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Walsall vs Portsmouth Predictions

  • 19:45
  • Expired
  • Bescot Stadium
Walsall
    Portsmouth

      odds when tipped

      odds when tipped

      Walsall vs Portsmouth Predictions

      Walsall continued to improve at the weekend, as they deservedly got the better of Fleetwood in front of a home crowd, though they need to take further steps forward, such is the nature of the current relegation battle in League One. Facing play-off chasers Portsmouth won’t be easy, but this may just be the right time to face Kenny Jackett’s men, who struggled to get going when losing on Saturday.

      The Saddlers did deservedly get the better of a Fleetwood side that failed to turn up on Saturday, though we mustn’t forget that they’d been playing poorly prior to that. They struggled to get going when clocking just 0.75 goals against Burton in their penultimate match, while they were poor defensively when shipping 2.42 expected goals for against Bradford, who Portsmouth recently trounced by five goals to one.

      On their own patch, Walsall, who’ve averaged 1.33 expected goals for at home this season, are up to making things happen in the final third; they’ve scored at least once in all but one of their last nine at home, while they’ve scored at least twice in five of those. However, they remain a side that is easy to get at. Dean Keates’ men have conceded an average of 1.61 goals at home this season, while they’ve shipped an average of 1.62 expected goals. It is therefore no surprise that they’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last ten at Bescot Stadium.

      Like Walsall, Portsmouth have made a habit of conceding goals of late. Kenny Jackett’s play-off hopefuls have shipped at least once in nine of their last ten, while they’re without a clean sheet on the road since November. The fact that they’ve recently conceded expected-goals figures of 2.19, 1.69, 1.0 and 2.34 on their travels doesn’t exactly suggest that Pompey are thriving in the final third.

      Fortunately, the visitors have plenty about them going forward, so much so that they ought to make light work of creating chances against Walsall’s dodgy back-line. Pompey have scored in each of their last six on the road, notching a total of 13 goals during that time. The fact that they’ve gone away to other struggling sides such as Southend, Oxford, Plymouth and Scunthorpe and scored goals bodes well ahead of a match against relegation-threatened Walsall.

      If both teams turn up and play their best football on Tuesday evening, then we should see a Portsmouth win, though a bet on either team to win doesn’t make much appeal at the current prices. Instead, ‘Both Teams to Score’ is the angle to take. Given the recent home efforts of Walsall and the recent away efforts of Portsmouth, and ultimately, with the Saddlers averaging 1.33 expected goals for at home and Pompey averaging 1.44 on the road, it’s easy to conclude that backing both to register on the score-sheet offers value.

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