Portsmouth V Blackburn Rovers Betting: Saturday, 3rd April

Portsmouth V Blackburn Rovers

Saturday, 3^rd April – 15:00 GMT

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLWLL

Since having a nine point penalty enforced upon them, Portsmouth have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league and their minuscule hopes of somehow pulling of the escape of all escapes has now all but passed them by. The main aim now will be that exciting FA Cup semi-final encounter with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley but before then Avram Grant needs to install some confidence into his ranks and that will only happen with a few victories. We don’t see them doing so at all away from home so every home fixture from now on will be considered a blessing, while one against a Blackburn side who’ve won just twice away from home all season might be the answer to their prays at Fratton Park. 

Pompey suffered their yet another set of back-to-back league defeats on Saturday as they were comfortably brushed aside by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. It was a contest that no-one fancied Portsmouth to get anything from and they backed up those expectations with an abject display. In fairness, the injury list is full to the brim with players Avram Grant would class as ‘key’ so it’s no major surprise to see the club struggling to attain results. Even so, at a time when the fans need some inspiration and belief ahead of their FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur later this month, Pompey just aren’t fulfilling everyone’s high demands.

Getting some sort of a result at home to Blackburn would go some way to building up the euphoria around Fratton Park but that just doesn’t look likely with all their injury woes, with the squad wafer thin as it is. Grant is missing key and influential players in just about every area of the pitch ranging from the absence of David James in goal to John Utaka up front, while there are a good three or four midfielders currently on the treatment table. When you think matters just can’t get any worse they generally do and that’s certainly the case for poor old Avram Grant, whom is rapidly becoming a fan favourite down at Fratton Park after his valiant yet in vein efforts to salvage a club on the cliff tops of Premiership death.

Form wise, Portsmouth won’t fill any of you punters with any great deal of confidence, although it will sound like music to the hears of Blackburn fans. Since the start of the year, with four months now drifted by, Portsmouth have won just two league games, although they’ve pulled off some stunning results in the cup in between. However, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Pompey players only have eyes for one thing and that’s their semi-final showdown with Tottenham Hotspur. They know they’re going down and so the rest of their league encounters will seem meaningless to them. This fact has shown of late with Portsmouth not scoring in 180 minutes of play, not since they were deducted nine points for going into administration and basically killed off.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: LLDWW

This Blackburn team should be brimming with confidence after winning back-to-back league games for the fourth time this season after a set of victories over Birmingham City and Burnley within the space of just four days. Moreover, their latter win, that being their 1-0 win at local neighbours Burnley, ended their away drought of nine away games without a league win. So can they go one further and make it three wins in a row, what would be their first set of back-to-back away league wins all season.

It’s fair to say that Blackburn won’t have many easier opportunities to register their second away win in quick succession than against a Portsmouth side who’ve already said their goodbyes to the Premier League. Their opponents have shown very little in terms of hunger and drive of late to indicate that they would even be the slightest bit bothered should they lost yet another league fixture, whereas Blackburn have displayed bags of fight and ragged determination in their recent league outings. Two qualities Sam Allardyce has quite obviously installed into his players and they’re slowly but surely beginning to reap the rewards for his dogged managerial attitude.

Rovers are also enjoying a decent little run of form right now after their 1-0 win at Burnley, a result which in itself will significantly boost the morale of the Blackburn camp as that was their second derby victory over the Clarets this season. ‘Big Sam’ has recently guided his team of relentless workers to a three match run without defeat following back-to-back wins over Birmingham City (2-1) and then Burnley (0-1), while before those two impressive victories came a point just as magnificent as the two wins combined; a 1-1 draw at home to league chasing Chelsea. All three have clearly given the Blackburn squad a big lift while should they avoid defeat on Saturday, it will have been their longest run in the league without losing a game, four matches.

Blackburn haven’t exactly been pretty on the eye of late but they’ve been damn well effective. Their 1-0 win at Turf Moor did come under fortuitous circumstances as Steven Reid clearly dived inside the Burnley box to win Blackburn a penalty. A penalty David Dunn calmly converted with glee. To be fair though, they were deserving of all three points as they were the better team. They were far more adventurous in their attacking play and were more assuring when in possession. Another display like that on Saturday and Blackburn will be hard to stop let alone beat.

Match Verdict: Blackburn Rovers to WIN – 2.30 Bet365

Sam Allardyce explained before last weeks win at Burnley that he has every intention of playing his strongest team right until the very last day of the season. His reason, money for the kitty. For every position higher in the table he finishes, the more he will receive in transfer funds and for a Dell Boy such as Allardyce, that’s the biggest incentive you could give the Englishman. Big Sam’s desire to win the remainder of his games is having a knock on affect with his players as their playing in a courageous manner right now, pouring their hearts and souls into every clash. Portsmouth, however, have looked heartless in their recent encounter, and with the FA Cup semi-final just over the horizon, they’ll just want to get these league games out of the way and get on with the inevitable relegation procedure.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 3.20 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Blackburn Rovers – 2.30 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Blackburn Rovers to win to NIL – 4.00 PaddyPower