Once a Premier League fixture, Sunderland and Portsmouth have been promoted in the last two seasons. The pair will meet on Saturday afternoon, searching for three points with kickoff at 6 pm.
The hosts will remain in the automatic mix for the playoffs, while the visitors will travel to the North East desperate to stay in touch with their fellow playoff challengers.
Despite having title ambitions at the beginning of the campaign, Lee Johnson finds his team currently outside of the automatic promotion places.
The squad has four games in hand over their direct rivals, Wigan Athletic, and can secure the title if they get points on the board.
Three teams are left fighting for one automatic promotion spot in League One, with Sunderland set to play Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers in the coming months.
If the Black Cats win out, they will be back in League One for the first time since dropping out of it last season.
Like Saturday’s opponents, Portsmouth has had a mixed season so far, with the south coast outfit currently boasting two wins from their previous eight matches.
A win would mean that Portsmouth stayed in seventh place, behind Plymouth Argyle by only five points.
Portsmouth will be aiming to win both league games against Sunderland in a single season for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign when they were both Premier League clubs.
Sunderland vs Portsmouth Head to Head
Both sides have 17 games against each other, with hosts taking 4 wins while opponents with 9 wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Accrington Stanley 1-1 Sunderland
- Sunderland 1-3 Lincoln City
- Wycombe Wanderers 3-3 Sunderland
- Sunderland 5-0 Wednesday
- Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Sunderland
Away
- Wimbledon 0-0 Portsmouth
- Portsmouth 1-2 MK Dons
- Cambridge United 1-2 Portsmouth
- Exeter City 2-3 Portsmouth
- Cambridge 0-0 Portsmouth
Sunderland Team News
Ross Stewart has excelled for Sunderland in League One, netting 18 goals during his 27 appearances. The Scottish-born striker will lead the line for Sunderland, with Lynden Gooch and Leon Dajaku providing creativity from either side.
Portsmouth Team News
Portsmouth will also field a City loanee in their defense, with promising goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu looking to continue his strong campaign with another clean sheet. Connor Ogilvie, Sean Raggett, and Hayden Carter will look to provide the Irish shot-stopper with cover.
Prediction and Odds
When the two rivals meet this weekend, both hope to secure their promotion aspirations.
- Sunderland Win
- Both Teams to Score
- Goals Over 2.5
