Portsmouth vs Hull City predictions: Fratton Park draw may see Tigers survive
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- Hull start the Championship final round in the relegation zone
- Portsmouth have lost just one of their last eight home matches
- Recommended bet: Draw
The battle to survive looks set to go right down to the wire on the final day of the Championship season, with Portsmouth against Hull City likely to have a big impact on who stays up.
There are two places in the dropzone still to be decided, with six clubs still unsure as to which league they will be playing in next term.
The Tigers currently sit in the final relegation spot, a point from safety but with a better goal difference than three of the teams above them.
Portsmouth’s recent good run has seen them move to safety and their form has been built around an impressive record at Fratton Park.
Team news
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho could hand a second start to Ben Killip, who is looking to earn himself a new deal after joining from Barnsley in January.
The 29-year-old keeper is out of contract in the summer and could be given the chance to prove that he deserves a place in next season’s Pompey squad.
Defenders Cohen Bramall and Zak Swanson may also be given the chance to feature in an attempt to win a new contract at Fratton Park.
Hull will be without Regan Slater, with Ruben Selles confirming the midfielder is struggling with an ankle problem.
The Tigers though have been boosted by the news that John Egan has recovered from a back spasm, while keeper Ivan Pandur is expected to play despite a thigh issue.
The stats
Hull have won just one of their last six away league matches.
There have been two or less goals in seven of the Tigers last eight games.
Only Plymouth and Millwall have beaten Portsmouth at Fratton Park since November.
The reverse fixture, in late November, finished in a 1-1 draw.
Prediction
The visitors’ upturn under Selles has been down to a solid backline, with the Tigers keeping six clean sheets since the Spaniard took charge.
Hull have the best defensive record in the bottom-half of the Championship, but their issues are at the other end of the pitch.
Only Luton have scored less goals than the Tigers this season. They have only scored more than one goal once of their last eight and that was courtesy of two penalties in the home success over Preston.
In contrast, Portsmouth have leaked 17 more goals than their opponents but scored 14 more times than Hull, going into the final day clash.
During their last five home matches, Pompey have kept three clean sheets, which includes a 1-0 win over leaders Leeds.
The stats suggest this will be a tight clash and it might be that Hull take a point and have to wait to see whether that will be good enough to stay up.
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