Portsmouth vs Southampton Preview: Predictions, Team News, and Lineups

Portsmouth and Southampton, two fierce rivals on the south coast, will meet on Sunday at Fratton Park for a crucial Championship match. Portsmouth currently sits in 21st place, just above the relegation zone, while Southampton is in 15th, seven points ahead.

Match Preview: Portsmouth vs Southampton

Portsmouth aims to secure their place in the Championship for a third consecutive season. They have found some momentum recently, losing only once in their last seven matches, recording three wins and three draws.

Adrian Segecic has been instrumental for Portsmouth, scoring a crucial goal against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. He also opened the scoring in the previous match against Watford, which ended in a draw.

This encounter will mark Portsmouth’s return to Fratton Park after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup. They hope to continue an unbeaten streak at home, having secured seven points in their last three home matches.

Historically, Portsmouth has had a good run against Southampton at home, avoiding defeat in their last four league meetings. The last time Portsmouth defeated Southampton at Fratton Park was in November 2005, when they won 4-1 with a brace from Lomana Lua Lua.

Southampton’s Struggles

Southampton is aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League but remains in the bottom half of the table. They recently ended a seven-game winless streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, courtesy of Leo Scienza’s fourth goal of the season.

Despite this positive result, Southampton has struggled away from home, with only one win in their last five Championship matches. Their recent history against Portsmouth includes a 4-0 win in the EFL Cup in 2019 and a goalless draw in their last league meeting in September.

Notably, Southampton has not won a league match at Fratton Park since a victory in April 1976.

Team News

Portsmouth faces several injury concerns, including Thomas Waddingham, Harvey Blair, Franco Umeh, Hayden Matthews, and Josh Knight. Key attackers Josh Murphy and Callum Lang are ruled out, with Lang reportedly linked to a move to Preston North End. However, captain Marlon Pack may feature after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Southampton has doubts over defender Mads Roerslev and midfielder Oriol Romeu. Shea Charles returns from injury and could provide options off the bench, while Adam Armstrong, who has scored 11 league goals this season, hopes for a return to the starting lineup.

Predicted Lineups

In conclusion, both teams will be looking to secure vital points in this derby. The prediction for the match is a 1-1 draw, following a trend of closely contested encounters between these rivals. For further analysis and insights on this match, you can check back on Filmogaz.com.