Pompey v Sunderland should prove a clash worth waiting for

The last time Portsmouth and Sunderland met, you might be surprised to know, was back in 2009-10 in the Premier League. That Lee Cattermole was sent off is perhaps less of a shock.

Separated by the length of the country but united in being proper old-school football clubs down on their luck, Pompey and the Black Cats clash at Fortress Fratton Park in Sky Bet League One’s game of the season.

These are the doziest of sleeping giants but they’ve awoken from their slumbers this season with Pompey blazing an impressive trail and Sunderland, the well-backed pre-season favourites for this section, among a chasing pack hanging on to the leaders’ coat-tails.

Portsmouth’s three losses this season – two in the league – have all come at home while Jack Ross’s visitors, 11-4 shots, haven’t lost in the league since a 2-1 reverse at Burton over three months ago.

2 Fener looking to ease road misery
A team from Istanbul will win the Super Lig this season, that seems pretty certain. One team from Istanbul who won’t be lifting the trophy, however, are Fenerbahce.

Anyone who punted mighty Fener to win the Turkish top division in August at odds of around 3-1 knows they have well and truly done their money. Indeed, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility (although admittedly it’s unlikely) that they could go into the winter break bottom of the table.

It’s an incredible fall from grace for a club who have been runners-up in three of the last four seasons and won a record 28th league title as recently as 2013-14.

Two Dutch coaches – Phillip Cocu and Erwin Koeman – have come and gone since the summer, the latter departing last week to be replaced by Ersun Yanal.

Fener have managed just one away win all season though the layers, respectful of a team sheet featuring players such as Mathieu Valbuena, Mehmet Topal and Andre Ayew, rate them odds-on shots to win at Antalyaspor.

3 Kane looking to feast on soft Toffees
Harry Kane is the 11-4 favourite to regain his Golden Boot even though he’s one goal behind the two men leading the race, the current wearer of said footwear Mo Salah plus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

What nine-goal Kane would like right now is an obliging opponent to help him leapfrog that lethal duo – and Everton, who host Tottenham on Sunday, could fit the bill.

Spurs beat Everton 3-0 and 4-0 last season with Kane scoring twice in each fixture. That makes it three games in a row against the Toffees in which Kane has bagged a brace.

And it isn’t just Kane whose eyes light up whenever Everton are on the horizon; it’s very much a collective thing since Tottenham haven’t lost to the Merseysiders since December 2012, a run of 11 matches.

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport