Portsmouth vs Norwich City Prediction: Bishop can add to Norwich’s away woes

Portsmouth are starting to shift. After a really difficult start to the season they’ve now picked up seven points from their last three outings and they are now just one point away from safety. Having been marooned to the bottom of the table for the majority of the campaign, they are now trending in an upward direction, which is more than can be said for some of their relegation rivals. 

Next up for John Mousinho’s men is a home match against Norwich City (19:45, Sky Sports+), who were handed 3-0 hammering by QPR in midweek. Below you can find my Portsmouth vs Norwich City predictions featuring team news and betting tips.

Team News

Portsmouth would want to stick with the same that hammered Bristol City 3-0 at the weekend, as Colby Bishop found the net again for the home side. He will lead the line again but Callum Lang is suspended, as is Andre Dozzell. Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie should provide the width while Nicolas Schmind kept a clean sheet behind Marlon Pack and Regan Poole, so that trio will continue to play at the back but there is some more negative news on the injury front.

Mark O’Mahoney has been ruled out for the remainder of the year and will recover with his parent club Brighton and Hove Albion, having been taken off with a hip issue against Swansea. Kusini Yengi is also going to be out until January, while Will Norris and Jacob Farrell could return before then. Conor O’Shaughnessy is struggling with a calf problem and won’t be back before Christmas while Ibane Bowat remains out for the season. 

Football Odds

For Norwich, I’d expect changes after a poor showing at Loftus Road. Ashley Barnes came off the bench in that game and could well start in the number nine position to give Johannes Hoff Thorup a focal point, while Jacob Sorensen and Onel Hernandez could be given a chance from the start after also coming off the bench. 

Sorensen should help steady that midfield while I’d like to see Hernandez played on the right to provide some natural width, with Marcelino Nunez then dropping back into the midfield three. Benjamin Chrisene could provide a natural option on the left side of the defence instead of Kellen Fisher, while Jose Cordoba could come into the heart of the back four if change is needed. 

Josh Sargent is the major absentee and he is around four weeks away from a return, while Liam Gibbs also remains out. 

Portsmouth vs Norwich City Odds

Portsmouth are priced at 15/8 to win their third consecutive home game on the bounce, while Norwich are available at 5/4 to end a run of six away games without a win. A draw can be backed at 11/5, while over 2.5 goals is 8/11 having come in during 65% of Portsmouth’s games this season. 

They are top of the table for that particular statistic, while they also lead the way for BTTS as 11 of their 17 games have seen both teams find the net. That can be backed at 4/7 here, while obviously, Borja Sainz is the favourite to score first at 9/2, having scored 15 goals in 19 Championship games this term. 

Portsmouth to win @ 15/8

I didn’t think I’d be going for this a few weeks ago. There’s an awful lot to like about this Norwich team and Sainz has been the player of the season so far, but they have struggled on the road of late. They were hammered by QPR in midweek, putting in a poor display in that 3-0 defeat, while their record on the whole away from home has been underwhelming this term. 

They’ve won just two away games so far, losing five of their 10 on the road, and they’ve now conceded 17 goals in those matches. The Canaries are now winless in six away from Carrow Road and have lost to the likes of Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as relegation-threatened QPR in that time frame. I think Portsmouth, who have won their last two games, have turned a corner and can start to climb the table. They are excellent value for the win on Tuesday night. 

Colby Bishop to score anytime @ 2/1

The fixtures have got slightly easier on paper, but the biggest reason Portsmouth are looking more like their usual selves is the return of Bishop. He was their top scorer in League 1 last term and after his heart issue, was a major miss at the start of the campaign. Pompey’s other strikers don’t have the same level of know-how or experience as the big striker does, while his eye for goal is astonishing. 

Despite only playing 145 minutes in total over three matches since he returned to the squad, he has already scored two goals, including the opener against the Robins. Mousinho has massively missed his talisman and he will be delighted he has returned to action so sharply, picking up where he left off in 2023/24. It shouldn’t be underestimated just how impactful and worrying heart surgery can be for any players and their family. For Bishop to come back and get amongst the goals so quickly, is one of the stories of the season. Another goal on Tuesday please Colby! 

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