Portsmouth vs Sunderland Predictions

• Portsmouth have won their last three, pushing themselves to 7th in the playoff race.
• Sunderland are on a nine game unbeaten run, rising to 5th in the table and pushing towards the automatic promotion places.
• It took a while for Portsmouth to get going this season but they averaged 1.5 goals per game this year, with that figure remaining the same over their last six games,
• Sunderland have struggled at times this season over their last six games have averaged 1.66 goals per game, up on their season average of 1.37.

Can Portsmouth jump into the playoff places?

Portsmouth have seen an improvement in their form in recent weeks, winning their last three games and becoming genuine playoff contenders. Victories over Lincoln, Bolton and AFC Wimbledon haven’t been the result of the hardest tests but they have beaten what is front of them and reaped the rewards.

The side haven’t been exceptional in any area this season but have averaged 1.5 goals per game this season, a figure that has remained consistent over the past few games. Defensively they’ve performed well, conceding just 29 goals in 26 games, a rate of 1.11 goals per game.

Sunderland are the form side in the division; Can they maintain that form?

Sunderland have only lost six times this season and are in the midst of their best form of the season, going nine games unbeaten and becoming contenders for the automatic promotion places. The side have won five of those nine including impressive away wins at Doncaster, MK Dons and Tranmere and they’ll be clean to add another victory away from home to that list.

The side have struggled in front of goal at times this season, scoring just 37 times in 27 games but they’ve increased their output in attacking recent weeks scoring 10 in their last six as well as conceding just four goals in that time. Sunderland look impressive and come into the game full of confidence but this is their toughest test of their run so far.

Can either side take the advantage as they chase promotion?

Both teams have scored in Portsmouth games this season 53% of the time whilst the same has occurred in Sunderland games in 55% of games. With both sides looking in great form and an implied probability of both teams scoring of 51%, this looks like it could be a decent bet to take and we’re backing both Portsmouth and Sunderland to find the net this weekend.

A scoreline is perhaps a little harder to predict as both sides are in such good form but we feel that they could cancel each other out this weekend and see a stalemate being on the cards. We’re predicting a 1-1 result that keeps both sides unbeaten runs going and them both in the playoff picture.