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Southend vs Portsmouth Predictions

  • 12:30
  • Expired
  • Roots Hall
Southend
    Portsmouth
      • Sky Sports Football

      odds when tipped

      odds when tipped

      Southend vs Portsmouth Predictions

      It was an unhappy trip north for Southend on Tuesday evening, as they were battered 3-0 by Doncaster at Keepmoat Stadium. Chris Powell would’ve been hoping for his side to build on the platform built when drawing against Charlton last weekend, though the Shrimpers boss was left disappointed as he watched his team struggle to contain an attack-minded Donny. Facing a very capable Portsmouth side probably isn’t the ideal medicine after such a poor result.

      Southend once against disappointed during the week, as they failed to really put up a fight away against Donny, which is something that is now happening far too often. At times, Southend look like a useful side, but they’re making a habit of showing few signs of life when falling behind in games. The Shrimpers have now lost each of the last five matches that they’ve gone behind in.

      Moreover, the recent home efforts of Chris Powell’s men have been discouraging, as they’ve now lost three on the bounce at Roots Hall. Once a ground that sides feared visiting, the Essex venue is becoming a place where visiting teams are thriving. Last time out in front of a home crowd, the Shrimpers offered little going forward (and little at the back) and were thus deservedly beaten by Bristol Rovers, while much of the same can be said for their game against Luton prior to that.

      Southend haven’t always been poor at home and they do still boast some reasonably respectable figures, as they’re averaging 1.42 expected goals for and just 1.19 against, but they’ll need to improve on recent efforts to get the better of a useful Portsmouth side.

      As for the visitors, well, Kenny Jackett’s men have fallen from grace somewhat in recent weeks. Having led the way in League One for months, Pompey now find themselves in third position, nine points behind Luton. Saturday’s visitors have now failed to win any of their last five league matches, three of which they’ve lost, so it’s fair to say that the early pacesetters are out of form at present.

      What’s more, the recent away-day efforts of Kenny Jackett’s men have been rather displeasing. They’ve won none of their last three on the road and have been outperformed in terms of expected goals in each of those three, which is worrying. They’ve seemingly lost a lot of defensive solidity, though they have at least continued to score goals away from home, which bodes well ahead of a match against a Southend side that is struggling to keep teams at bay.

      If we look at the recent efforts of both, neither jump out as likely winners, while neither make any great appeal at the prices. One bet that does catch the eye, though, is ‘Both Teams to Score’.

      For all they’ve not played well of late, Southend have rarely failed to notch at home, as they’ve scored in all but two of their games at Roots Hall this season, while much of the same can be said for Portsmouth, who’ve scored at least once in 88% of their travelling matches during the current campaign.

      With Southend averaging 1.5 goals and 1.42 expected goals for at home and with the visitors averaging 1.68 goals and 1.29 expected goals for on the road, backing ‘Both Teams to Score’ at the current price offers punters a small slither of value.

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