Harrogate Town vs Portsmouth Prediction & Betting Tips - FA Cup

Prediction published on 06/11/2019, 14:20  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/11/2019 at 15:21 in FA Cup Prediction

Harrogate Town are enjoying a successful season in the National League but now turn their attention to the FA Cup. They are seventh in the National League and host Portsmouth who are currently 1 in League One. Harrogate are in the final promotion play-off position in the National League and only four points behind leaders Bromley. They had gone ten league and cup games unbeaten before losing in the league at Eastleigh last weekend. Home form is solid too with a run of five wins in the last six with only one goal conceded. To reach this stage of the FA Cup, Harrogate Town beat FC Halifax Town away from home, a good win at the side third in the National League. Their best performance in the FA Cup is a second round replay in the 2012/13 season. Their dreams of a third round tie against Middlesbrough were dashed when losing on penalties to Hastings.

Portsmouth won the FA Cup as recently as 2008, the second time they have won the trophy. Last season saw them win the EFL Trophy at Wembley but lose in the League One play-offs. Pompey made a slow start to this season with only one win in their first seven league games. Since then they have only lost one of their last eight league games, though they were hammered 4-0 at home by local rivals Southampton in the EFL Cup. A 4-1 home win over Southend United took them to 13th in the table, only five points behind the final play-off position with a game in hand. Only one of their last five FA Cup ties have been lost. Last season, they won three away FA Cup ties without conceding a goal. That included a third round win at Championship side Norwich City. They then held QPR (another Championship team) to a home draw in the fourth round before losing the replay 2-0.  Their form has improved and they can get the win here.