fixtures, respectfully. In fact, the only goals allowed by Portsmouth on the campaign came on the heels of a 2-1 loss away to Millwall in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
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