Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
In the last round, Portsmouth initially led against Burnley but couldn't even hold on for a draw in the final minutes. Now the team faces another recent Premier League side. Will this lead to yet another disappointment?
Portsmouth
Transitioning to a higher level has not been easy. The league's cheapest squad is revealing its limitations. The newly promoted club has added 15 new players, mostly on free transfers, but they haven't significantly bolstered the team yet. Only defender Jordan Williams, who joined from Barnsley, and Andre Dozzell from QPR, have managed to secure spots in the starting lineup. Portsmouth conceded the decisive second goal in the 94th minute, but what can you do against a shot that finds the corner? They score and concede precisely according to the chances they create, making the result 1:2 typical for them.
Sheffield United
For Portsmouth, the bad news is that Sheffield United have stopped conceding goals. They have kept clean sheets in their last three matches, despite their opponents creating chances worth 2.22 xG over those 270 minutes. Derby County were ineffective in their last match against Sheffield United, managing only two shots, none on target, and a mere 0.05 xG. However, Sheffield United didn't make the most of their own opportunities, with only one goal from 18 shots, five of which were on target, generating 1.10 xG. This inefficiency explains why they haven't scored more than two goals in a Championship match recently.
Portsmouth vs Sheffield United Prediction
Portsmouth's average scoreline of 1:2, combined with Sheffield United's conservative finishing but strong defence (only three goals conceded), leads us to recommend betting on an away win and that Sheffield United will score no more than two goals.
