In the twelfth matchday of the Championship, Portsmouth will take on Sheffield Wednesday this Friday at Fratton Park. The Dailysports expert team provides a prediction for this matchup.
Portsmouth
After a 12-year absence, Portsmouth made their return to the Championship at the end of last season. The club, which once competed in European competitions in the early 2000s, has faced significant financial difficulties and was nearly relegated from League Two. Unfortunately, Portsmouth’s squad depth and financial resources still lag behind those of other Championship teams.
As a result, it’s no surprise that after 11 matches, they sit at the bottom of the table in 24th place, having only earned eight points. “Pompey” secured just one victory in their early matches, winning 2-1 away against QPR, along with five defeats and five draws. In their last outing, they suffered a 0-2 loss to Cardiff City on the road.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday narrowly escaped relegation last season, defying expectations when many had lost faith in the team. The “Owls” managed a remarkable finish, avoiding the relegation zone in the final match. However, this season, they have only accumulated 12 points thus far.
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The campaign started brightly with a 4-0 victory over Plymouth, but they soon hit a five-match winless streak. It wasn’t until the seventh matchday that Sheffield Wednesday pulled off a surprising 3-2 victory against one of the league leaders, West Bromwich. They followed that with a 2-1 away win at Coventry. In their latest match, they hosted Swansea, which ended in a goalless draw.
Match Facts
– In three of the last five encounters between these teams, the “Both Teams to Score” bet has been successful.
– The “Total Over 2.5” option has been successful in three of the last five meetings.
– In three out of four matches involving Portsmouth, both teams have found the net.
Head-to-Head
The “Owls” have had the upper hand in recent matchups, winning three of the last five meetings without losing to Portsmouth in that span.
Probable Lineups
Portsmouth: Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Moxon, Pack; Kamara, Lang, Lane; Bishop
Sheffield Wednesday: Biddle; Palmer, Ihiekwe, Valerien, Famewo; Bannan, Johnson, Windass; Charles, Ugbo, Kowalczyk
Prediction
Portsmouth is enduring a particularly tough season, while the “Owls” have a great opportunity to secure an away victory. Our bet is on “Sheffield Wednesday to Win with a Handicap (0)” at odds of 1.64.
