2019-20 League 1 Play-Offs – Portsmouth vs Oxford Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When does Portsmouth vs Oxford kick off? Friday 3rd July, 2020 – 17:30 (UK)
Where is Portsmouth vs Oxford being played? Fratton Park
Where can I get tickets for Portsmouth vs Oxford? Ticket information can be found on each club’s official website
What TV channel is Portsmouth vs Oxford on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to League 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule
Where can I stream Portsmouth vs Oxford in the UK? If televised, subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE TEAM NEWS
PORTSMOUTH
- Portsmouth face Oxford in the first leg of the League One play-offs at Fratton Park almost four months after they played their last competitive game against Fleetwood Town back on March 10.
- Although the 2-2 draw against Fleetwood ended a run of seven home league wins for Pompey it nethertheless extended their impressive unbeaten home run in the league to 20 matches.
- The enforced break has given all of the players a chance to get back to full fitness and so Kenny Jackett has no reported injury problems ahead of this match.
OXFORD
- Oxford United will have been more frustrated than most at seeing the regular season end prematurely as they had won five matches in a row and were set to break into the automatic promotion places.
- They were in tremendous form in attack during that winning sequence and had scored 14 goals in claiming maximum points from their five outings just prior to the enforced break.
- On-loan midfielder Nathan Holland picked up an injury in their last match and has since returned to his parent club West Ham, but apart from that they have no other injury concerns.
THE PREDICTION
It’s difficult to know how much both teams will be affected by not having played a competitive game in almost four months. Oxford were enjoying a tremendous run of form with five wins in a row and it will be hard for them to just pick up exactly where they left off. Portsmouth’s formidable home record would have been a bigger factor had this match been played under normal circumstances but with a lack of fans and atmosphere the home team are likely to lose some advantage. It is still a very intriguing match though, and it’s poised to be a very close competitive game. Their two previous meetings this season were both draws and this could end with the same outcome. Matty Taylor scored for Oxford in both of those games and backing him to score here could be a good betting option if you are looking at the various goalscorer markets.
