While Portsmouth are locked in a fight for survival in the Championship this season, their corner numbers have been quietly impressive. John Mousinho’s side are averaging 6.11 corners per game in the second tier this term - a figure bettered by only Sheffield United and Middlesbrough. That output climbs to around 7 per game at Fratton Park, underlining how effective Pompey are when it comes to forcing flag kicks on home soil.

With that in mind, I’m more than happy to back Portsmouth to hit six against Oxford on Monday afternoon, which is essentially in line with their season-long average.

The case is strengthened further by the visitors’ numbers in that department. Matt Bloomfield’s men are conceding more corners than any other Championship side this season, shipping an average of 7.25 per 90.

What’s more, Portsmouth forced five corners in the reverse fixture away from home, so asking them to add just one more on their own patch - in a game of this magnitude and backed by a typically vocal Fratton Park crowd - it looks well worth supporting.

In what is very much a relegation six-pointer between these two sides, it makes sense to turn to the card markets. A case could be made for a number of angles, but I’m going to side with Portsmouth to pick up a minimum of two bookings.

The hosts are averaging just under two cards per game in the Championship this season, but I’m prepared to look beyond that here given the significance of this clash in the battle to beat the drop. Moreover, Pompey’s card numbers have been ticking upwards in recent weeks, with Mousinho’s men receiving multiple bookings in each of their last three outings - including no fewer than five away at Norwich last time out.

There should be plenty of scope for that trend to continue in such a big game, not to mention Oxford have drawn 2+ bookings from five of their last eight opponents, including away at promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.

Further encouragement comes from the reverse fixture earlier this season, where Portsmouth collected two bookings to Oxford’s zero.

Portsmouth will be hoping Colby Bishop can fire them to a vital three points on Monday afternoon, but my focus is on the same player in the fouls market. The Pompey forward has a habit of throwing his weight around, and that often gets him on the wrong side of the referee.

That’s reflected in his season-long numbers, with Bishop committing an average of 1.07 fouls per game in the English Championship this term. A closer look shows the 29-year-old has committed multiple fouls in three of his last four starts, including two away at Norwich on Friday - a game in which he also picked up a booking.

Bishop is likely to come up against Oxford centre half pairing Michal Helik and Ciaron Brown, which makes this angle even more appealing. Helik is drawing an average of 0.37 fouls per game, while Brown’s figure sits at an eye-catching 0.75, so there’s a strong chance Bishop oversteps the mark at least once.

I’m also happy to stick with the aforementioned Colby Bishop in the fouls market by backing him to be fouled at least once. The Pompey forward has been earning his fair share of free kicks this season, drawing an average of 0.91 per game in the Championship.

A deeper look at the data shows that his average has been on the rise in recent months. In fact, Bishop has been brought down at least once in six of his last 10 outings, and notably, across that sequence, he has been fouled 2+ times in three of those contests.

As mentioned, Bishop is set to cross paths with Oxford defenders Michal Helik and Ciaron Brown, which adds further weight to this selection. With the Us duo averaging 0.96 and 0.56 fouls per 90, Bishop looks well placed to earn at least one set piece in a relegation six-pointer that promises plenty of tension.