Portsmouth host Reading at Fratton Park this Saturday in League One. Reading are in desperate need of three points to put even more room between themselves and the relegation zone, whereas Portsmouth look to extend their lead at the top of League One.
Portsmouth currently sit top of League One after 33 games. Pompey have 20 wins, nine draws and four losses, leaving them on 69 points, six points ahead of second place Derby County and seven points ahead of Bolton.
In their last five games in all competitions, Portsmouth have four wins and one draw.
A penalty from Colby Bishop in the 88th minute was the only goal of the game to give Portsmouth the 1 - 0 win over Port Vale. The next time out for Portsmouth was an important game at the top against Oxford United. Tyler Goodrham gave Oxford the lead on the stroke of halftime, but goals from Bishop and Callum Lang gave Portsmouth the lead. However, a 90th minute goal from James Henry grabbed a 2 - 2 draw for Oxford.
Despite the red card to Tom McIntyre early in the second half, Connor Ogilvie and Lang both scored along with a brace from Paddy Lane to give Portsmouth the 4 - 1 win over Northampton Town. Lane was on the scoresheet again for Portsmouth with his second half goal being the only goal of the game in the 1 - 0 win over Carlisle.
The last time out for Portsmouth was against Cambridge United on Tuesday. Danny Andrew opened the scoring for Cambridge but a penalty from Kusini Yengi drew Portsmouth level before halftime. However, goals from Myles Peart-Harris and Abu Kamara gave Portsmouth the 3 - 1 win.
Reading, on the other hand, currently sit 16th in the Championship. In 32 games, Reading have ten wins, nine draws and 13 losses which leaves them on 35 points, six points above the relegation zone.
In their last five games in all competitions, Reading have two wins and three draws.
Both goals in the clash between Reading and Leyton Orient came in a four minute period. Dan Agyei converted his penalty in the 19th minute and Harvey Knibbs equalised just minutes later. However, neither team could find another goal and the game ended in a 1 - 1 draw. It was another 1 - 1 draw for Reading the next time out against Oxford United. Mark Harris gave Oxford the lead in the first half but an own goal from Ciaron Brown rescued the draw for Reading.
It was another own goal, this time from Stevanage’s Vadaine Oliver, that gave Reading the win, the goal being the only one of the game in the 1 - 0 win for Reading. Femi Azeez picked up a second half brace in the game against Charlton to earn Reading a 2 - 0 win.
The most recent outing for Reading was yet another 1 - 1 draw, this time against Fleetwood. Lewis Wing put Reading ahead with just 15 minutes to go but a 95th minute goal from Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu grabbed the 1 - 1 draw for Fleetwood.
Portsmouth and Reading have met 70 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming all the way back in 1902. Portsmouth have the better record in the fixture with 22 wins in comparison to Reading’s 12 wins, the other 14 games ending in a draw.