Manchester City V Portsmouth Betting: Sunday, 31st January (Sky Sports 1)

Manchester City V Portsmouth

Sunday, 31^st January – 13:30 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Manchester City

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Recent Form:

All eyes will be on Man City as they aim to avoid a cup hangover by beating the Premierships bottom-feeders, Portsmouth, at The City of Manchester Stadium. The defeat to Man Utd on Wednesday will be a bitter blow but they couldn’t of asked for an easier fixture to make q quick recovery in then a home fixture with Portsmouth. However, while this should be a three point banker, with even us thinking along the same lines, we mustn’t get too carried as minds could be forgiven for going astray after their midweek Carling Cup downfall.

City put their heart and soul into their two-legged tie with Manchester United in the Carling Cup in which a Wembley final date would have been their reward for success. However, despite winning the first leg, City crashed out after a poor showing at Old Trafford and the manner in which they lost, a 90^th minute Wayne Rooney header, will have hurt the players and could leave a lasting scar that could linger for weeks to come. However, some wise heads are needed to overcome this obstacle as there is still the small matter of securing Champions League football via a top four finish.

It’s so important that Mancini gets the defeat to United out of their system as they can’t afford to dwell on the disappointment. A home fixture with Portsmouth looks an ideal recovery game for them but it could be a double edged sword in that Man City may not be as motivated beforehand as they should be, or like they would have been before say a Man Utd or a Chelsea clash. This is a factor and something they need to avoid at all costs as three points would put City firmly back in the hunt for a top four finish. What is still their main objective for the season.

With the Carling Cup defeat to one side – City should be far too strong and powerful for this hapless Pompey side. They remain as one of two teams in the league yet to lose at home this season, going ten unbeaten in Manchester, and are boosted by a four match winning streak at home. Moreover, City have found scoring a breeze at home in recent outings, scoring twelve goals in this four match winning run of theirs, although they did manage just one clean sheet in the process. Still, this should be another routine win for City. If not then questions will be asked over their mental toughness as a team.

Portsmouth

League Position:

Recent Form:

Portsmouth will be hoping to capitalize on City’s recent misfortunes by adding to their woes in the league. However, perhaps Pompey are getting ahead of themselves as even as beleaguered City sides looks too strong for them, especially as Pompey’s away record this season stands in at a measly 1-2-7. Their solitary away league win seemingly came an age ago now and they require a minor miracle to double their away tally for the season at The City of Manchester.

If you want Portsmouth to win, which basically is just the small minority of Portsmouth fans out there, then you’re asking a lot. To demand a win at Man City is audacious considering they’ve failed to win at home in their last two. One being against a relegation struggler like themselves. They’ve not managed a league win in three, while their last was an impressive 2-0 home win against Liverpool, but what’s more alarming is that their only away success for the season came way back at the very beginning of October when they beat Wolves 1-0. That win is hardly frightening form for Pompey and they failed to use it efficiently, either, failing to reach the same feat since, going six away games without a win. 

There are half-a-dozen teams that can be put in a category named simply as ‘dreadful away from home’ and Portsmouth would fall into that category. In ten away outings only three times have they avoided a defeat but they have fallen to four defeats in their last five away ventures, leaving them in all sorts of problems in regards to their league predicament at the bottom. They shipped 16 goals away from home this season whilst scoring a pathetic five in return and they look a club destined for the drop it would seem and destined for another away pounding.

The plus point for Avram Grant, the Pompey manager, is the return of some of his African players; Aruna Dindane the more notable returnee, but he’s been hit n’ miss throughout the season and will do little to help their cause this Saturday.

Match Verdict: Man City to WIN – 1.30 Bet365

Anything other than a comfortable win would raise a few eyebrows, although a slip up just might be on the cards if City don’t brush their Carling Cup defeat under their carpet. It’s a lousy competition anyway as no-one cares an awful lot about it, whereas the Champions League is where it’s at these days and a win on Saturday could put them in the driving seat as they hold two games in hand over the rest. As far as this game goes, City have to win in order to keep the pressure on the top four challengers. They simply can’t afford to pass up this type of game where all three points should be a given. Their attacking prowess, aided by the return of Adebayor, should be enough to overhaul a Portsmouth side capable of capitulation in any game.

Match Odds:

Manchester City – 1.30 Bet365

Draw – 5.50 SkyBet

Portsmouth – 12.00 VCbet

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Manchester City -2 Goals (Handicap) – 3.30 PaddyPower