Portsmouth vs Derby County - 02/04/24 | Fast live stats

Portsmouth vs Derby County Prediction & Preview

Preview

As we edge closer to the climax of the League One season, a titanic clash awaits us at Fratton Park on Tuesday, 2nd April, where league leaders Portsmouth will play host to their closest rivals, Derby County. This fixture not only promises excitement but also holds critical importance in the title race. With Portsmouth sitting atop the table boasting 86 points and Derby County trailing closely with 81 points, this game could very well dictate the pace for the remainder of the season.

Both teams come into this match in formidable form. Portsmouth have been nearly unstoppable lately, securing 13 points from their last five games thanks to four wins and one draw. Their recent away victory against Wycombe Wanderers ended with a convincing scoreline of 3-1. On the other side, Derby County have also shown their mettle by amassing 12 points from their last five outings; though they stumbled once with a loss, they bounced back strongly in their latest game against Blackpool at home with a narrow but crucial 1-0 win.

When it comes to goalscoring prowess and defensive solidity, both teams exhibit commendable stats which reflect why they are vying for top honors. Portsmouth has an impressive average of scoring two goals per game while conceding just over half a goal per match across all venues. However, when playing at home, they turn up the heat even more by averaging three goals scored and conceding one goal per game on average. Derby County doesn't lag far behind; with an average of scoring 1.6 goals and conceding just as few (0.6) across different venues.

Interestingly enough though these two sides are powerhouses in League One this season; their recent head-to-head encounters tell a story of evenly matched competition – culminating in three consecutive draws including their last showdown on September which ended as a stalemate at Pride Park Stadium.

Bet

Given both teams' current form and historical competitiveness when facing off against each other - especially considering that neither has managed to bestow defeat upon each other recently - placing bets becomes quite intriguing here. With odds favoring Portsmouth slightly due to them being at home where they score abundantly (3 goals on average), coupled with both team's strong defensive record (each concedes less than one goal per game on an average), it’s tempting to lean towards those statistics for guidance. However keeping everything into account including how balanced these fixtures tend to be based on past meetings - a Draw seems like an attractive bet here given its value odds of 3.3 reflecting not just potential returns but also aligns well with how tightly contested matches between these two have been historically.