Wrexham Vs Portsmouth: Championship stats point to shifting form and set-piece pressure

Why this matters now: The Wrexham vs portsmouth fixture is shaping up as a microcosm of recent Championship trends — home head-to-head oddities, midweek form lines and promoted-side results that all feed into momentum questions for both teams. Small margins in set pieces and substitutions in this match undercut simple narratives and matter for how each side carries form forward.

Wrexham Vs Portsmouth — momentum and stat trends

Wrexham have won two of their three home league games against Portsmouth, but the last time they hosted them was a 0-2 defeat in January 1983. Portsmouth arrive with a troubling away pattern versus Welsh sides: they have lost four of their last five Championship away games against Welsh opponents (D1), and they already went down 1-0 at Swansea this season. What’s easy to miss is how those long-run head-to-head quirks and regional away weaknesses can shape confidence on the day.

Match events and substitutions (embedded)

• Substitution, Portsmouth: Conor Chaplin replaces Ebou Adams.
• Substitution, Wrexham: Oliver Rathbone replaces Josh Windass.
• Substitution, Wrexham: Kieffer Moore replaces Sam Smith.

Here’s the part that matters for coaches: those changes indicate tactical reactions in midfield and attack rather than wholesale formation shifts, and Kieffer Moore’s involvement is tied to set-piece work noted below.

Midweek and promoted-side patterns

Wrexham have lost just one of their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W3 D5), that single loss being 2-0 at Hull in December. Portsmouth have won just one of their last 10 midweek league games (D3 L6), although that lone midweek victory came most recently at Charlton last week (3-1). Portsmouth’s broader form against promoted sides shows resilience: they have lost only three of their last 25 league games against promoted teams (W15 D7), but those three defeats happened in each of the last three seasons — Leyton Orient in 2023-24, Derby in 2024-25 and Birmingham in 2025-26.

Set pieces, blocked attempts and in-game shape

Set pieces and blocked efforts feature heavily in the match record: Kieffer Moore won a free kick on the left wing and also won a free kick in the attacking half, underlining his role in aerial and fouled-play scenarios. Portsmouth had multiple corners conceded by different Wrexham defenders — Callum Doyle, Max Cleworth and George Thomason (the latter noted twice) — indicating repeated pressure from wide delivery. Attempts were also blocked on at least two occasions: a right-footed shot by Millenic Alli from the left side of the box was blocked; that blocked attempt is recorded twice in the match log, and one such action was assisted by Adrian Segecic. The repetition of blocked attempts and repeated corner concessions points to sustained phases where delivery and defensive clearing were decisive.

• Wrexham’s home head-to-head: 2 wins from 3 home league meetings with Portsmouth (last hosted January 1983, 0-2).
• Portsmouth away vs Welsh sides: 4 losses in their last 5 (D1); lost 1-0 at Swansea this season.
• Portsmouth vs promoted sides: 3 losses in last 25 (W15 D7); defeats occurred in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
• Midweek trends: Wrexham (1 loss in 9 midweek games), Portsmouth (1 win in 10 midweek games, that win was 3-1 at Charlton last week).

Notes, timing and caveats

Last Updated 24th February 2026 at 21: 21. Please note: all times UK. Tables are subject to change.

The real question now is how each side converts those statistical tendencies into consistent match control: Portsmouth’s promoted-side resilience and Wrexham’s midweek solidity point in different directions. A micro timeline embedded in the season context: 2023-24 (Leyton Orient defeat), 2024-25 (Derby defeat), 2025-26 (Birmingham defeat) — a three-season string of promoted-side setbacks for Portsmouth that contrasts with their longer unbeaten slate versus such opponents overall.

Final aside: the repetition of blocked attempts and multiple corners conceded suggests the match hinged on delivery and defensive reactions as much as on clear-cut chances. A pragmatic coaching response to that pattern is likely to shape upcoming selections and set-piece preparations.