Home Park sets the stage for a nail-biting Championship relegation scrap this Tuesday evening. You'll find two struggling sides desperate to climb away from danger, as 22nd-placed Plymouth lock horns with basement club Portsmouth.
These South Coast rivals should serve up an entertaining fixture, and we’ve provided our two cents on the outcome below.
How the bookies view it: Plymouth favoured
The odds tell an interesting story ahead of this one. Plymouth's home advantage has swayed the bookmakers, who've priced them at 6/5 to claim all three points. However, Portsmouth’s odds show a tempting 11/5, confirming the visitors as the underdogs here. That said, the ‘smart money’ seems to be edging toward the hosts, even if Pompey's gradual improvement suggests we shouldn't write them off.
Head-to-head: Not much joy for Portsmouth
If you're keen on reading into historical patterns, Plymouth's recent dominance in this fixture jumps off the page. They've had Pompey's number lately, going unbeaten in seven straight meetings. Their last encounter led to a convincing 3-1 home win for Argyle, too, though that was in League One's different landscape.
But what catches the eye is how these rivals often cancel each other out – three 2-2 stalemates in their last five meetings!
Players to watch: Morgan Whittaker and Callum Lang
Starting with Whittaker – he has been a rare bright spark in Plymouth's challenging campaign for most of the season. You'll spot him showing his speed down the right flank, where his quick feet and eye for goal have lit up even their darkest days. He was instrumental in those eye-catching wins over Sunderland, Luton, and Blackburn, too – proof he can deliver when it matters most.
Speaking of guys who can deliver – Callum Lang's shouldering the goalscoring burden in Colby Bishop's absence. It’s fair to say that Lang's been thrust into the spotlight because of this. And while he's not quite hit those heights yet, you can see glimpses of his potential in Portsmouth's recent upturn.
Predicted lineups
Plymouth's treatment room has shaped Rooney's selection hand here. We expect him to go with a fairly consistent back four – Edwards, Szucs, Pleguzuelo, and Mumba – while his key forwards are all fit and ready to roll. He will need them to take these much-needed three points, too.
As for the Pompey camp, we believe the midfield will see Potts and Dozzell pulling the strings while Ritchie, Lang, Murphy, and O'Mahony continue their hunt for that elusive away goal!
Plymouth possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw, Edwards, Szucs, Pleguezuelo, Mumba, Forshaw, Houghton, Whittaker, Ah-Hajj, Cissoko, Obafemi
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Schmid, Devlin, Poole, McIntyre, Ogilvie, Potts, Dozzell, Ritche, Lang, Murphy, O'Mahony
Anything else catch the eye?
You can't ignore the defensive chaos both sides have served up this season – conceding goals at an alarming rate (25 for Plymouth, 26 for Portsmouth). Yet, against each other, we've seen both teams score in four of their last five outings, suggesting the nets could bulge at both ends. Furthermore, Pompey's quiet revival (five points from their last five) hints at better days ahead, while Plymouth's month-long victory drought will certainly be playing on their minds!
This England Championship match between Plymouth and Portsmouth will be played on Nov 5, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Plymouth vs Portsmouth prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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