Championship Preview: Portsmouth vs Stoke City Team News, Lineups, Prediction – In-Form Sides Clash at Fratton Park

Two sides enjoying strong runs of form meet at Fratton Park on Saturday when Portsmouth host Stoke City in the Championship.

Portsmouth currently occupy 10th place, while Stoke sit third, just one point outside the automatic promotion places.

The hosts share the division’s longest unbeaten sequence with rivals Southampton, having won four and drawn two of their last six matches. They extended that run with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Swansea City on Tuesday. After Zan Vipotnik’s 85th-minute penalty cancelled out Portsmouth’s opener, Terry Devlin restored the lead in the second minute of stoppage time before Thomas Waddingham sealed the points with his second successive home goal.

Portsmouth, who have fought relegation battles in each of the past two seasons, now sit one point outside the top eight and four points from automatic promotion. They will aim to secure a fourth consecutive home league win for the first time since January 2025 — a sequence that included a 2-1 success against Stoke. The Blues also carry a five-game unbeaten home streak into the fixture.

Stoke have lost only one of their last 11 Championship matches and have improved markedly after opening the season with three straight defeats. They have won three of their last four outings since a home loss to Middlesbrough last month, recording clean sheets against Derby County and Preston North End either side of a goalless draw with Preston. A 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers in midweek, courtesy of a Jack McGlynn strike and an own goal, extended their away form to four consecutive victories and five games unbeaten on the road since late August.

The Potters also prevailed on their most recent visit to Fratton Park in October 2025, winning 1-0 via a 70th-minute own goal.

Portsmouth Championship form: W-W-D-W-D-W
Stoke City Championship form: W-L-W-D-W-W

Team News

Portsmouth remain without Benjamin Arthur, Connor Ogilvie, Mark Kosznovszky, John Swift, Luke Brooke-Smith, Keshi Anderson and Colby Bishop. Striker Marko Milovanović has been ruled out after suffering a quad injury against Swansea. Midfielder Ilyas Mohamed also left that match with a calf problem; while the issue is believed to be minor, his availability remains uncertain.

Stoke travel without the injured trio of Eric Bocat, Lamine Cisse and Ato Ampah. Aaron Cresswell and Sam Gallagher are close to returning but may not be ready in time. Midfielder Ethan Galbraith is available again after serving a one-match suspension.

Possible starting lineups

Portsmouth: Schmid; Devlin, Poole, Dia, Meghoma; Pack, Adams; Segecic, Bailey, Kavuma-McQueen; Shade

Stoke City: Johansson; Wilmot, Lawal, Graham; Johnson, Soumare, Galbraith, Bombino; McGlynn, Devenny, Bozenik

Prediction

Both teams arrive in positive form, with Portsmouth strong at home and Stoke difficult to beat on their travels. Stoke’s higher league position and consistent away record give them a slight edge, but Portsmouth’s recent resilience and home momentum suggest a tightly contested match.

Predicted score: Portsmouth 1-1 Stoke City

In other news, Portsmouth Boss John Mousinho Provides Update on Marko Milovanović Injury Ahead of Stoke City