Portsmouth vs Oxford United Prediction & Betting Tips - League One

Prediction published on 29/02/2024, 10:00  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 02/03/2024 at 02:00 in Football Predictions

Portsmouth will hope to take another giant leap towards promotion from League One when they host Oxford United in their next game. Both sides are promotion hopefuls, Portsmouth leading the race while Oxford United are seventh. Portsmouth had a small blip in their quest last time out, drawing 0-0 with Charlton Athletic. That result brought to an end their run of four straight wins and they will be keen to rise again. An eight-game unbeaten run with six wins in it, place Portsmouth as clear favorites here but they haven't beaten Oxford in three straight meetings. Pompey are indeed unbeaten in four matches against Oxford, but the last three ended in draws. They last won this fixture in 2022. The reverse fixture, played in January, ended 2-2, with Portsmouth conceding a stoppage time equalizer. John Mousinho’s side has only two clean sheets in six matches but has failed to score once in eight. In half of their last 10 matches, both teams scored. Portsmouth scored at least three in their last three home matches and all five at home returned over 2.5 goals. In seven of their last 10 home matches, both teams scored.

Oxford United are charging for the top six but are disadvantaged, being in a crowded race and having played more games. They are two points behind sixth placed Stevenage who have a game in hand. That, and Oxford United’s recent form will be a major worry for the visitors. They have just one win in their last nine matches, a run that has really dented their hopes for promotion. Oxford United will enter this game straight from a 2-1 home loss to Leyton Orient. That marked the third time in four matches that they conceded more than a goal. Defence hasn’t been their strongest point in their recent matches, with just one clean sheet in the last 10 matches. Having collected just 11 points from a possible 30 in their last 10 league matches, there’s no doubt Oxford are underdogs here. They have no win in three away league matches, drawing the last two.