Portsmouth vs Bournemouth predictions, betting tips & match preview

Portsmouth FC are looking to rebuild their club status and were 1 game and a result away from helping that last season when they went close to being promoted from League Two. Sadly for the club and fans, they were beaten by Plymouth and their League Two status was once again confirmed for the following season.

They have prepared well for the coming season, keeping key player, striker and top scorer Gareth Evans at the club, who’s goals will be crucial to another promotion push for the coming season. With versatile Matt Clarke coming in as a free agent but defender Adam Webster moving up 2 leagues to Ipswich Town, Portsmouth are there or thereabouts with a similar looking squad to the 2015/16 season. We believe this squad has enough to go one step further this time round and the quality they have, we certainly think they can find the net on home turf against a rotated Bournemouth side.

Bournemouth have let go 2 fringe players, Matt Ritchie (to Newcastle Utd) and Tommy Elphick (to Aston Villa), but have bought in some real quality who look to suit Eddie Howe’s style of play. Young Englishmen Jordon Ibe and Lewis Cook have signed from Liverpool and Leeds respectively, being 2 very bright prospects of the English game, along with 2 more midfield options in Lys Mousset and Emerson Hyndman.

Bournemouth have a great work ethic and an even better idea of how football should be played and we see them netting at least a couple in this fixture. Portsmouth are just as capable of scoring at home, scoring in 9 of the last 12 at Fratton Park.

On the back of this analysis and the statistics given, our prediction is a Bournemouth 3-1 win at 14/1 and Bournemouth HT / FT result at 7/4, both available at the given price on bet365.