Portsmouth - Sunderland - Tips by users and experts on football, 16 May 2019: England. League One

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Squad

Draw • 3.26

It may be a concern for Sunderland fans that their team lost 3-1 away to Pompey just before Christmas, but they will also feel their turn is due having been beaten on penalties by Kenny Jackett’s side in the Checkatrade Trophy final.

Portsmouth finished three points ahead of the Black Cats in the final league table and there has not been much between the clubs all season.

Another tight affair looks on the cards here and that should suit Sunderland, who are backed to hang on to their aggregate advantage and progress to a Wembley showdown with either Doncaster or, more probably, Charlton.

Portsmouth Win • 2.19

Portsmouth offer plenty going forward at home, Sunderland haven’t exactly spent 2019 battering teams on their travels. Since the turn of the year, Jack Ross’ men have certainly been tough to beat on the road, while their individual quality has carried them over the line at times, but they’ve been halted by some fairly average teams and have often posted some rather displeasing figures.

The Black Cats average just 1.25 goals for away from home in 2019, while they also average a rather measly 1.17 expected goals for. Add in the fact that they ended the regular campaign by losing away against both Fleetwood and Southend, both of whom scored twice, and it’s easy to fear for the visitors ahead of Thursday’s second leg.

Given both the numbers produced by Portsmouth at home and the numbers produced by Sunderland on the road, ‘Portsmouth to Score Over 1.5 Goals’ stands out as a viable option with the betting the way that it is currently. Pompey have little choice but to adopt an attacking approach, while their previous efforts at this venue suggest that the chance of such an approach yielding a couple of goals is slightly greater than the current prices suggest.

Portsmouth Win • 2.18

Sunderland hold a slim 1-0 advantage heading into a tough second leg tie away at Portsmouth.

Chris Maguire's thunderous effort was enough to give the Black Cats victory in a tight contest that could well have ended level.

It puts Pompey in the difficult position of having to secure a win against a team who haven't lost many games this season. While it is a challenge, Kenny Jackett's men are capable of passing it.

Their home form, on the whole, has been good. While they had to settle for dropped points in their final two games of the regular season in front of their own supporters, the results gained at Fratton Park against top-half sides can give them hope.

While draws dominated February, including games against Barnsley and Doncaster, they beat Sunderland just before Christmas and they will need to draw upon that if they are to turn this contest around.

Portsmouth Win • 2.18

That last point is a good one, the first goal in this game is key and we've already seen in this play-offs how the home side have been able to score first in second leg contests.

Forest Green, West Brom and Leeds all managed to net first and while they didn't quite get the outcome they wanted, the various reasons as to why don't particularly concern Portsmouth.

Fratton Park will be loud and if they can grab the first goal then they have a fantastic chance to go on and win the game.

Portsmouth Win • 2.18

Since the start of last season, Charlton have only lost once in six clashes with Doncaster in all competitions, winning three and drawing two, including a 2-1 victory in the first leg at the Keepmoat.

Chris Maguire has found the net in his last two League One games; including play-off matches, Maguire hasn’t scored in three consecutive Football League games since January 2014 for Sheffield Wednesday.