Portsmouth vs Burnley predictions: Clarets to perform another defensive masterclass
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- Portsmouth are without a home win over Burnley since December 2009
- Burnley have lost just two of 29 Championship games this season
- Recommended bet: Burnley win to nil
Two sides in need of the points for very differing reasons will meet at Fratton Park in the Championship on Saturday as struggling Portsmouth entertain promotion-chasing Burnley.
Pompey sit just a place and two points above the relegation zone and will head into this game following successive defeats away to West Brom and at home to Millwall.
By contrast, Burnley are unbeaten in their last 16 Championship games and currently lie in third, a point behind second-placed Sheffield United and three off leaders Leeds.
Team news
Portsmouth are expected to be boosted by the return of Bristol City loanee Rob Atkinson, who missed the midweek defeat to Millwall due to illness.
Fellow defender Jordan Williams also sat out that game with a hamstring issue and is likely to miss out again, as will long-term absentees Regan Poole, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Paddy Lane, Mark O'Mahony and Kusini Yengi.
As for Burnley, they remain without a quintet of players, with Jordan Beyer, Manuel Benson, Enock Agyei, Aaron Ramsey and Nathan Redmond all still sidelined.
It is also unclear whether Jonjo Shelvey will be involved, with the midfielder yet to feature in a matchday squad since his January arrival at Turf Moor.
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The stats
Portsmouth were unbeaten in seven home matches, winning six of those, prior to their midweek loss to Millwall.
John Mousinho's side have picked up 22 of their 29 Championship points on home soil at Fratton Park.
Only bottom-of-the-table Plymouth (62) have conceded more second-tier goals than Pompey (52) this season.
Burnley are currently on the longest unbeaten run in the Championship, as they have avoided defeat in each of their last 16 games, last losing at Millwall in early November.
The Clarets have conceded just nine goals in 29 league games this season, by far and away the best record of any team in the top four divisions.
Monday's home shutout against Leeds was Burnley's seventh successive clean sheet in the league and they have also conceded just one goal across their last eight Championship away games.
Burnley won September's reverse meeting with Portsmouth 2-1, while they triumphed 5-1 on their last visit to Fratton Park, although that came in the second tier nearly 13 years ago.
Prediction
Burnley's defensive record this season is nothing short of remarkable and that coupled with their ongoing 16-match unbeaten run means it is a surprise they head into this game still sitting outside the automatic promotion positions.
Scoring goals has been an issue for Scott Parker's side — perhaps a consequence of their defensive solidity — but they did put five past Plymouth in their last road fixture and have won six of their last seven away games.
Portsmouth are a considerably better team on home soil than they are on their travels, but their midweek loss to Millwall at Fratton Park may have dented the confidence of Mousinho's team.
If Burnley play close to their potential, then they should win this with something to spare, while a clean sheet almost feels inevitable for this incarnation of the Clarets.
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