Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Portsmouth have climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time in 16 rounds, despite having played two games fewer. Ahead of their clash with Derby County, they appear to be formidable opponents.
Derby County
The Derby players have also shown their mettle. They managed to halt Burnley, though as expected, they struggled to breach their defence, resulting in a 0:0 draw. This was their second goalless match and their sixth without a win, bringing them closer to Portsmouth in the standings. The visitors are just four points behind Derby County, and factoring in their games in hand, they could potentially surpass them.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth also ended their 20th-round match against Norwich City with a scoreless draw. This marks their second consecutive match without conceding a goal. Notably, Norwich were the top scorers just a few rounds ago. Portsmouth's tight defence allowed the visitors from Norwich very little: five shots with four on target and only 0.28 xGA. Bristol City's efforts in the previous round (3:0) were similarly fruitless. Although Bristol City created more (1.22 xGA, 11 shots but rarely hit the target—2), they faltered on Portsmouth's corners. The hosts scored twice from six corners.
Derby County vs Portsmouth Prediction
Derby County are also adept at scoring from free kicks and corners (11 out of 22). Their conversion rate is noticeably better than Portsmouth, who have scored 4 out of 21 from free kicks and corners. However, Portsmouth's strength lies in their variety, making them more dangerous. Their recent performances convince us that they will secure at least a draw away from home.
