Free betting tips for Harrogate v Portsmouth, preview and when to watch

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Harrogate Town v Portsmouth in the FA Cup first round.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

Portsmouth-Portsmouth double result
1pt 31-20 Coral
Click here to back this tip with Coral

Team news

Harrogate
Manager Simon Weaver has no fresh injury concerns but veteran striker Jon Stead is suspended.

Portsmouth
Full-back Ross McCrorie is ruled out with a hamstring injury while goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray is also struggling.

Match preview

A couple of months ago Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett would have been a long price to still be in charge at Fratton Park for the start of Pompey's FA Cup campaign.

After a poor end to last season and a limp effort in losing to Sunderland in the Sky Bet League One playoff semi-finals, the knives were out after one win in their opening eight matches of the season.

The ship has since been steadied - conceding a last-minute winner at AFC Wimbledon has been their only defeat since they were humbled 4-0 by arch-rivals Southampton in the League Cup on September 24 - but there is ground to make up.

As they stand 12 points behind leaders Ipswich, Jackett cannot afford any slacking off in an FA Cup tie at National League Harrogate, because the pressure would be right back on again.

The south-coast outfit will be buoyant after a 4-1 win over struggling Southend in their last league outing and the need for a fast start should give encouragement for those backing them to be leading at the interval and then complete the job in the second half.

Harrogate are seventh in a congested National League table and a
4-2 defeat at Eastleigh last time out ended a run of nine league games without defeat.

They have conceded just one goal in their last six home matches but only one of their opponents - Barnet - are in the top ten and three of those fixtures were against the bottom three of Ebbsfleet, Sutton and Chorley.

Portsmouth represent a step up in class for the Yorkshire side, who may struggle to adjust.

Key stat

Portsmouth have lost just one of their last nine matches.

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