Plymouth v Portsmouth: League One predictions, betting preview & free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth in League One on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

Plymouth draw no bet
1pt 13-8 Betfred

Team news

Plymouth Argyle
Lewis Macleod will miss out as he continues to nurse a knee injury and skipper Gary Sawyer is a long-term absentee.

Portsmouth
Sean Raggett and Tom Naylor have suffered knocks and are doubts, as are Jack Whatmough and Andy Cannon. Lee Brown and Michael Jacobs are sidelined and Ronan Curtis is on international duty.

Match preview

Portsmouth would ordinarily relish the chance to battle League One rivals Plymouth Argyle in front of the Sky Sports cameras but Kenny Jackett's men could be lacking numbers for their trip to Home Park.

One of the most notable Pompey absentees is wide player Ronan Curtis, who is on international duty with Ireland, and while that depletes them in the final third, they could also be missing players elsewhere.

Sean Raggett, Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough and Andy Cannon are all doubts and that does not bode well for their visit to a Plymouth side who have turned Home Park into a fortress.

Extending back to last term in League Two, Plymouth are unbeaten in 13 home league fixtures and they go into this game following four successive wins in all competitions.

While Portsmouth still have seven-goal John Marquis and Marcus Harness, who has five, in their side, Plymouth have a dangerous attacking combination of their own.

Scotsman Ryan Hardie and Luke Jephcott, who is part of the Wales Under-21 squad, seem to compliment one another well in the attacking third and should cause problems for a potentially depleted Pompey rearguard.

Recent victories over Charlton in the FA Cup and Newport in the Football League Trophy demonstrated that Plymouth have the squad depth to cope with three games in a week and manager Ryan Lowe could field a number of strong line-ups.

Portsmouth were overpowered by West Ham Under-21s last time out and were pushed close in a 3-2 win over Ipswich before that. It could be worth opposing them with a few key players missing.

Jephcott has netted six goals in nine appearances in all competitions this season and is one to keep an eye on in the scorer markets, having bagged a brace in the impressive 4-2 win over Swindon in their last league game.

Only two points separate the sides in League One but Plymouth have a game in hand and have the opportunity to leapfrog their south-coast counterparts. They are worth backing with the insurance of the draw no bet.

Key stat

Plymouth have won six of their last eight games in all competitions.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport