Sunderland v Portsmouth Betting Tips – EFL League One, 17th August 12.30pm
Sunderland and Portsmouth have become real rivals over the past year or so, with the clubs meeting five times in various competitions last term. On Saturday afternoon, the Black Cats and Pompey square off for the first time this season. With the EFL League One fixture taking place at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland go in as the slight favourites with the bookmakers, but there’s not an awful lot in it. Who will prevail in this top clash in the third tier at the weekend?
Sunderland v Portsmouth Betting Odds*
Sunderland 13/10
Draw 9/4
Portsmouth 11/5
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 15th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
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Table of Contents
Sunderland News and Form – Can the Black Cats seal their first league win of season?
Although promotion back to the EFL Championship at the first time of asking would have been number one priority, Sunderland had a solid season under Jack Ross last term. The Scot guided the Mackems to the League One play-off final. Unfortunately for the club, they had their hearts broken at Wembley Stadium, losing 2-1 to Charlton Athletic in the final.
The Black Cats were very hard to beat in the regular season, losing just five times. In fact, no side in the third tier lost fewer games last term. However, Sunderland drew too many matches, with 19 of their 46 League One fixtures ending in stalemates. Meanwhile, they drew ten times at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland have kicked off this season with back-to-back draws in League One. Ross’ side failed to beat Oxford United at the Stadium of Light on the opening weekend of the season, with Lynden Gooch equalising from the penalty spot. Then last time out, Sunderland battled to a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road, with Gooch on the scoresheet again.
Sunderland picked up their first win of the season in the EFL Cup in midweek, as goals from Marc McNulty, Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke sealed a 3-1 victory at Accrington Stanley. Can the Wearside outfit follow that up with their first league victory of the campaign on Saturday?
Sunderland v Portsmouth Head to Head
Sunderland beat Portsmouth in the League One play-off semi-finals last term, winning 1-0 on aggregate
Pompey picked up four points from the two regular season meetings
The Black Cats have not beaten Portsmouth in league action since a 2-0 Premier League win back in January 2008
Portsmouth’s last victory at the Stadium of Light was almost 11 years ago
- The Black Cats have failed to win any of their opening two
- Pompey have won their last two league and cup fixtures
- Both clubs reached the play-offs in League One last season
Portsmouth News and Form – Will Pompey make it three wins in a row?
Portsmouth were knocked out of the League One play-offs at the semi-final stage by Sunderland last season. Even though their campaign ended in heartbreak, Kenny Jackett did a fine job at Fratton Park last term, guiding the Hampshire club to a fourth-place finish. Pompey missed out on automatic promotion by just three points.
Portsmouth did win some silverware last term, though, lifting the EFL Trophy at Wembley in March. Along the way, Pompey beat Gillingham, Crawley Town, Tottenham Hotspur U21, Arsenal U21, Southend United, Peterborough United and Bury. They then beat Sunderland on penalties in the final in the national stadium.
Jackett’s men have taken three points from their first two League One matches this season. After starting with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town, Pompey beat Tranmere Rovers 2-0 at Fratton Park last weekend. Sandwiched in between was a 3-0 EFL Cup victory over Birmingham City.
Like Sunderland, Portsmouth will also be gunning for promotion this season. However, can Pompey pick up a positive result at the Stadium of Light this weekend?
Sunderland v Portsmouth Tips & Odds
Draw at 9/4
Lynden Gooch to score anytime at 12/5
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 15th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
Sunderland v Portsmouth Predictions
Draw: On paper, these two sides are very well matched. Both clubs will be expecting to be there or thereabouts in the promotion mix come the end of the season. Sunderland may be the slight favourites with this taking place at the Stadium of Light, but I can see Pompey leaving Wearside with a point. The stalemate is nicely priced at 9/4.
Sunderland’s Lynden Gooch has made a fine start to his season, scoring in both League One matches so far. The American certainly has an eye for goal, and Pompey will need to be very wary of his threat on Saturday. Gooch is available at the top odds of 12/5 to score anytime in this mouth-watering League One clash.
