Roker Report Score Predictions: Are we backing Sunderland to win on the south coast tonight?

Last Time Out...

They all might have backed the win, but only two of our panel backed the correct results. Matthew claimed all three points and is now within a point of leader Jack, and Phil also made use of gaining three points by moving into third ahead of Malcolm.

All of our panel failed to pick up the bonus for backing Charlie Wyke to open the scoring, so it could be a mixed bag for tonight’s predictions.

Will our panel back a result tonight at Fratton Park in front of the Sky cameras? Let’s find out, in this round of predictions...

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Philip Butler Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 0 - 3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Aiden McGeady

We haven’t beaten tonight’s opponents on the road during the 21st century, and my main memories of games against Portsmouth consist of Matty Taylor goals from the half way line and Lee Cattermole missing penalties.

However, with tonight’s hosts on a poor run of form and Lee Johnson’s side on a great run, I’m hoping the Fratton Park hoodoo can be broken with a comfortable win for our promotion-chasing Red and White Wizards.

As for goalscorers, Aiden McGeady arguably put in his best performance for Sunderland in the Checkatrade Final against Pompey back in 2018, and I’m backing him to warm up for this year’s final with a goal or two tonight.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 1 - 3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

We are riding the crest of a wave right now, and Pompey are rocking close to the point of capsize down by the trough amid the same storm. We need to take all three tonight, as Pompey may well make another surge before the season is over.

After a 4-1 capitulation to the Cobblers last game out, preceded by a 2-1 away loss to a similarly stuttering Doncaster, given our away form is way better than we are at home this season, this is a must draw but also potentially a win. In February’s seven fixtures, Pompey won three and lost two, which included a home loss to Blackpool.

Key to this result is going to be the situation with further injuries. Winchester came off against Rochdale after a good display but nursing his leg, and Younger did well but left after an hour or so, hopefully for tactical reasons rather than injury. If we can continue with Dion and Luke at the back and if we can find an even more attack minded midfield to support our thriving front line then we should at least harvest a point.

That said if Northampton can turn them over with four goals, why can we get all three? This is the business end of the season and we owe them for the Wembley. Step up McGeady and King Chris. Dispatch them lads.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

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Matthew Foster Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jordan Jones

It was a fantastic result at the weekend, and our magnificent form continues, and keeps the pressure on those above.

You could argue that there’s no better time to play Portsmouth, having been on the end of a battering 4-1 against struggling Northampton, only one win in six and deafening calls for Kenny Jackett’s head.

But Fratton Park has not been a happy hunting ground for us, with our last win on the South Coast being a 4-1 victory in November 1997. With Peterborough and Hull facing off, win this and we could be as little as two points behind second place.

I want to believe we’ll put the boot into Pompey, but my gut instinct is a draw, which in the grand scheme of things would not be the worst result in the world.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 0 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

If there’s on trivial reason for wanting out of League One, it is to never play Portsmouth ever again. It always feels like there is match against them around the corner, and I want us to firmly put them in their place.

Portsmouth are on a pretty poor run, and have lost four of their last six games. The time is now to inflict another hammer blow after being put to the sword by Northampton. The usual suspects in Marquis, Harness, Curtis and Naylor will be threats but we must take advantage of their poor form.

We have continued to impress on a solid run, and I want us to show Portsmouth what our ruthless frontline can do when on song. I’m hoping for a confident win, that will solidify our credentials in pushing for the automatic places and compound Portsmouth to another defeat, banishing my constant reminder of what league we are in.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

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Will Jones Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 0 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Luke O’Nien

The streak continues and what a time to start it. Optimism isn’t something I think any of us are blessed with, especially this millennia and it’s something that feels, well, different.

A factor to keeping streaks like these going is not just our performance but the oppositions and playing them at the right time. Like if you had to play Burton in January or before, you would have had more of a chance to win than you do now.

This is our best chance to beat Pompey and record our first win at Fratton Park for nearly a quarter of a century. They have one won one at home in the last six and lost four of their last six games. The mood around the place is poor as opposed to ours which is at an all-time high.

My main issue is we are winning without playing well. Which may seem like a good thing. However we can all remember the conversations at the start of the season of “performances like these will not keep getting results” and the run has to end. This is a fear I have especially with the run we have coming up.

However I do believe we can grind a result against a team right at the bottom of the form table and one who can go out of the play off places with a loss come Tuesday.

Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Martin Wanless Predicts...

Score Prediction: Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Portsmouth’s form over recent weeks has been poor and, while our results have been good, performances haven’t been as impressive.

I think it’ll be a tough, tight game. It’s not a place we do well at, and I don’t envisage us steamrollering them like some of the other lads do. For me it’s got a draw written all over it. 1-1, which won’t be the worst result in the world by any stretch.

As far as goalscorers go, you can’t look much further than Mr Wyke, can you? With McGeady and Jones supplying the ammunition, Wyke’s got to be odds-on to score each game.

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