Football – England – League Two
Saturday 30th August 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Portsmouth go into this afternoon’s clash with Newport County in search of a fourth successive League Two win when the two teams meet at Fratton Park.
Straight wins over Cambridge United 2-1, Northampton Town 2-0 and away at Oxford United 1-0 have lifted Andy Awford’s men into second place just two points behind early League Two leaders Morecambe.
Portsmouth still remain unbeaten in the league as they’d previously shared a point away at Exeter City in the season opener at St James’ Park, and indeed, the hosts have put together an eleven match run without defeat now under the guidance of Awford.
Parallels could be drawn with Southampton’s campaign in League One just a few seasons ago following relegations from the Premiership and Championship, so could this be Pompey’s season to rise from the ashes and head in an upwards direction?
The signings of experienced strikers Connolly from Oxford United and Westcarr from Walsall along with midfielder Hollands from Charlton Athletic show that Portsmouth are serious about promotion this season.
Visitors Newport County find themselves currently third from bottom in the division having accrued just one point from their first four matches thanks to a 1-1 draw with Burton Albion last Saturday.
Manager Justin Edinburgh will be hoping his team aren’t the victims of the dreaded ‘second season’ syndrome this term, but while both County and Portsmouth finished in mid-table positions last season, Portsmouth have tracked in an upwards direction while The Exiles seem to have trended in a downwards slump.
Defeats to Wycombe Wanderers, Morecambe and Mansfield Town could signal further trouble for the welsh outfit this afternoon as a resurgent Portsmouth side look to preserve their unbeaten run and in particular, extend their fast-improving record at Fratton Park.
Perhaps the most telling statistic though is that Newport have registered just one away win from their last thirteen matches on their travels, and that was a 1-0 victory at Torquay United last season who were to be relegated to the Conference Premier a few weeks later.
My pick for this one therefore is a home win for Pompey who need to be winning these sort of matches if promotion is to be a serious prospect. Portsmouth to win perhaps 2-0.
Pick: Portsmouth straight win @ 1.87 Bet Victor
