Exeter City will try to end a five-game winless run in all competitions when they welcome Portsmouth to St James' Park on Boxing Day.

The visitors will also be looking to end a poor spell of form after failing to win any of their last six matches in League One.

Match preview

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Exeter have failed to claim a victory in their last five competitive games, while they have won only one of their previous seven league matches.

After playing out consecutive 1-1 draws against Morecambe and Sheffield Wednesday, the Grecians were beaten 2-0 by Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Gary Caldwell's side currently sit in 13th place, and with two points separating them from Pompey, they have the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents.

If they are to claim all three points on Monday then the hosts will be looking for a defensive improvement after failing to keep a clean sheet in their last seven home league games.

Having lost only one of their previous four home matches at St James' Park, Exeter will be confident that at the very least they can pick up a point against Pompey.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth may have won three of their last five matches, but all of those victories have taken place in cup competitions.

Danny Cowley's side are currently winless in six league games, while their last two matches in League One have both ended in defeat.

In their most recent outing, Portsmouth lost at home for the first time this season when goals from Bradley Johnson and Jack Tucker helped secure MK Dons a 2-0 victory.

As a result of their poor form, Pompey have begun to slip away from the playoffs with five points now separating them from the top six, although they do have two games in hand over most of the teams above them in the table.

Portsmouth have not scored two goals or more in a league game since the beginning of October, and after failing to find the net in their last three matches in League One, Cowley will be searching for answers to help his side improve in the final third.

Team News

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Jonathan Grounds replaced the injured Pierce Sweeney in the backline last weekend, and the experienced defender is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup.

After featuring as a second-half substitute against Bolton, Sam Nombe could be brought into the side to feature in the forward line.

He could be joined in the front three by Jay Stansfield and Jevani Brown, and the latter will be looking to add to the nine league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are still expected to be without the services of Louis Thompson, Joe Rafferty, Jayden Reid and Tom Lowery due to injury issues.

Zach Swanson has returned to training following a spell on the sidelines, but Monday's game may come too soon for the right-back.

Sean Raggett missed the defeat to MK Dons, but he is expected to feature in the starting lineup against Exeter, while Dane Scarlett could also be brought into the side.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Blackman; Diabate, Grounds, Hartridge; Key, Kite, Collins, Caprice; Brown, Nombe, Stansfield

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Morrison, Raggett, Robertson; Dale, Mingi, Pack, Ogilvie; Hackett, Scarlett, Bishop

We say: Exeter City 1-1 Portsmouth

Two of Exeter's last three games have ended all square, while Pompey have drawn four of their previous six matches, and we think that the two sides will have to settle for a share of the spoils when they go head-to-head on Monday.

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