Oxford United vs Portsmouth Predictions

• Portsmouth are on a five match winless run
• Oxford have taken seven points from their last three matches
• Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight meetings between these two sides

Win or bust for Pompey’s play-off push

Portsmouth’s hopes of making the play-offs this season rest heavily on Saturday’s trip to Oxford. Pompey are currently twelve points behind Saturday’s hosts, who occupy the last of the six play-off spots. Defeat for Portsmouth would all but end their hopes of closing that gap. Danny Cowley’s men come into this on a dreadful run, it’s now no win in their last five matches and confidence took a further dent on Monday night in front of the Sky cameras, when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Charlton. A trip to a bang in form Oxford side won’t be a welcomed one.

Oxford back on track after minor blip  

A three-match winless run at the start of January was a far from ideal start to the new year for an Oxford team who are chasing a play-off place for the second consecutive season. Karl Robinson’s men have quickly put that minor blip behind them and have since taken seven points from the last nine available. Having briefly slipped out of the play-offs, Oxford’s good recent run has pushed themselves back into the top six. Confidence was boosted further by an impressive 1-1 draw at high-flyers Wigan on Tuesday. Oxford have taken 31 points from 15 home League One matches this season and are expected to add to this tally on Saturday.

Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight meeting between these two teams, I am happy to take a chance on this feat repeating itself on Saturday. My main selection will be Oxford to win and both teams to score in the match. For my correct score prediction, I will go for a 2-1 Oxford win. Three of Portsmouth’s last five matches have resulted in 2-1 defeats.