Charlton vs Portsmouth

Charlton head into this fixture in decent shape after collecting 7 points from a possible 15 in their last 5. Their attacking output stands at 5 goals in 5 matches, and they have kept 1 clean sheet in that period.

Now to Portsmouth, whose recent form offers a separate set of clues about how this one could play out. Portsmouth are enjoying a solid spell with 2 wins, 0 draws and 3 defeats from their last 5 outings. With 7 goals from 5 matches, their attack has been somewhat inconsistent, while defensively they have conceded more than they would like (1.6 per game). History between these two shows 2 home wins, 2 away wins and 2 draws from 6 meetings. The fixture has averaged 2.8 goals per meeting, with a decent amount of goalmouth action.

The key battle could be between Charlton's defensive resilience and Portsmouth's defensive resilience. Whichever side imposes their style early could gain a crucial advantage. With nothing substantive separating these two on paper, a draw would surprise no one — but neither will either side be content with sharing the points. The first goal, again, looks decisive.

This is a closely contested fixture, with the data suggesting a draw (26%) is the most likely outcome. The predicted scoreline of 2-2 reflects the evenly matched nature of the contest. Confidence here is modest at 45%, reflecting just how hard this fixture is to call. The stage is set in the Championship; kick-off cannot come soon enough.