Sheffield United vs Portsmouth: Pompey can pick up at least a point

- Portsmouth have avoided defeat in three of their last four matches against the Blades
- Sheffield United have won only one of their last five home fixtures
- Recommended bet: Portsmouth or draw double chance

The Championship promotion race remains extremely tight and there is a chance for Sheffield United to make some headway as they target maximum points against relegation-threatened Portsmouth on Saturday.

Midweek wins for Burnley and Leeds were bad news for the Blades, who were shuffled down to third place in the table.

But Chris Wilder’s side were 1-0 winners at Derby last weekend and they tackle Portsmouth knowing that a single point would take them back into the automatic promotion slots.

Portsmouth’s concern is to establish some more daylight to the drop zone.

John Mousinho’s side impressed in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Burnley and they make the trip north with just a three-point gap to the bottom three.

Team news

United can include Gustavo Hamer after a two-game ban but they have some injury problems with Ollie Arblaster (knee), Tom Davies (leg), Jamie Shackleton (foot) and Kieffer Moore (calf) set to miss out.

The Blades were busy on deadline day with attackers Jefferson Caceres and Christian Nwachukwu joining from FBC Melgar and Botev Plovdiv and defender Rob Holding arriving on loan from Crystal Palace.

Regan Poole (hamstring), Jacob Farrell (leg), Paddy Lane, Ibane Bowat (both knee) are on the injured list but Portsmouth may look to involve Liverpool loanee Kaide Gordon or permanent signing Ben Killip after both joined the club earlier this week.

The stats

United have lost three of their last five home fixtures.

Six of the Blades’ last seven home games have generated less than three goals

Portsmouth have played four matches against the top three teams in the Championship and drawn three of them.

Six of Portsmouth’s last eight away games have generated at least three goals.

Prediction

Portsmouth have saved some of their better performances for the Championship’s top teams and they can frustrate Sheffield United by taking at least a point at Bramall Lane.

Generally poor away form has been an issue for Pompey, although it is worth remembering that they drew 3-3 at Leeds on the opening weekend of the season.

Portsmouth have also picked up goalless draws at home to the Blades and Burnley and they head to south Yorkshire with high hopes of competing on fairly even terms with the hosts, who have been going through a sticky patch.

Chris Wilder’s side were beaten 3-0 by Hull in their last home game and were far from fully convincing last Saturday when securing a slightly fortunate 1-0 success away to Derby.

United have bolstered their ranks with some late transfer window shopping, but their standards appear to have slipped and they may be worth opposing at odds-on.

Back Portsmouth or draw double chance at 7/5 with LiveScore Bet

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