Sheffield United vs Portsmouth Prediction: Blades to cut down Pompey

Sheffield United got back to winning ways last weekend as they triumphed 1-0 at Derby County in the Championship. They return to Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00) to face Portsmouth.

Pompey have just one win on their travels this season, so a result in South Yorkshire is going to be hard to come by. Below you will find my Sheffield United vs Portsmouth prediction, supported by the latest match odds and team news.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth Odds

Sheffield United are the 1/2 favourites to win here, despite winning two of their last five home games in the second tier. This is likely due to the poor form of their opponents on the road, who have lost six on the bounce.

Portsmouth are 11/2 to pull off an upset at Bramall Lane, and will look to follow the blueprints set out by Hull City a couple of weeks ago. The draw is available at 7/2 on Saturday.

Pompey have failed to score in four of their past six away trips in the Championship, so there is value to be had in a Sheff Utd clean sheet at 21/20, which has an implied probability of 48.8%.

Football Odds

Team News

Ollie Arblaster remains Sheffield United's long-term absentee with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Boss Chris Wilder is also having to cope without striker Kieffer Moore due to a hernia problem.

Fortunately he has Tyrese Campbell and January addition Tom Cannon available to play up front, as well as Rhian Brewster or Ben Brereton Diaz, if needed.

Midfielder Tom Davies is hoping to prove his fitness after spending the last three games on the sidelines, while Rob Holding, Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Caceres will be looking to feature in the matchday squad following their deadline day arrivals.

Gustavo Hamer is back from a two-game suspension, so Wilder could restore the ex-Coventry City man back into the midfield

For Portsmouth, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Paddy Lane are likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season for various injuries, while Kusini Yengi, Jordan Williams and Regan Poole are set to to miss out on the trip to S2.

Head coach John Mousinho has confirmed that a late decision will be made on Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Mark O'Mahony's availability, with the forward working his way back up to fitness following two months in the treatment room.

New recruits Ben Killip, Adil Aouchiche and Kaide Gordon should come into the matchday squad after signing up before the transfer deadline.

Sheffield United to win to nil @ 13/10

As much as Portsmouth have been improving in the second tier, their best performances and results have been coming from Fratton Park. They have managed just one victory on their travels, while 10 of their other 14 trips have ended in defeat.

Of those 10, they have failed to score in six of them, with four coming in their last six away contests. They, like many teams this season, played out a goalless draw with Burnley at home last weekend, and they have blanked in their last two league appearances ahead of their meeting with the Blades.

Sheffield United have suffered a few setbacks on home turf recently, with a 3-0 loss to Hull on January 24 and a 2-0 defeat to Burnley on Boxing Day. But they have still largely been dependable for three points at Bramall Lane.

The hosts have won 10 of their 14 matches here this term and all of them included a clean sheet. They are a stronger team than Portsmouth, despite showing signs of weakness at home in recent months, and the visitors can't seem to get into any rhythm on their travels.

Backing the Blades to win to nil at 13/10 feels too good a price to ignore.

Tom Cannon anytime goalscorer @ 11/8

After Sheffield United splashed £10m on Cannon from Premier League Leicester City, the forward faces a lot of expectations. He spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Stoke City, for whom he netted nine goals in 22 Championship games.

If he can mirror a similar return for the Blades, they will fancy themselves to return to the top flight at the first time of asking via automatic promotion. Due to the price tag, Cannon will be expected to start most games, bar any injuries.

Cannon should lead the line against Portsmouth, and this is the kind of game that he should be looking forward to as the result of the visitors' poor away record. Pompey have conceded eight goals in their past two outings on their travels and on top of this, Cannon has already terrorised them this term.

He hit four goals past Portsmouth in a 6-1 routing during his loan spell in the Potteries, so he will fancy his chances to open his account for his new club against Mousinho's men on Saturday.

Offers

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