Match Report
21 points separated the sides: Portsmouth 1st on 97, Barnsley 6th on 76. Recent form told a different story for Barnsley: only 22nd in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 6th. Scoring rates set the scale: Portsmouth 1.7 scored and 0.89 conceded per game, Barnsley 1.78 and 1.39, with the league averaging 1.29.
Portsmouth's unbeaten run stood at 15, having scored in 6 consecutive games. Portsmouth had banked 11 of the last 15 points on offer; Barnsley, 4.
10 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Portsmouth 4, draws 3, Barnsley 3, at 2.5 goals per meeting. Historically tight: 30% of the meetings went beyond two goals. 3.4 goals per game in the last five meetings marks a step up from the historical 2.5.
The venue was Fratton Park in Portsmouth, with room for 20,688 spectators. P. Howard officiated: 100 games logged, averaging 2.0 yellow cards each. On the scoreboard, it was 1-1 at the break; 3 second-half goals set the final 3-2.