Peterborough United vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League One.
Weston Homes StadiumAttendance10,472.
Friday 14 September 2018 12:17, UK
Sky Bet League One leaders Peterborough expect to have Callum Cooke available again for the top-of-the-table clash against Portsmouth.
Midfielder Cooke injured his ankle in the Checkatrade Trophy tie at MK Dons, but has resumed full training. Boss Steve Evans revealed he could look to bring in some fresh faces after last weekend's battling 3-2 victory at Southend.
Forward Ivan Toney is among those pressing for a recall after coming off the bench to score a late winner, while Marcus Maddison and midfielder Joe Ward are other options.
Portsmouth should have Ronan Curtis involved following his international duty with the Republic of Ireland. Midfielder Dion Donohue, though, has a hamstring problem picked up in a midweek match against Reading Under-23s.
Manager Kenny Jackett confirmed both defenders Anton Walkes (groin) and Jack Whatmough (hamstring) are yet match fit for the trip to the ABAX Stadium.
Andre Green (knee) is another doubt having been forced off at half-time during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury, when Brett Pitman came off the bench to score a late equaliser from the penalty spot.
Peterborough have lost four of the last six games in all competitions against Portsmouth (W2), including the most recent clash in League One in May last season (0-2).
Six of the last eight games in all competitions between Peterborough and Portsmouth at the ABAX stadium have ended in draws, with both sides winning one each of the other two.
Peterborough are one of five unbeaten sides after the opening seven matches in League One (W6 D1) - in fact, with 19 points from their seven games is this their best ever start to a season in the top four tiers of English Football.
Portsmouth have also made an unbeaten start to the season (P7 W5 D2 L0) and have gone eight league games without defeat (W6 D2) - the last time they went on a longer unbeaten run in the EFL came between March and August 2017 (run of nine).
Portsmouth's Ronan Curtis has been directly involved in five of the club's last six league goals (3 assists, 2 goals).
A top-of-the-table clash in Sky Bet League One! Both of these sides have been flying so far this season and this should be a great game at London Road.
Peterborough did brilliantly to nick a late win at Southend last week and Steve Evans has done fantastically to mould a new side together so quickly. This is a tough one to call but I'm going to back Peterborough.
David Prutton predicts: 2-0 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
