Portsmouth can secure seven points from their last three matches with a victory over Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park on Saturday. The 3pm kick-off offers a chance to climb from 18th place in the Championship table before the international break.

Head coach John Mousinho is focused on the immediate task. "We’re focused on facing Blackburn right now and they’ve had an okay points return so far, with a deserved win over Millwall last week," he said. The visitors sit 16th, one point above Portsmouth but having played an extra game.

Team news and injuries

Marko Milovanović is a doubt for the hosts after missing the 0-0 draw at Charlton with a calf issue. He joins a lengthy injury list that includes Keshi Anderson, Luke Brooke-Smith, Márk Kosznovszky, Josh Murphy, Connor Ogilvie, Franco Umeh and Thomas Waddingham. Blackburn are expected to be without a host of players including Dion De Neve, Adam Forshaw and Yuki Ohashi.

Portsmouth's recent form shows two wins, a draw and two losses from their last five games, a sequence that includes a 2-0 home win over Cardiff. The squad's current standings position of 18th with seven points from six games provides the context for this important home match.

Recent history and opposition

Blackburn survived a relegation scrap last season and were only spared a drop to League One because of point deductions for Leicester and West Brom. Tony Mowbray was appointed head coach over the summer following Michael O'Neill's decision to remain with Northern Ireland. Their summer business was limited to just three signings.

The last meeting between the sides at Fratton Park was a 2-1 Portsmouth win just before Christmas last term, with Ibane Bowat scoring the winner. The overall head-to-head record favours Blackburn with 41 wins to Portsmouth's 28, with 25 draws.

Match officials and coverage

Referee John Busby will take charge, assisted by Johnathon Bickerdike and Mark Dyer with Richard Eley as fourth official. Busby last officiated a Pompey game in March, a 6-1 defeat at QPR. Overseas fans can watch live on Pompey+, with audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham available for subscribers. Locally-based fans not attending can listen via BBC Radio Solent or Express FM.

"It’s important for us to produce a strong showing and hopefully get the outcome that sends us into the break with a positive mindset," Mousinho added. A win would lift Portsmouth to 10 points and provide momentum ahead of the next phase of the season. The match kicks off at Fratton Park on Saturday, 19 September.

The original report is at Portsmouth FC