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Premier League Betting: Portsmouth v Newcastle. 12/04/08, Kick-off 17:15

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Richard Walker has been mulling over the betting angle in this Saturday's game, broadcast live on Setanta Sports. And when we say mulling, we really mean it.

Interesting one, this.

The FA Cup final theorists who'd have you believe teams simply down tools in the league when they progress to the latter stages of a knock-out competition kind of had their puff extinguished a bit when Pompey went and won at West Ham on Tuesday.

Then you've got the form students who would advise backing a Magpies' success on the south coast based on the premise that they'll build on three handsome consecutive Premier League wins.

When form lines and theories clash like this, often the result is a draw which does nothing for either side of the debating fence. I'm not totally averse to the idea of Newcastle making a decent fist of things a long way from home, but their overall mediocrity steers me clear of recommending them.

So I'm not sure if I'm going against trends or theories by saying I think Portsmouth will beat Newcastle United at their first game in front of their own fans since last weekend's FA Cup semi-final triumph at Wembley.

My view is that as long as Everton haven't disappeared over the horizon, Harry Redknapp's players will remain focussed on the chance of finishing fifth - and a guaranteed UEFA Cup spot. Only four points behind the Toffees, I'll suggest they'll have their minds on the job and should be backed to win at odds of [2.3] in front of the boisterous Fratton Park faithful.

United's resuscitating trio of three-pointers has come against strugglers Fulham and Reading, as well as against a Spurs side whose season ended the moment the Carling Cup was held aloft. In essence, they haven't actually caused a wow-factor with the wins, albeit 4-1 at White Hart Lane is impressive by any yardstick. Kevin Keegan's team are [3.65] to prevail with the draw at [3.4].

Nine goals have been spread across those three wins, after only four from the seven matches before that. Things have clicked; but it's taken under-performing or de-motivated opposition to do it....which Pompey are not.

The Over/Under 2.5 goals market is even, with Unders - my preference - at [1.93] and Overs priced at [2.04]. With that, I also feel Portsmouth will buck Newcastle's trend and a clean sheet for the home side, at [3.15], looks for me to be one to have in your armoury.

Draw/Portsmouth would be my idea of a solution to cracking the Half Time/Full Time market. It's a [6.4] chance with the insurance of Portsmouth/Portsmouth at around [3.85] if you share my view about the game's likely winners.

Steven Taylor's back for the Magpies; a steady yet unspectacular figure though just as prone to the odd error-strewn game as the rest of the Tyneside rear-guard.

The most significant piece of team news for either side is that Jermain Defoe is back after missing the last two matches. Lassana Diarra, however - a star in the making - and the powerful John Utaka are both doubtful. Milan Baros is doubtful too, but that would only hinder Pompey's chances if he had to be given a run.

The Correct Score market is always one which catches my eye. I like 1-0 to the hosts at [9.0], with the insurance cover of the [12.5] priced 2-0. With it being Newcastle, my theory of a low-scoring routine Pompey success might just get blown away so I might well throw in the Any Unquoted scoreline at odds of [13.0].