Southend v Portsmouth Predictions

Southend v Portsmouth Match Info

Date: Saturday 16th February 2019
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Venue: Roots Hall, Southend

Southend v Portsmouth Stats

• Southend have lost their last four home matches in all competitions
• Portsmouth are winless in their last five games in all competitions
• Pompey have beaten the Shrimpers twice already this season

Southend v Portsmouth Head to Head

Last Three Results:
17 Feb 2018 – Southend United 3-1 Portsmouth – League One
08 Dec 2018 – Portsmouth 2-0 Southend United – League One
08 Jan 2019 – Southend United 0-2 Portsmouth – Football League Trophy

Full Head-to-Head Record:
Southend wins: 11
Draws: 8
Portsmouth wins: 18

Southend v Portsmouth Match Preview

In his first full season as Southend United manager, Chris Powell has not been able to provide the team with the consistency required to push for a top half finish or play-off charge. The 49 year old is something of a legend at Roots Hall after making over 250 appearances for the club during his playing days and he was a popular choice to succeed Phil Brown last year and although improvements have been made, that lack of consistency has let them down this season.

The Shrimpers worst spell of form so far this season has come in the last few weeks as they’ve picked up just one point from the last available 12 and after a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Doncaster Rovers in midweek prompted Powell to say he was quietly pleased that his side managed to keep the score down to three, fans and staff alike will be expecting a reaction from the players here as they look to upset the odds and pick up the three points at 5/2 with Unibet.

Portsmouth are hoping to win promotion back into the Championship and continue their ascent back up the Football League pyramid this season. After finding their feet last season under Kenny Jackett on their return to League One, Pompey have been among the frontrunners in the division this time around and with 15 games remaining in the regular season currently sit in third place, one position and just three points away from the automatic promotion spots.

Although this may look like a healthy position overall, Pompey supporters will be slightly frustrated that their side have slipped off the top spot having led the table for so long. Tuesday night’s away draw with Plymouth Argyle means that the South Coast side have now picked up just two points from the last available 15 in League One so Jackett will be keen to ensure they get the promotion push back on track by securing all three points in this clash at 23/20 with Coral.

Unfortunately perhaps for Pompey, we can see that winless run stretching on here. Southend haven’t been great of late, but Powell was visibly upset with his side’s showing in South Yorkshire on Tuesday night and he’ll be expecting a response in this game, especially with the home advantage. We’re backing the hosts to do enough to take a point from a Portsmouth side that haven’t won in five league games, the draw is available at 12/5 with Betfair.

This could be a low-scoring affair at Roots Hall. After smashing four goals past Bradford last month, Southend have managed a paltry return of just two goals in their last four matches and Portsmouth seem to have lost their touch in front of goal recently too and have found the net just twice in their last three games in all competitions which is why we’re backing under 2.5 goals at odds of 4/5 with Betfred

MORE: Find predictions for more English third tier matches on our League One tips page. You can also see our tipsters Correct Score tips, a huge value double on today’s fixtures which we had a 103/1 winner on just last week!