Match preview
EnglandChampionship
Right, so we've got Portsmouth hosting Millwall on 24 October, and I'm telling you, the Pigeons have got the edge here. Now I know a good braai and a cold beer, but nothing hits quite like a well-timed football tip, and this one's got meat on it.
The head-to-head in the last 12 months tells a clear story. Portsmouth beat Millwall 3–1 at their own ground back in November 2025, and then went to Millwall's place in February 2026 and came back with another 3–1 win. Two meetings, six goals scored, two conceded. That's not a coincidence, that's a pattern. The older meetings going back to 2024 and 2025 show Millwall picking up results, but those are historical. What matters is what's happening now, and now it's Portsmouth's time.
Look at the form. Portsmouth have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 3 in their last 10 games, picking up 1.5 points per game. Millwall? Two wins, three draws and five losses in the same stretch — 0.9 points per game. That's a massive gap. Portsmouth's defence has conceded 11 in those 10 games while Millwall have let in 19. And if you look at the xG numbers, Portsmouth are being expected to concede 1.23 per game while Millwall are expected to concede 1.48. The Pigeons are keeping it tighter, and that's what wins you games in the Championship.
Now, the counter-argument, and I'll be fair — Millwall's away record over 20 games is solid. Nine wins, seven draws, four losses, 1.7 points per game. They've only lost four times on the road in that stretch and kept six clean sheets. That's a team that travels well. And their last five games show only one loss, with three draws. They're not falling apart.
But here's the thing — that 20-game away record covers a longer stretch, and the recent 10-game form is what's actually telling us something about where these teams are right now. Millwall are struggling, and the xG against numbers back that up. Portsmouth, on the other hand, are scoring 1.4 per game in their last five and keeping it to 1.2 conceded. They've got the momentum, the H2H edge, and the form. I'd say it's like the difference between a proper boerewors and a soggy veggie burger — one's got substance, the other's just filling your plate.
The market has this at 2.7 for either side, which basically says it's a coin flip. I don't think it is. I rate Portsmouth's chance of winning at around 44%, which sits above the 37% the bookies are implying. The evidence points to the Pigeons getting the job done.
Key Points:
My pick: Portsmouth home win.