Portsmouth vs QPR Predictions

Can Portsmouth cause an upset at home to QPR on Saturday? The home side have been made narrow favourites to take the victory here, despite facing Championship opposition. There are questions about the visitors’ focus, given their outside hopes of taking a playoff place. The Rs were able to see off Championship leaders Leeds in the last round, but will they continue to push for a cup run when they face this tricky away tie?

There’s not even a huge gap between these two sides, given that Pompey are on course for a place in the Championship next term. They lead the way in League One, as they continue their climb back up the football pyramid. The hosts have made strides this season, opening up a four-point advantage over third-placed Sunderland. While they’re looking good for promotion, they have an added bonus on offer here, with the chance to make it into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, there are only 11 places between these two sides after QPR slipped into the bottom half of the table. They recovered from a poor start to move to the edge of the top six, but they were unable to break into the playoffs. Since then, the Rs have slipped down the table, but things could have been worse. The pressure was on Steve McClaren after a 7-1 thrashing against West Brom, when they looked destined for relegation. Now they’re set to stick around in the second tier to meet Portsmouth next season, but can they claim a victory in this visit to Fratton Park?

The visitors are aiming to build on their success against Leeds, which ended a poor cup run for them. QPR have lost seven of their last eight FA Cup ties, crashing out in the third round every year since the 2013/14 campaign. While they were able to win against Leeds, they still have issues on the road. Having won only one of their last 10 away clashes in this competition. Will that poor run continue into this trip?

Portsmouth have built up some good form of late, recording three away wins in this competition this term. That includes a success away to Norwich, who are currently second in the Championship. We expect the hosts to make the most of QPR’s poor away form, while the visitors are coming into this one on the back of two defeats, including a 4-1 hammering by Preston last weekend. With that in mind, we see Portsmouth as good value here, so we’re backing the hosts Draw No Bet.