Eng. Championship
2012-04-10 - Portsmouth vs Millwall
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Tuesday 10 April 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Portsmouth
The ten point penalty administered to Portsmouth for their financial problems has left the FA Cup Winners of 2009 on the brink of falling into the second tier of English football. It had looked like they were going to surprise everyone by finding their way out of trouble, but that looks all but doomed now.
Portsmouth are 23rd in the Championship, and their 34 points leaves them 9 points from safety with just 15 left to play for this season. The have a 9-5-6 record at Fratton Park this season, scoring 27 goals and conceding 20, but anything other than a 10th win looks set to leave them to their fate.
There hasn't been much for the Pompey fans to smile about this season, but they would have been celebrating a 2-2 draw at local rivals Southampton on Saturday. The team were beaten 1-5 in their last home game against Burnley, but had won back to back League games at Fratton Park before that defeat.
Tal Ben Haim is a doubt for this game, while Aaron Mokoena and Kanu are both ruled out.
Millwall
With 5 games left to play this season, Millwall still need to pick up a few points to ensure their safety, but they have been in decent form in recent weeks to suggest they will be able to do so. The team travel down to the South Coast knowing a win here would create enough separation between themselves and the relegation zone to make life easier for them down the stretch.
Millwall are 20th in the Championship and they have a 5 point buffer over Coventry City in the final relegation places with this game being one they have in hand over their rivals. They have a 5-5-10 away record so far this season, scoring 23 goals and conceding 27 in those games.
The Lions have picked up 7 points from their last 12 available in the Championship, and they have been more impressive away from home than at the New Den in recent weeks. They have lost just 1 of their last 7 away games in all competitions, and they have won 3 of their last 5 in the Championship. Millwall drew 0-0 at Cardiff City in their last away game, but had scored 10 goals in their previous 4 before that.
Darius Henderson is out so Harry Kane and Andy Keogh look like they will be given the start up front. Liam Trotter, Therry Racon and Tamika Mkandawire are all out.
Head to Head
Millwall beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the New Den courtesy of a goal in the last ten minutes.
Portsmouth are unbeaten in their last 3 home games against Millwall, including a 1-1 draw here last season.
Prediction
This looks like a game that could have a few goals in it and I was a little surprised to see the Over 2.5 Goals is being priced as odds against by the layers.
Portsmouth had won 2 games in a row at home before the 1-5 loss to Burnley and they showed their capabilities of finding the net in the 2-2 draw at Southampton.
Millwall drew 0-0 in their last away game at Cardiff City, but their previous 4 games on their travels had seen either themselves, or their opponents, score at least 3 goals.
I expect both sides will go in search of the goals that will secure the three points with Portsmouth all but down with anything other than a win, while Millwall are trying to get the three points to move away from the relegation zone.
The Pick :
Portsmouth 2-2 Millwall
