The first spot at Wembley in this season’s playoffs will be secured on Sunday evening when Plymouth and Portsmouth meet for the second time in three days to decide their semi-final.
The two sides drew 2-2 at Fratton Park on Thursday night and now they will play out the remainder of the tie in front of a big crowd at Home Park on Sunday with everything to play for.
Plymouth
Having come from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 at one point in the first leg Plymouth might be aggrieved that they only return to their own patch level in the tie but they will hope to use home advantage to full effect and set up a day at Wembley in just over two weeks time.
It was feared that after a fiery first leg Jamille Matt would face sanctions after an off the ball incident but nothing has come of that and the striker on loan from Fleetwood is available for the game which is a boost. Rueben Reid was on the bench on Thursday and could play a part.
Portsmouth
I guess having trailed at one point Portsmouth will be content to be level going into this match. They have enjoyed a fair amount of success on the road this season so they won’t go to Plymouth fearing anything.
Paul Cook was sent to the stands during the first leg but he will be in the dugout for this second leg which is a boost and I think he will set his side up to frustrate the crowd and get the tension mounting. He knows if this remains tight throughout he has the difference makers in the likes of Gary Roberts.
Betting
Going into these playoffs I thought Portsmouth were the side to beat and although you would think they are disadvantaged by the current state of the tie I don’t see it like that.
I was at Home Park not so long ago and you could cut the tension and anxiety in the stands with a knife on that occasion and given the magnitude of this match and the fact Plymouth have completely messed up automatic promotion you would think that anxiousness is only likely to have increased since then.
If Plymouth get ahead early then it might be different but Portsmouth should know that and I think they’ll aim to keep it tight and use any tension around to their advantage. Big matches generally call for big players and Portsmouth have enough of them to get the job done here no matter how long it takes.
Tips
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