English League One
2012-09-18 - Portsmouth vs Swindon Town
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League One
Tuesday 18 September 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Portsmouth
At the start of the season, Portsmouth looked to be one of the teams that everyone was looking forward to laying, but they had a positive early season result and didn't need to keep playing the youth players on their books. At the moment, Michael Appleton is working on a month-by-month schedule as he looks to ensure this old club doesn't drop another Division.
Portsmouth are 17th in League One after picking up 5 points from their opening League games, but there is going to be a lot of work to be done at Fratton Park if they are to stay in this Division at the least. They have a 0-1-2 record at home in the League this season, scoring 2 goals and conceding 4.
The side did earn their first win of the season ten days ago with a 0-3 result at Crawley Town, but they were brought back down to earth with a 1-2 home loss to Walsall at the weekend. That means Pompey have failed to win any of their 4 games at home in all competitions this season and that has extended the teams run to 1 win in 8 home games going back to last season.
Swindon Town
Paolo Di Canio has been complaining about his side in the press and on the field in recent games and that has seen a drop in terms of results and performances. However, Swindon Town at least put a halt to a run of defeats with a point at the weekend as they get ready to face Portsmouth on Tuesday.
They have dropped to 12th in the League One table following a draw at Carlisle United at the weekend and their 8 points from the opening League games sees them 6 points off the leaders Tranmere Rovers. Swindon are 0-2-1 away from home so far this season, scoring 3 goals but conceding 6 in those games.
Since beating Stoke City in extra time at the Brittania Stadium in the Capital One Cup, Swindon did lose 3 games in a row in all competitions before the 2-2 at Carlisle on Saturday. The team have now failed to win any of their last 8 away games in all competitions.
Alan Navarro is back in the squad to give Di Canio further options when selecting his starting line up.
Head to Head
This will be the first time these teams meet one another since the 1999/2000 season when Portsmouth recorded a heavy 4-1 win over Swindon Town at Fratton Park in a League game.
Portsmouth have won their last 2 home games against Swindon, although they had lost the previous 2 before that.
Prediction
Both of these teams have struggled to win their games at home and away respectively, but I do feel there will be a winner in this one and I feel it will come after we see a few goals scored.
Portsmouth have been scoring goals at home, although they have also been conceding regularly, while Swindon have conceded at least 2 goals in 3 of their last 4 away games while only failing to score in 1 of those games themselves.
I believe both sides will have the belief that they can win this game and that should lead to an attacking game, one where both sides will have chances and I will be looking for a little bit of composure for the over 2.5 goals option to come in.
That is being offered at 1.95 at the moment and that does look a little big to me considering the recent form of both sides and it is what I will be backing.
The Pick :
Portsmouth 2-2 Swindon Town
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 (Bodog)
