This Week's Opposition: Leicester City

An investigation into the key names and numbers behind Portsmouth's next Championship opponent.

Off the back of 2 impressive wins against promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Ipswich, the Blues return to PO4 for the second time this week to take on relegation-threatened rivals Leicester City.

MANAGER

The Foxes have experienced EFL boss Gary Rowett now leading the team.

Rowett, who has previously managed Burton Albion, Birmingham City (twice), Derby County, Stoke City, Millwall and Oxford United, was appointed on a short-term deal until the end of the season back on February 18th following the dismissal of Martí Cifuentes in January.

So far, the 52-year-old has overseen just 1 win from 10 games in charge.

ONE TO WATCH

If anyone is going to pose a threat to the Pompey back line, it’ll more than likely be Ghanaian-French winger Abdul Fatawu.

The 22-year-old Leicester number 7 has scored 9 league goals this term, that’s the second-highest amongst the squad.

Fatawu has also contributed 7 assists so far this campaign.

TOP SCORER

With 10 league goals, midfielder Jordan James is Leicester’s leading scorer.

The 21-year-old Welsh international came off the bench in their last match at Swansea following 2 games out injured.

James wears the number 6 shirt and his most recent goal came just over 2 months ago in a 3-1 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

CURRENT FORM

Gary Rowett’s side are in real danger of the drop down to League One, sitting 23rd on 41 points - 5 adrift of safety with 12 left to play for.

Leicester were deducted 6 points earlier in the campaign for breaching the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules - Their recent appeal was rejected.

Having won just 1 of their last 16 league games, The Foxes are also winless in 5 - Their last victory came on the 10th of March at the King Power Stadium, where they beat Bristol City 2-0.

The reverse of this fixture up in Leicester back in October saw the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw thanks to goals from Aaron Ramsey and John Swift.

Can the Blues continue to kick on and take one giant step closer to survival?

Catch all of the unmissable action this Saturday (April 18th) on Pompey Live, which will be on air from 11:30am with full build-up from Fratton Park with Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson.

Kick-off: 12:30pm!