This League Two match sees two promotion chasers go head-to-head as Portsmouth make the 700 mile round trip up to Carlisle United.
Carlisle currently occupy the last automatic promotion spot and are five points ahead of 4th place Luton Town after a run of three wins in their last four league matches.
Attack is certainly the basis for Keith Curle’s side with 56 goals scored in just 32 matches – the second-best in the league. However, this attacking style means that they are often exposed at the back and their record of 45 goals conceded is the worst inside the top eight. Additionally, they have kept clean sheets in only 16% of their league matches.
Despite the fact that the Cumbrians have the second-best home record in the division (32 points from 16), Carlisle have only taken four points from a possible 15 in their last five outings at Brunton Park. Having said that, their last match on home soil saw them turn over league leaders Doncaster Rovers.
Portsmouth currently sit 5th in League Two but know that a win against Carlisle would put them just three points off the final automatic promotion spot with a game in hand. After losing two on the bounce a few weeks ago, Portsmouth have recovered to win two of their last three matches.
In contrast to Carlisle, Pompey are very much a defence-focused side and have conceded just 29 goals in 31 games and kept clean sheets in 42% of their matches – both of these are the best records in the division. Offensively they are not terrible with 45 goals scored but it must be pointed out that this is the worst inside the top seven.
Paul Cook’s side are not particularly good on their travels and have lost almost a third of their games away from Fratton Park so far this campaign whilst they have not won any of their last four away matches. Furthermore, Pompey have only scored 16 goals in 16 matches away from home.
Portsmouth are the favourites here and are actually odds against with most bookmakers. However, I do not think they score enough goals, particularly away from home, to beat this free-scoring Carlisle side who I expect to come out on top. The home win can be had at a fantastic 11/4.
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