Portsmouth v Birmingham City Betting Tips – EFL Cup, 6th August 19.45pm
Kenny Jacket’s Portsmouth welcome Pep Clotet’s Birmingham City to Fratton Park for an EFL Cup fixture on Tuesday night. Birmingham may be an EFL Championship side, but third tier Pompey go into this one as the slight favourites with the bookies. This will be the first meeting between these two clubs since March 2012. Who will prevail at Fratton Park in midweek?
Portsmouth v Birmingham City Betting Odds*
Portsmouth 6/4
Draw 23/10
Birmingham City 7/4
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 5th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
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Table of Contents
Portsmouth News and Form – Can Pompey hit back from last weekend’s defeat?
Portsmouth are many people’s favourites two win promotion from EFL League One this season. However, Pompey got off to the worst possible start last weekend, losing 1-0 at Shrewsbury Town.
Portsmouth dominated at New Meadow, having 63% possession and 15 shots on goal, but Ryan Giles’ stunning strike won it for the Shrews. That was a real setback for Pompey, who would have no doubt been targeting all three points on opening day. Next up in the league is a home game against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Last season, Jackett’s side reached the play-offs after finishing in fourth place. Unfortunately for the Pompey faithful, Sunderland beat them over two legs in the semi-final. Promotion to the Championship will be number priority for the club this time around.
Portsmouth went out of the EFL Cup at the first hurdle last season, losing 2-1 at home to Wimbledon. Can Jackett take them further this term?
Portsmouth v Birmingham City Head to Head
These two sides have not met since the 2011-12 Championship season
Pompey thumped the Blues 4-1 in the last meeting over seven years ago
The last draw in this fixture was a 1-1 stalemate at Fratton Park in a Premier League game way back in 2005
Cameron Jerome scored twice when Birmingham last won at Fratton Park; a 2-1 Premier League victory back in March 2010
- Portsmouth finished fourth in last term’s League One
- Pompey have not won at home in three (two draws, one defeat)
- Birmingham started their Championship campaign with a 1-0 win at Brentford
Birmingham City News and Form – Two wins in two for Clotet?
Despite his side being outplayed at Griffin Park on Saturday, Pep Clotet started life at Birmingham City with a surprise away win. Kristian Pedersen’s early header was enough to give the Blues all three points at Brentford, who are one of the favourites for promotion in this season’s Championship.
It’s been a topsy-turvy last couple of years or so for the club, but Birmingham will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s opening day victory. After travelling to Portsmouth in the cup in midweek, City entertain Lee Johnson’s Bristol City at St Andrew’s in Championship action at the weekend.
Birmingham, who have won the EFL Cup on two occasions, were beaten 2-0 by Reading in this competition a year ago. They also went out in the third round of the FA Cup last season, losing 2-0 to Premier League side West Ham United. Will they fare better in the cup competitions this time around?
Birmingham may ply their trade in a higher league, but they head to Fratton Park as the second favourites. Nevertheless, can Clotet defy the odds again and make it two wins out of two as Blues boss on Tuesday?
Portsmouth v Birmingham City Tips & Odds
Birmingham City to win at 7/4
Birmingham City to win and both teams to score at 9/2
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 5th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
Portsmouth v Birmingham City Predictions
Birmingham City win: With both sides looking to win and progress to the next round of the EFL Cup, this should be an intriguing game at Fratton Park. Portsmouth will want to hit back after their disappointing League One defeat to Shrewsbury, while the Blues will be desperate to kick on from last Saturday’s surprise win at Brentford. In truth, this could go either way, but I fancy the Championship outfit to nick it in Hampshire. Back the away side to come out on top at the decent odds of 7/4. Pompey usually score on their own patch, though, so it could be worth putting some money on the away victory and both teams to score at 9/2.
