Betting Tips for Today: Portsmouth and Sunderland for exciting play-off second leg

Two former Premier League sides meet on Thursday night for a place in the League One play-off final as Portsmouth host Sunderland.

The Black Cats take a 1-0 lead to Fratton Park after Chris Maguire’s winner in a keenly-contested first leg, and 888Sport make the visitors 2/5 (1.40) to go through or 5/2 (3.50) to win on the night.

Portsmouth will still be confident, though, after taking four points from the two meetings between the sides during the season, and beating Sunderland on penalties to win the Football League Trophy at Wembley in March.

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The south coast outfit can be backed at 57/50 (2.14) to claim victory and at the very least force extra time, whilst 888Sport go 7/4 (2.75) that they overturn the 1-0 deficit and go through to the final.

Another tight game is expected by the bookmaker with over 2.5 goals out at 13/10 (2.30), but the value on both teams to score at 19/20 (1.95) is very appealing ahead of this clash.

Defence was neither side’s forte this season. Portsmouth managed just seven clean sheets in front of their own fans, and 11 in total, whilst Sunderland fared only slightly better with 13.

Seven of those came away from the Stadium of Light and it is fair to say that strong attacks led them to the play-offs, with Jack Ross’ men netting in 22 of their 23 away games.

No two teams saw this play land more than Sunderland and Portsmouth, with it paying out in 33 of the Black Cats’ 46 matches and in 32 of Thursday’s hosts’.

In fact, only League One winners Luton Town netted more goals than Kenny Jackett’s men and their visitors, with the Hatters’ 90 eclipsing their respective totals of 83 and 80.

Both teams to score landed in both the previous league meetings between this pair this season, with those games ending 3-1 to Portsmouth at Fratton Park and 1-1 when they faced off in the north east.

It also proved to be a winner when they drew 1-1 at Wembley in regular time before extra time provided another goal each, and 19/20 (1.95) on these sides both scoring looks a solid play for Thursday night’s play-off semi-final.

Both teams to score at 19/20 (1.95) for a 2pt stake with 888Sport 888Sport