Derby/Portsmouth

Two exciting games from the Championship featured on Picklive this weekend. First up, it's Derby v. Portsmouth.

Both teams are doing well in the league. It's been a game of two halves for Portsmouth already this season, Gary, with no victories in their first 8 games, and 6 victories in their last 7 games (the other match being a draw away to Championship whipping boys Middlesborough).

Derby are above Portsmouth in the league but their recent form, while good, is less impressive than Portsmouth. The outcome is difficult to predict but my money is tentatively on a Portsmouth victory even though Derby are this season's top scorers at home.

Both of these teams have been Picklived before and the highest scoring players for Derby were Brayford (64 last game), Leacock (64 also) and Savage (54). John Brayford (Defender) also is OFFICIALLY the 24th best player in the Championship according to the ACTIM index.He has one goal and 3 assists so far this season too. Leacock is another Derby defender I will be strongly considering for today's game and his average score on Picklive for both Derby's featured games make him worth looking at. It seems Derby's best players are defenders. If you fancy dabbling in the Derby midfield then may I reccomend Paul Green and Tomasz Cywka? Green is the highest placed Derby player in the ACTIM index (21st) and has the most number of assists in the Derby team (6). Cywka I am more cautious about suggesting but he is highly rated and likes to have a go at goal (3 goals this season). If it is goals you are after, look no further than striker Kris Commons; 7 goals in the lague this season (from a total of 43 shots) and 2 assists.

Portsmouth's best players the last time they were on Picklive were Lawrence (91 - 2 goals, Kitson (69 - 2 goals) and Brown (59 - 1 goal). However, I am not reading too much into this as this was against a very poor Leicester. In the Picklive match before that, the best two players were Ritchie and Wilson; however, this was a cup match against lowly Stevenage so I would not read too much into that either as they probably wont play.

Portsmouth's stand-out player is undoubtedly midfielder Liam Lawrence and he will probably be in everyone's picks (if playing of course). He is Portsmouth's highest scorer (due to being Portsmouth's regular penalty taker) and scored a massive 91 points last time Portsmouth were featured on Picklive. However, he did get 2 goals in this game which was a 6-1 demolition of Leicester. Lawrence also has most assists (4) to his name. The current ACTIM 3rd best midfielder in the Championship.

If playing, I may well be tempted by Sonko in defence. He scored in Portsmouth's last match and by all accounts had a good game. Strikers Kitson (4 goals) and Nugent (3 goals) will probably not make my team but if I had to pick one, I would go for Kitson as he has one more goal but has played fewer games. Nugent has had more attempts on goal however, and more than anyone in the Portsmouth squad.

I will be considering midfielders Hayden Mullins and Michael Brown. Both have 2 goals in the league (Brown has one also in the Carling Cup) and I fancy them to do well today.

Good luck!

by Warriors
(Robin Warr)