Sunderland vs Portsmouth Predictions

• Sunderland have scored fewer than two goals in each of their last two league games.
• Portsmouth have kept five consecutive away clean sheets.
• Pompey have claimed seven clean sheets in their last nine league games.

Portsmouth can subdue Sunderland strikers again

Portsmouth will bring the third-best defensive record in League One to the Stadium of Light on Saturday and could frustrate promotion-chasing Sunderland for long spells.

Danny Cowley’s men have kept five straight away clean sheets coming into this, having blanked current leaders Wycombe Wanderers at the start of that sequence. Seven clean sheets in their last nine league games have helped propel Pompey up to the fringe of the playoff race and they will be highly-motivated to get a result on Wearside.

As should Sunderland be after their horrendous 4-0 hammering at Fratton Park earlier this season where manager Lee Johnson asked to have the match abandoned when his side went three down in atrocious conditions. Although they are just a point off the top, Sunderland can be prone to the odd aberration – such as the 3-1 home defeat inflicted on them by Lincoln City earlier this month.

Pompey away form a barrier to Black Cats bet

Portsmouth’s impressive away six-game form of three wins and three draws is a major barrier to backing the Black Cats at a shade of odds on here. Both teams to score also looks a bit risky because of the visitors’ knack of keeping clean sheets.

The bet that looks quite well suited to the form lines of both clubs is to back Sunderland to score fewer than two on Saturday. Johnson’s team have been unable to get a second in their last two League One games and leading scorer Ross Stewart is adjusting to being back on his own up top after an injury to strike partner Nathan Broadhead that will rule him out for months.

A 1-1 scoreline is our forecast for Saturday’s game because Sunderland have only failed to score once at home this season, but Portsmouth have only conceded more than once on two of 13 away trips to date.