Aldershot v Portsmouth: More away misery for Pompey

Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008 and reached the 2010 final

FA Cup heroes of a bygone decade Portsmouth have found "the magic" elusive since bidding the 2000s adieu...

Aldershot v Portsmouth
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Aldershot 3.1511/5, Portsmouth 2.3811/8, The Draw 3.55/2

Given their current standing as Conference Premier water-treaders, Aldershot's 2-2 draw at Portsmouth in the FA Cup first-round proper ranks as something of a respectable result.

A replay at the Recreation Ground hands them an excellent chance of progression to the second round with Pompey in such foul form on the road.

Since their Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Yeovil on September 2, the Fratton Park club have failed to prevail in seven straight road games, losing five of these and netting a guffaw-inducing once in the process.

The Shots are far from faultless on the homestead, but one defeat in six at base camp is the sort of form that will strike fear into such haphazard travellers. Four of the visitors across this spell were sent packing having left the spoils behind.

In addition to being in finer fettle, the hosts have barely experienced any bother advancing beyond the FA Cup's first round in recent campaigns, unable to clear hurdle one just once in six seasons, when they didn't get that far in 2013/14.

Portsmouth, in stark contrast, haven't won a match in the competition since losing to Chelsea in the 2009/10 showpiece (and how crazy to think that it is a mere four years since they were last in the Premier League).

They were first-round casualties in both of the previous seasons; the only two in which their lowly standing on the Football League ladder compelled them to participate in the early stages, losing at Stevenage last term and at home to Notts County 12 months prior.

This teetering obelisk of Aldershot-favouring omens means that their huge price for success simply can't be ignored.

Aldershot win to nil

With Portsmouth apparently incapable of doing anything other than crumbling on their travels, there is enormous appeal in the 5.59/2 about a Shots win to nil. Andy Scott's charges have recorded four across their last six home games.

Were it not for a Jed Wallace spot-kick at Shrewsbury, Pompey would be without a goal in seven sojourns and an urgent need to arrest their quickening tumble down the fourth-tier table will take precedence over FA Cup progression.

Aldershot (-1) to win

Portsmouth's away-day incompetence renders 6.411/2 about the hosts romping home by two goals or more too juicy a price to be ignored. They've shipped at least two in five of their previous seven road games and four of these would've rewarded backers of this bet.

Aldershot have struck twice in three of their last five at home and another instalment should see handicap backers in the black.

Best Bet: Back Aldershot to win to nil @ 5.59/2
Other Recommended Bet: Back Aldershot (-1) to win @ 6.411/2