Portsmouth vs Derby County – 18/11/2022
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It’s one of the biggest games of the season for both Portsmouth and Derby County in League One this weekend as the two look to put down their biggest marker yet on the playoff positions in the third tier as just one place in the table separates the two.
These clubs will meet in the first League One game of the weekend on Friday night just as the action across most of Europe pauses because of the World Cup that kicks off in just two days’ time.
? Three BIG saves#Pompey pic.twitter.com/h4fgllyqXo
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) November 14, 2022
This battle sees fifth take on sixth in League One with Portsmouth having dropped down the third tier table in the last few weeks after previously looking like battling for a place in the top two automatic promotion spots.
As for Derby, they have bounced up from around mid-table right and straight into the playoff talk after what had been a tough start to the season for the Rams, as they sat around the middle of the table after dropping out of the Championship.
Now, however, Derby are heading into this game with a notable run of form that has even seen them draw with Liverpool at Anfield in the EFL Cup, where they were unlucky to lose on penalties.
Derby also defeated Torquay United with ease in the FA Cup 1st round replay on Tuesday, just one week on from drawing 2-2 with the struggling non-league side.
This does, however, mean the club have had less than four full days of rest. Derby also lost on penalties to Liverpool after that 0-0 draw on Merseyside, but the Rams also defeated MK Dons 3-1 back in their last League One clash.
As for Portsmouth, they are sitting fifth in the table with a decent run of form to boast of too. They did slip up slightly in the recent 1-1 draw with Morecambe, but in beating Hereford 3-1, they are in an unbeaten run after also beating Wimbledon on penalties in the Football League Trophy.
The main difference between these two so far is the goals difference. In fact, as they both sit on 28 points each, Pompey head into this game with two more goals conceded with 18 compared to Derby’s 16, while the 23 goals scored for the Rams is also less than Portsmouth’s 26.
Forebet predicts a very close game here and for the game to see under 2.5 goals and a draw.
