Leo Peterson
Dailysports's expert
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In the opening match of the 21st round of the English Championship, Derby County will host Portsmouth. The game is scheduled for December 13 at 22:00.
Preview
Derby County is rapidly sliding down the league table. Following three consecutive defeats, they now sit in 16th place with 20 points. In the previous round, the "Rams" suffered a 2-0 loss to Leeds. Before that, they were defeated 2-1 by Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea.
The team's struggles are reflected in the performances of their top players. For example, forward Jerry Yates, who is on loan at Derby this season, has received poor ratings in the last two matches, despite having scored in games against Preston, Plymouth, and Coventry earlier in the campaign.
Portsmouth, on the other hand, is fighting to climb out of the relegation zone. The "Pompey" currently have 16 points and are just two points shy of safety. They are unbeaten in their last three matches, recording two wins and a draw.
Portsmouth earned a commanding 3-0 victory over Bristol and a 3-1 win against Preston. They also played out a high-scoring 2-2 draw with Swansea. However, their winless streak away from home now stands at four games.
Head-to-head
The teams have drawn their last four meetings. Their most recent encounter was in April, ending in a 2-2 stalemate.
Facts and statistics
- Portsmouth hasn’t won away in their last 4 matches.
- Derby is winless at home in 4 consecutive games.
- Derby has earned 14 of their 20 points at home.
Player to watch
Portsmouth forward Josh Murphy is expected to start and could be the key to deciding the match. He has delivered a goal and an assist in his last two games and has found the net in 4 of his last 5 outings. Murphy is currently the top scorer for the visitors.
Prediction
Portsmouth has shown improvement in recent matches but remains the underdog for this clash, with odds of 1.90 for Derby and 3.90 for Portsmouth.
One potential issue for Portsmouth is their difficulty in maintaining possession, while Derby excels in ball recovery. Both teams are strong in aerial duels, so expect numerous battles in the air. Neither side is particularly effective at retaining the ball, which could impact overall goal production.
Betting tip: Total goals under 2.5 (odds of 1.74), a pattern seen in 3 of their last 4 head-to-head encounters.
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