After facing Chelsea and Manchester United in their last two games away from home, Blackburn will be relieved to return to the friendlier surroundings of Ewood Park. Things are looking up for Rovers boss Sam Allardyce with his squad having finally overcome the effects of swine flu, too, but facing them will be a Portsmouth side rejuvenated by two successive 4-0 victories.

Quick Check

Blackburn Rovers

  • Striker Jason Roberts is hoping to recover from swine flu in time to face his old team.
  • Martin Olsson could also feature after a week out with the virus.
  • Sam Allardyce’s side has won their last four games in all competitions at Ewood Park.
  • Rovers have won three of the last four meetings against Portsmouth.
  • Blackburn have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven games.
  • Rovers have conceded 15 goals in their last four league matches.

Portsmouth

  • Hermann Hreidarsson and Papa Bouba Diop are hoping to figure for the first time in a month after injury.
  • Pompey have lost just once in their last five games.
  • Paul Hart’s side has scored four goals in their last two matches.
  • Pompey have not conceded in four of their last five games.
  • Striker Frederic Piquionne is a doubt with a neck problem.
  • Pompey have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four encounters against Blackburn.

Expert Advice

Blackburn are running Hull close as contenders for the Premier League’s Jekyll and Hyde team this season, having run up an impressive sequence at home but been dire on the road losing all their games. Recent form at Ewood Park suggests that Rovers will chalk up a fifth successive home victory but Portsmouth are a much tougher proposition than they were this time last month. Paul Hart’s side has tightened up at the back while their strikers look to have discovered the art of scoring goals again. With this in mind, predicting a winner appears too difficult and it looks better to take Betsson’s odds of 1.86 for there to be 2.5 goals or less as a sound bet.

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