Watford vs Portsmouth Prediction: Watford can add to Pompey woes

Watford take on struggling Portsmouth at Vicarage Road on Wednesday night in a midweek round of Championship fixtures (19:45 GMT, Sky Sports+).

The Hornets sit just outside of the top six and a victory on Wednesday could potentially see them break into the play-off spots depending on results elsewhere. They host a Portsmouth side who are scrapping for survival as they sit just one point clear of danger going into this midweek batch of Championship games.

Team News

Rocco Vata remains unavailable for the hosts due to injury and boss Javi Gracia could be tempted to make a couple of changes after back-to-back defeats, in the FA Cup and the league.

Portsmouth have a host of injury concerns as Callum Lang, Harvey Blair, Josh Murphy, Florian Bianchini, Josh Knight and Mark Kosznovszky are all sidelined.

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

Watford vs Portsmouth Odds

Watford are the clear favourites at 8/11 to win, the visitors are 4/1 underdogs and a draw is available at 13/5.

Only rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday have scored fewer goals than Portsmouth, who have hit 22 in total across their 25 games.

Therefore, goals could be in short supply at Vicarage Road. Under 2.5 goals is 4/5 and both teams to score - no is a 5/6 chance.

Watford win and both teams to score - No @ 7/4

Watford are 8/11 to win and that price offers enough value if you are putting together a multiple/accumulator bet, but the 7/4 available for a home win and a clean sheet looks a better angle for a single bet.

The Hornets sit eighth overall in the Championship, but they have the third best home record in the second tier with an impressive haul of 28 points from 14 games, winning eight of those.

Watford’s defence hasn’t necessarily been watertight but they had managed back-to-back clean sheets at Vicarage Road before a 2-0 reverse to promotion rivals Millwall in their last home game - and they are coming up against one of the worst attacks in the division on Wednesday.

Pompey have scored just 22 goals in total across their 25 league games and a meagre eight of those have come in their 12 away assignments, meaning they score just 0.67 goals per-game on their travels in this competition.

Portsmouth have scored just two goals in total across their last five trips and may draw a blank in defeat at Watford this week.

Tom Ince to score anytime @ 5/2

Tom Ince was Watford’s hat-trick hero in their 3-0 win over Birmingham earlier this month and the 33-year-old may be able to add to his account against Pompey.

Ince was one of the few Hornets players who managed to impress against Millwall at the weekend as he recorded two shots on target from three attempts in total, seeing the other effort blocked.

A similar level of attacking output from Ince may be enough to see him get on the scoresheet against a Portsmouth defence that concedes on average 1.75 goals per-game on their travels.

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