Portsmouth vs Coventry Prediction: Tough test for table toppers

Championship leaders Coventry City will look to keep hold of their unbeaten status as they travel to the South Coast to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday (19:45, Sky Sports+). 

Frank Lampard’s side have been scintillating so far this term scoring 29 goals in 10 games, while Portsmouth are up to 14th, and unbeaten in their last three. Below you can find my Portsmouth vs Coventry predictions featuring team news and more. 

Team News

John Mousinho has suggested that star man Josh Murphy won’t be back until the weekend after his ankle injury, but I wouldn’t put it beyond him to include the former Norwich winger on the bench for this one. 

The rest of the squad came through the Leicester draw unscathed so I’d expect Mousinho to name an unchanged XI for this midweek clash. John Swift, Yang Min-hyeok and Conor Chaplin occupied the three spots behind striker Colby Bishop - with Adrian Segecic a bright option from the bench. 

Josef Bursik will continue to deputise in goal with Nicolas Schmid out with a broken hand, with Regan Poole and Josh Knight set to continue their partnership at centre-back. 

Football Odds

Lampard is still having to cope without key number 10 Jack Rudoni and both Josh Eccles and Joel Latibeuadiere missed the win over Blackburn Rovers. As a result, we can expect another unchanged XI with Haji Wright set to lead the line flanked by Ephron Mason-Clark and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.

Brandon Thomas-Asante scored again from his new number 10 role as he deputises for Rudoni, while the back four of Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching and Jay Dasilva have now kept five clean sheets in a row. Jamie Allen is an option to come into midfield if Lampard lines up slightly more conservatively for this away test. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Portsmouth vs Coventry Odds

Portsmouth are priced at 16/5 to win this game, while Coventry are the clear favourites at 5/6. That gives the Sky Blues an implied win probability of 54%, while a draw can be backed at 11/4.

Over 2.5 goals is 8/11, BTTS is 4/6 and Wright is the favourite to open the scoring at 9/2. 

Under 2.5 goals @ 11/10

You may think I’ve lost my mind slightly here, and I understand, given Coventry’s phenomenal goalscoring record so far this season. They are now averaging just under three goals per game, having hit seven past QPR, five past Derby and Sheffield Wednesday and four past Millwall. 

However, they looked sluggish from a creative point of view in the 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, scoring two goals from outside the box and only creating an xG of 0.88. That’s their lowest total so far this season and Blackburn put in a strong away performance, despite defeat. 

Portsmouth have proven themselves to be defensively resolute in their last two games, as they have picked up four points against tricky opposition. They’ve only conceded one goal in their last two fixtures and took Boro’s unbeaten record from them at Fratton Park in their last home game. A tricky opponent for Coventry, and so I predict a tight encounter.

Haji Wright to score anytime @ 11/8

I honestly can’t call this game but I do think it makes sense to back Coventry’s American striker to find the net again. He scored twice for the USA in the international break and found it tough against Blackburn - although jetlag may have played a part given he played for his country in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

He was taken off around the hour mark against Blackburn, and so I’m hoping we see a fit and fresh Wright back to his goalscoring ways. Eight goals in 10 appearances so far in the Championship and 0.98 goals per 90 put him top of the goalscoring charts and he will be desperate to stay there and book his place at the World Cup. Pompey are pretty solid at the back, but Haji always seems to find a way. 

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