Portsmouth v Barnsley

Portsmouth vs Barnsley Preview

League One leaders Portsmouth gained a point in a 1-1 draw away from home at third placed Bolton Wanderers on the weekend which not only maintained Pompey's grip on top spot in the third tier table but also extended the south coast club's unbeaten run to an impressive 16 games, while Barnsley's recent worrying winless sequence was extended to three games on Saturday as The Tykes were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Reading.

Portsmouth hold a useful looking five-point buffer at the top of the League One table between themselves and second placed Derby County while also enjoying a 16-point cushion over their upcoming Yorkshire visitors, Barnsley, prior to Tuesday night's clash.

Pompey's dominant position at the top of the English third tier has been built upon a solid 16-match unbeaten sequence which includes picking up 11 wins during this excellent period of form and one which has placed John Mousinho's side in pole position for automatic promotion back to the Championship.

Results on home soil at Fratton Park have also been impressive as Pompey have been handed just two defeats throughout the whole of this campaign in their own backyard and having won six of their last seven home games, the south coast club look to be in good shape to add to their points tally.

Barnsley head into this upcoming encounter on the back of two defeats and a draw which includes losses at the hands of Charlton Athletic and Stevenage along with picking up a point in the aforementioned 2-2 draw at home against Reading.

However, following a promising sequence of results in the third tier which saw The Tykes put together a seven-match unbeaten run that included wins against Leyton Orient, Fleetwood Town, Derby County and Wycombe Wanderers but results since that successful period have seen a decline in Barnsley's fortunes in League One.

The Reds have managed to capture just two wins from their last nine matches overall which were achieved by way of victories against Carlisle United and Burton Albion, both of which were earned on their travels but the Yorkshire club have also suffered four defeats in the process as well.

Losses to Lincoln City, Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic and Stevenage suggest Barnsley may well struggle down on the south coast on Tuesday night at Fratton Park despite losing just three of their 21 away games to date this term, as their hosts have been in commanding form.

Portsmouth v Barnsley Verdict

Portsmouth have lost just once in their last six meetings against Barnsley and with their impressive home form under their belts along with home advantage including a noisy partisan crowd, Pompey look set to extend their lead at the top of the table with all three points here.

Therefore, our main bet will be Portsmouth win @ 1.90

Other side bets worth considering:

Portsmouth win & Over 2.5 goals @ 2.87

Correct Score: Portsmouth 2-1 @ 8.50