Score Predictions: SAFC v Portsmouth
01/05/2025 01:00 AM
Sunderland stunned Sheffield United on New Year's Day, and dragged themselves right back into the automatics argument. Can they build on that today against Portsmouth?
Last time out…
The boys pulled off a master class of craft, graft and skill on the 1st of January, beating automatic promotion rivals Sheffield United 2-1, despite giving away an early penalty (which Patterson saved) and conceding an own goal. However, the fact that was the only time United managed to cross our line was a great outcome on reflection.
An opportune goal from Mayenda created when pouncing on an error by the Blades back line opened our account. Isidor scored yet another cracker to give us the lead and we could have had more, but held out for a handsome 2-1 win.
Today we take on Portsmouth, who sit level on points with relegation spot dwellers Hull and Cardiff, but are above the line due to superior goal difference.
They are a team who seem to either give out a spanking or take one, but their away form isn't great so this is a real chance for the lads to build their push for the top two.
'The Champion' Martin Wanless predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Aouchiche
After our NYD win against Sheffield United today is a different test and it's important that we don't take this one for granted as Portsmouth have been in some decent form - at home at least.
We've not kept a clean sheet for a little while so it'd be nice to be defensively secure today and get a nice solid win to back up the Sheffield United result. After his performance on Wednesday I'm going for Aouchiche to get a goal today to get things going.
Malc Dugdale predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 4 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mayenda
The win on New Year's Day was a cracker, and we have had a spanking of someone in our minds for a while so I am calling it as the case for this one.
In the calendar month of December, Pompey shipped 9 goals away from home, 4 of them against Derby County. They also just had a decent win, so should be a bit less "park the boat". If they try to take us on, they could well let more than 4 in.
This may seem a big score to call, but we need to start dishing out some hidings as we build to the play offs or better, and I honestly reckon that can start today.
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
After a massive win on New Year's Day, we must follow up with another win to fully capitalise!
I think we will have way too much for Portsmouth and fancy Isidor to continue his form.
They are down the bottom end for a reason and we must demonstrate why we are at the opposite end.
Will Jones predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Portsmouth 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
After a great and dogged performance on NYD, the lads stay up north to take on a side who are by all means, improving.
We need to keep going, getting through games and taking points without getting injuries. This would be a great game to pass with flying colours and not lose any momentum.
I back the lads to win, and win well. I believe in these boys, let's go take it to the 3 above.
Matty Foster predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
After a fantastic win on New Years Day, we face an improved Portsmouth. Despite results picking up for them, their away form is still very poor.
This is a massive banana skin, but with our tails up, I expect us to replicate our Wednesday result.
Bomber Davies predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mayenda
Well that was much better on New Year's Day wasn't it!?
Portsmouth had a surprise thumping win against Swansea, but have been pretty abject away from Fratton Park this campaign. In December alone they conceded 3 in 35 minutes at Ashton Gate, threw away a lead at Vicarage road, and got battered 4-0 against fellow strugglers Derby County.
That combined with just how good we are at home this season points to a convincing but potentially uncomfortable win.
What we have seen this season is that we are infinitely better against teams that are happy to have the ball, we seem to struggle to create when the opposite is true and the opposition sit and let us have it.
Mayenda's confidence will now be sky high after scoring in identical circumstances to the glaring one he missed, so I'm hopeful for an early goal from him to bring Portsmouth out, allowing us to pick them off
Gary Winter predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
I didn't have the guts to predict a win against Sheffield United but I wasn't at all surprised with the result given we've played well against the better teams.
Portsmouth really are the definition of Jekyll and Hyde over the last 10 or so games - capable of beating a team convincingly, only to follow it up by being convincingly beaten. In December, they won against Bristol City 3-0 and lost to them 3-0! However, their away form is not at the level of their recent excellent home performances. It won't be comfortable, but I think we should have enough to do the double over Pompey.
Isidor was loving life at the final whistle on Wednesday and has bagged two in the last three. I'm backing him to do it again, but this time to get on the scoresheet first.
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Portsmouth 0
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
Poor results against Blackburn & Stoke had us leaving those games wondering if a promotion push was going to fizzle out. Then a New Year's Day win over Sheffield United and it's all abroad HMS Piss the league again.
Hopefully Portsmouth come up in good spirits after winning 4-0 and want to go for the win, as that's when we are at our best instead of them sitting back and hoping for the draw.
Big Wilson grabbing the first as Sunderland run out 3-0 winners to give me a lovely birthday present.
Last game predictions
The predictions lads all went Sunderland to at least get a point, but it's the writers who backed a win that have taken the spoils.
Best of the bunch is Jack to got the score spot on for three points, followed by Will and Bomber who got 2 points each for calling a win and the first scorer as our Eli.
Latest standings
Malc holds onto the top spot but only just. The middle of the table has had a real mix up with a few of those lads getting 2 or 3 points from the Blades win.
Matty is now only a point behind a couple above him and 3 points behind 4th, so still nothing in it really.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = yellow card warning, then a two point deduction.
