Promotion rivals of Portsmouth along with Hull City, Sunderland, Doncaster Peterborough and Charlton latest to be plunged into coronavirus chaos

Pompey’s promotion rivals yesterday returned six positive tests among their first-team coaching and playing staff.

Boss Paul Lambert was among those to test positive and will join the other affected in self-isolating in accordance with government guidelines.

SUBSCRIBE today for the latest Pompey updates

Ipswich’s clash yesterday with Peterborough had already been called off after a similar coronavirus outbreak in the Posh first-team set-up.

But the development now places their games against Norhampton on Boxing Day and trip to AFC Wimbledon on December 29 in doubt.

‘We will be closing the training ground now in line with guidelines until we have spoken in detail with the EFL about the way forward,’ Ipswich’s general manager of football operations, Lee O’Neill, told EADT.co.uk.

Ipswich are Pompey’s latest promotion rival to feel the grip of coronavirus on their season.

Peterborough’s match with Ipswich along with games with Gillingham and Charlton over the festive period have been suspended.

That’s after one unnamed player tested positive for coronavirus and three others were displaying symptoms of the disease.

A Peterborough statement said: ‘The safety and health of our players is paramount. The club have notified the EFL of the postponements.

‘The next scheduled league fixture is on January 2, 2021 against Doncaster Rovers at the Weston Homes Stadium. The club will be making no further comment.’

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers’ games with Oxford United and Charlton were called off this week after an outbreak.

Rovers, who are scheduled to play Pompey on December 29, have players and staff currently self-isolating.

Sunderland have also called off three games and the Sunderland Echo reports today cases at the club have now reached double figures.

The Black Cats played their game against AFC Wimbledon fearing sanctions if they did not do so, before postponing matches against Shrewsbury, Blackpool and Hull.

Pompey, of course, saw Jack Whatmough test positive for coronavirus after falling ill ahead of the game with Hull on Friday.

The defender yesterday returned a positive test and will miss the Boxing Day game with Swindon.

Mark Catlin today confirmed there’s been no further positive tests in the Pompey ranks.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.