An out-of-sorts Bristol City side get their FA Cup campaign underway on Sunday when they play host to 2008 winners Portsmouth at Ashton Gate.

Both teams will be taking to the pitch for the first time in 2021 after their most recent league fixtures were postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Match preview

Bristol City were due to be playing Championship high-flyers Brentford in their first fixture of the New Year, but the game had to be postponed after a number of Robins players exhibited COVID-19 symptoms.

However, Dean Holden has since confirmed that all players bar Kasey Palmer have tested negative recently and are raring to go as Bristol City look to start 2021 on the right foot.

The Robins ended 2020 with four defeats from their last five - including a 2-1 defeat to Luton Town on December 29 - and they fell at this stage of the FA Cup last season to lower-league opposition in Shrewsbury Town.

Bristol City did manage to advance to the fifth round as recently as the 2018-19 season - where they were sent packing by Wolverhampton Wanderers - but they have been knocked out in round three in 10 of their previous 13 FA Cup campaigns.

The Robins' most recent home fixture saw them overcome Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 on Boxing Day, but that game is the only occasion that Holden's side have notched up more than one goal in their last nine matches at Ashton Gate.

Portsmouth have already scraped past Ipswich Town in extra time and breezed past King's Lynn Town to reach the third round for the third consecutive season.

However, the South Coast team are one of many to have been ravaged by a coronavirus outbreak over the festive period, and Kenny Jackett's men have not taken to the pitch since a 2-0 win over Hull City on December 18.

Five players in the Pompey camp tested positive for COVID-19 at the back end of last year, but this weekend's visitors have reported a clean bill of health for this tie and will be determined to mark their return to action with a victory against higher-level opposition.

Prior to their coronavirus outbreak, Portsmouth had won four and drawn one of their final five games of 2020 - keeping a clean sheet each time - and the nine goals that Jackett's men have already notched up is the most out of any team in the first two rounds.

Portsmouth dumped Bristol City out of the competition at this stage in the 2008-09 season, and the last two meetings both ended in goalless stalemates in the 2011-12 Championship season.

Bristol City form (all competitions): WLLLWL

Portsmouth FA Cup form: WW
Portsmouth form (all competitions): LWWWDW

Team News

As well as the COVID-positive Palmer, Bristol City will not be able to count on right-back Jack Hunt due to a foot injury, while Jamie Paterson is set to undergo groin surgery.

Joseph Williams and Liam Walsh also remain in the treatment room, and while Nathan Baker and Alfie Mawson have been put through their paces on the training pitch, the game is expected to come too soon for both players.

Cameron Pring has returned from his loan spell at this weekend's opponents Portsmouth but is cup-tied, with Hakeeb Adelakun and Owura Edwards also being recalled by the hosts and ready to take part.

With Portsmouth now fully recovered from their coronavirus cluster, Jack Whatmough could return to the fold and make his first FA Cup appearance of the campaign.

Pring's return to the Robins leaves Lee Brown as the visitors' only recognised left-back, but the 30-year-old is touch-and-go for this one due to a hamstring injury.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Mariappa, Kalas, Vyner, Rowe; Nagy, Massengo, Bakinson; Adelakun, Diedhiou, Wells

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Nicolaisen, Brown; Williams, Naylor, Cannon, Jacobs; Marquis, Harrison

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Portsmouth (Portsmouth to win on penalties)

This is a very difficult game to call. Portsmouth could still be reeling from the effects of their coronavirus outbreak, but the visitors' defensive resolve has been evident this season, whereas Bristol City struggle for goals on their own patch. 120 minutes may not be enough to separate the two sides, but we are backing Pompey to advance on penalties.

Top betting tip

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