These two sides have different aims in League Two this season with Portsmouth chasing automatic promotion whilst visitors Newport County are fighting for their Football League future.
Portsmouth’s three-match winning run, in which they scored ten and conceded zero, came to an abrupt halt last weekend with a 3-0 defeat away to Stevenage. However, they are still in the automatic promotion spots with a four-point cushion over the aforementioned Stevenage in 4th.
Pompey’s strength this season has been their back-line which is the best in the division with just 34 conceded in 38 games and clean sheets in 45% of those. However, as mentioned above, Portsmouth have shown in recent matches that they are more than capable of scoring goals and their record of 59 for is the fourth-best inside the top seven.
Paul Cook’s men have not been fantastic at home so far this campaign and only have the fourth-best home record in the division – even Colchester United, down in 11th, have a better home record. However, they have been experiencing a bit of joy at Fratton Park recently with three wins to nil and just one defeat in their last five matches.
Newport, where Mike Flynn is currently the caretaker boss, managed to secure a good point as they drew their last match against play-off chasers Luton Town, however, the fact they have not won in their last two means they are sinking deeper and deeper into trouble and they are now six points off safety with a worse goal difference than Cheltenham Town in 22nd place.
It will come as no surprise that The Exiles have been poor in both boxes this campaign with just 42 goals scored and a huge 62 conceded in 38 matches. Clean sheets have been especially hard to come by for Newport with just one recorded in their last eight. Furthermore, they have failed to score more than twice in a match in their last 11 attempts.
However, one positive aspect for Flynn’s side going into this match is their away form as Newport have won their last two matches away from Rodney Parade.
Although Newport are on a good run on their travels, Portsmouth are a formidable side and I’ll certainly be backing them here. Pompey should really be putting The Exiles to the sword and, in doing so, can come out on top in both halves. Newport’s opponents have led at half time in nearly a quarter of away games this season whilst Portsmouth have a knack for scoring late goals (20 in between minutes 76 and 90) which should see them come out on top in the second period too.
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