Pompey look to seize huge opportunity to keep themselves on track as they host bottom of the pile Doncaster.

After returning to winning ways, Portsmouth will aim to make it back-to-back wins and further cement Doncaster Rovers’ woes.

In what has been a difficult start to 2022 for the south coast side, picking up just 2 points from their first six League One fixtures of the year, they managed to stop the rot on Tuesday night with a 2-1 triumph over Burton Albion in front of their home supporters.

One positive that has come from the wretched period is the form of Michael Jacobs. The former Wigan man has bagged himself three goals and two assists in his last three appearances and is starting to deliver exactly the type of performances that were expected of him when he was signed under previous manager Kenny Jackett in September 2020. 

The midfielders’ Portsmouth career has been blighted by injury which has led to him struggling for minutes over the last year and a half. However, keeping him fit seems to be the key to saving Portsmouth’s season from falling into mid-table mediocrity.

Pompey’s poor run has seen the blues slide down into 11th place in Sky Bet League One, 12 points outside the play offs. As such, they will see the visit of Doncaster as a chance to continue their fight back towards the top 6 and kick their season back into life.

Goals have been hard to come by for Portsmouth as of late and this seems to be due to the lack of firepower up top for the blues. There were departures for both John Marquis and Ellis Harrison during the January transfer window and the Blues have replaced the both of them with the signing of Tyler Walker on loan from Coventry City. Sadly for Pompey fans, the loanee hasn’t exactly had the lightning start that was needed but Portsmouth will be hoping that he will find his feet sooner rather than later and show just why he was the man Danny Cowley wanted.

Doncaster sit bottom of Sky Bet League One, 8 points from safety. Inconsistency has hurt them all season and even with results like a 2-1 away victory against Sunderland last weekend, they just haven’t been able to put a consistent run of results together all season.

They are starting to look condemned to playing League Two football next season but they will be heading into this game with the mindset of just picking up any points they can to save themselves from the drop. Donny will be somewhat motivated by the fact that they managed a 0-0 draw at home to Portsmouth in the reverse fixture back in August and will use this as a positive going into the game. Furthermore, the Yorkshire side will look to build on recent shock wins away at MK Dons and Sunderland, and subsequently will look to add a victory at Fratton Park to that list.

Victory for Doncaster will further increase their chances of an escape and could move them to just five points from safety. The home side on the other hand, will be hoping that the worst is behind them and will see this match as an opportunity to kickstart their charge for the play offs.

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