Portsmouth vs Norwich – Pompey can clip Canaries’ wings
Published:Norwich travel to Fratton Park with their hopes of gaining promotion in their own hands, but Portsmouth could ruin the party if they get the better of Paul Lambert’s side for the second time this season.
Match odds
Pompey beat Norwich 2-0 at Carrow Road in December and, with this in mind, Steve Cotterill’s team are a tempting 3/1 to do the double over the Canaries.
Despite their financial ills, Portsmouth have steadied themselves and currently sit comfortably in 15th place with only five home defeats all season.
And although Norwich may occupy second spot, their frailties were exposed in a recent 3-0 defeat to Swansea.
Pompey will enter this tie on the back of two commendable draws against play-off contenders Burnley and Swansea, and they are 5/2 to make it three stalemates in succession against Norwich.
Norwich have scored freely all season, with Grant Holt and, more recently, Simeon Jackson terrorising Championship defences at will.
They won their last away fixture 5-1, a particularly momentous achievement considering that it came at the home of their great rivals Ipswich.
Lambert’s men are 5/6 to win at Fratton Park, and their carefree attacking approach has yielded nine wins on the road this term, a total bettered only by Cardiff and QPR.
First goalscorer
Holt’s threat is reflected by his odds of 4/1 to open the scoring, and with 20 league goals to his name this season, he will be a handful for the Pompey backline.
Alongside Holt, Jackson has been a menace of late with eight goals from his last six matches, including two hat-tricks in April. The Canadian is 5/1 to strike first.
The home side’s primary threat will be top-scorer David Nugent, whose 12 league goals and Premier League experience make him a decent prospect to break the deadlock at 8/1.
A £30 stake on Simeon Jackson to score first would return £150. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet.
