National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Peterborough United or Portsmouth that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Peterborough United form and stats
Peterborough have reached this EFL Trophy stage through battling and winning against Fulham U21, West Ham United U21, Cambridge United and Burton Albion. Last season their EFL Trophy adventure ended in the 2nd round.The home supporters can't complain about results here at London Road Stadium as Peterborough United have scored 20 goals to get 19 points from 8 games. The overall stats in the League One are 6-1-1 (wins-draws-losses). On the other hand, in the EFL Trophy, Peterborough United has performed like this (both home and away): 2 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses. Peterborough has recorded two wins in a row here at London Road Stadium, increasing their hopes of victory in this match.
The home team returns to London Road Stadium after being equal after 90 minutes with Lincoln City on their last time out; the League One game ended 1-1. 1-1 away at Milton Keynes Dons before that.
This is expected to be a close game, with Peterborough United perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Peterborough United as a small favourite), we find 15 games. Peterborough United has won seven of these, drawn four and lost four.
Another home game is coming up fairly shortly for the hosts, as Milton Keynes Dons are coming to town in four days.
Peterborough are showing their attacking force in their league home games this season, scoring more than 2,5 goals per game on average (20 goals in 8 games). It's worth mentioning that 10 of these goals has been scored in their last three home matches. 8 goals have been conceded. It's worth mentioning that 5 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Portsmouth form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Cheltenham Town, Colchester United, Southend United and West Ham United U21 in order to reach 3rd Round of EFL Trophy. Portsmouth was sent out of EFL Trophy in the semi-finals last season.Portsmouth have an excellent away record in the League One so far with 6-2-1 from 9 games. Total EFL Trophy statistics for Portsmouth: 3 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss. Winning streaks in away matches are not that common, but Portsmouth are close to a proper streak after winning their two previous away games.
The Portsmouth goalkeeper Alex Bass is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 386 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
Portsmouth play their second straight away game, having lost the previous one 1-2 to Bristol City. Before that one, a nice away victory 2-0 at Hull City.
As mentioned above, this is an open game with no clear favourite. We have found ten similar matches played by Portsmouth in our archives, and the results are: four wins for Portsmouth, three draws and three defeats.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only four days as another away game awaits: The League One trip to Fleetwood Town.
Portsmouth have scored more than twice on average per away game (in the league), an impressive attacking display. They have 18 goals from 9 away matches. They concede less than a goal on average per away game (7 so far). There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 away matches.
Head 2 Head
H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Peterborough three wins, one draw and Portsmouth six victories. As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five games had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  J. Clarke-Harris 12 goals |  J. Marquis 9 goals | S. Dembele 5 goals |
Peterborough United missing players
Portsmouth missing players
| Peterborough United | Portsmouth | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 13 | 8 | Won | W | 9 | 14 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Drew | D | 2 | 4 | ||
| 7 | 2 | Lost | L | 3 | 7 | ||
| 44 | 31 | Scored | S | 28 | 48 | ||
| 29 | 15 | Conceded | C | 15 | 25 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 93% | 92% | ||
| 88% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 86% | 80% | ||
| 52% | 83% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 64% | 56% | ||
| 24% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 43% | 36% | ||
| 16% | 33% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 14% | 16% | ||
| 60% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 43% | 44% | ||
| 24% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 43% | 36% | ||
| 16% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 21% | 28% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.4 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 13.5 | 15.8 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 13.4 | 13 | ||
| 5.1 | 6.8 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.1 | 4.6 | ||
| 35% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 39% | 42% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Lincoln City | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 42 |
| 2 | Hull City | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 38 |
| 3 | Portsmouth | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 35 |
| 4 | Doncaster Rovers | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 33 |
| 5 | Peterborough United | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 33 |
| 6 | Accrington Stanley | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 33 |
| 7 | Charlton Athletic | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 32 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 32 |
| 9 | Crewe Alexandra | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 31 |
| 10 | Sunderland | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 30 |
| 11 | Fleetwood Town | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 29 |
| 12 | Oxford United | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 28 |
| 13 | Blackpool | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 13 | -3 | 27 |
| 14 | Gillingham | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 13 | -4 | 26 |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 21 | -9 | 26 |
| 16 | Milton Keynes Dons | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 25 |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 20 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -4 | 24 |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | -7 | 22 |
| 19 | Northampton Town | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 36 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 19 | -17 | 22 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 33 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -8 | 21 |
| 21 | Rochdale | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 33 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 15 | -7 | 20 |
| 22 | Swindon Town | 21 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 25 | -15 | 20 |
| 23 | Wigan Athletic | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 35 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -14 | 19 |
| 24 | Burton Albion | 23 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 29 | 50 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 23 | -21 | 16 |