Two injury-stricken squads in Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers face off as the Championship returns from the March International Break.
EFL Championship
Our Three Predictions For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers
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- Prediction 1 – Both Teams To Score – 11/4
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- Prediction 2 – Over 2.5 Goals Scored – 13/10
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- Prediction 3 – Portsmouth To Win – 2/1
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First Prediction For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers – Both Teams To Score – 11/4
Clean sheets were a rare commodity for both of these sides prior to the international break. Portsmouth have shut out an opponent just four times since mid-December, with one of those coming three games ago in their unlikely victory over Leeds United. Pompey’s defence is the second worst in the Championship, with Cardiff City being the only team to let in more goals across the campaign. Blackburn have gone five games without a clean sheet, and likewise with Portsmouth have only kept four clean sheets since mid-December. With these frailties at the back, each team’s striking options will fancy their chances, regardless of their form or not.
Second Prediction For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers – Over 2.5 Goals Scored – 13/10
Whilst being goal-shy in recent matches, Blackburn’s strikers will be hopeful they can overcome that against one of the Championship’s worst defences. Yuki Ohashi got on the scoresheet in their loss against Cardiff last time out, and if his early season form is anything to go by, he can punish sides. However, they will feel a blow with Andi Weimann out for the remainder of the season with a meniscus injury. Portsmouth’s Colby Bishop has scored two of their last five goals and is supported by Sunderland loanee Adil Aouchiche, who was on the scoresheet against Plymouth Argyle.
Third Prediction For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers – Portsmouth To Win – 2/1
Blackburn Rovers looked dire in their games following John Eustace’s departure to Derby County and have only picked up four points out of a possible 18 in that period, derailling their play off bid in the process. Whilst new boss Valerien Ismael will have hoped he can fully implement his strategy across the international break, he is facing a defensive crisis with Harry Pickering, Danny Batth, Owen Beck and Scott Wharton all injured. Portsmouth have gained some crucial results in their hopes for a second season in the second tier and they will feel confident with their key forwards in Colby Bishop, Adil Aouchiche and Josh Murphy all available. With the long distance their opponents will travel and limited defensive options, Pompey should have a decisive edge in this encounter.
Best Odds For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers
| Bookmaker | Portsmouth | Draw | Blackburn Rovers |
| Betarno | 11/10 | 19/10 | 11/5 |
| Gentleman Jim | 23/20 | 21/10 | 23/10 |
| Myriadplay |
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head
Portsmouth enter the game having slowly been dragged back into a fight with their relegation rivals as the month progressed. Wins over Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers elevated them into a comfortable position heading into the international break but with other teams, most prominently Derby County, gaining crucial results, Pompey’s gap above the drop sits at four points with eight games remaining. Whilst they have the comfort of having four other teams between them and the bottom three, they face some crucial games, most importantly against The Rams and also Frank Lampard and his in-form Coventry City side. In their other games, they lost to Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Preston North End in their last match before the international break.
Blackburn Rovers were still adapting to life under new manager Valerien Ismael after the former Watford manager took over at Ewood Park. Whilst he drew in his opening salvo against Norwich City, his three most recent games have all been losses, most humiliatingly of all against former boss John Eustace and his Derby County side. A period of five games without a win has now put them in dire straits in their hopes for a top-six finish. They enter the final stretch in ninth place, and whilst certainly not out of the play-off conversation and are five points behind West Bromwich Albion in sixth, their lack of points with games against Sunderland and Sheffield United on the horizon puts them on the back foot compared to the sides around them. That draw was their only point under Ismael and only one of seven points they have earned since the start of February.
Blackburn Rovers have been utterly dominant in this fixture since the turn of the century, winning 14 out of a possible 22 contests between these two sides. Rovers have not lost to Portsmouth since 2008, when both sides were in the Premier League. The reverse fixture decisively went the way of the Lancashire club, winning 3-0 at Ewood Park.
Confrontation
29/03/2025
Championship Championship
Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers
1
0
15/01/2025
Championship Championship
Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth
3
0
Last Results - Portsmouth 
26/04/2025
Championship Championship
Sheffield Wed
Portsmouth
1
1
D
21/04/2025
Championship Championship
Portsmouth
Watford
1
0
W
18/04/2025
Championship Championship
Norwich City
Portsmouth
3
5
W
12/04/2025
Championship Championship
Portsmouth
Derby County
2
2
D
09/04/2025
Championship Championship
Coventry City
Portsmouth
1
0
L
Last Results - Blackburn
26/04/2025
Championship Championship
Blackburn
Watford
2
1
W
21/04/2025
Championship Championship
Sunderland
Blackburn Rovers
0
1
W
18/04/2025
Championship Championship
Blackburn Rovers
Millwall
4
1
W
12/04/2025
Championship Championship
Luton Town
Blackburn Rovers
0
1
W
08/04/2025
Championship Championship
Blackburn Rovers
Sheffield Wednesday
2
2
D
Where To Watch Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
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- Location: Fratton Park, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 8RA
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- Date: March 29th, 2025
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This game is unavailable to watch in the UK, with kick-off at 3 pm.
Probable Lineups For Portsmouth vs Blackburn Rovers
What sort of lineup can we expect from this important EFL Championship clash?
Predicted Portsmouth Lineup
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- Lineup: Schmid; Devlin, Poole, Ogilvie, Bramall; Potts, Dozzell; Gordon, Aouchiche, Murphy; Bishop
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- Injured/Suspended: Lang, Shaughnessey, Matthews, Bowat, Farrell, Williams, Lane, Atkinson
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- Manager: John Mousinho
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Predicted Blackburn Rovers Lineup
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- Lineup: Pears; Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Ribiero; Tronstad, Travis; Dolan, Ohashi, Dennis; Gueye
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- Injured/Suspended: Weimann, Kargbo, Batth, Leonard, Pickering, Beck, Wharton, Gilsenan
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- Manager: Valerien Ismael
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