Oxford United vs Portsmouth Predictions

• Portsmouth’s last four away matches in League One have been to nil. 
• Portsmouth have lost only three of their last 14 league assignments.
• Both teams have scored in only three of Oxford‘s last seven matches.

Portsmouth expected to attack second leg

League One returned to action after a 115-day hiatus with the first legs of the playoff semi-finals and Oxford and Portsmouth’s tie is evenly poised after a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.

In ordinary circumstances, failing to win their home leg would have been viewed as a disappointing misfire by fans of Pompey, who have been much stronger on home soil than on their travels in the league this season.

But since football has returned to action, home advantage seems to have gone out the window and Kenny Jackett’s men can be expected to throw everything at the second leg at the Kassam Stadium.

Portsmouth were much the better side in the first encounter, winning the shot count 15-8 and seeing 55 per cent of the ball, and Oxford only got on the scoresheet thanks to a superb solo effort from Marcus Browne.

Pompey unlucky not to come away with more

Ronan Curtis broke the deadlock after 32 minutes and was one of a number of Pompey players frustrated by their handful of unsuccessful penalty appeals, one of which came after the forward believed he was brought down in the box by Daniel Agyei in injury-time.

Instead the game finished all square but Portsmouth should be the more confident of the sides going into Monday’s encounter.

The south coast side have lost only three of their eight regular-season matches played against the rest of the top-six sides in League One, having claimed the scalps of Rotherham and Wycombe this season as well as strong Ipswich, Doncaster and Sunderland outfits.

Tight contest expected at Kassam Stadium

Oxford, meanwhile, have struggled against stronger opponents on home soil this season, even when there were fans in the stands, losing to Rotherham and Sunderland and drawing 0-0 with Ipswich at home since the start of 2020.

With John Marquis expected to come into the first 11 and freshen up the Pompey attack for this game, the visitors should have the edge in the final third and backing them to win could be the best match prediction.

However, both teams have scored in only five of Oxford’s 17 home league matches this term and it could still be a low-scoring contest.

Of Portsmouth‘s 17 league victories this season, ten have featured under 2.5 goals and six of those matches have been settled by a 2-0 scoreline. That could be the best correct score prediction in a high-stakes clash, the winner of which will be one step closer to playing Championship football next season.