Portsmouth

Portsmouth will seek an end to their six match winless streak as they welcome sixth placed Millwall on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey currently find themselves in 20th on the Championship table, just four points ahead of Sheffield United in 22nd.

The Lions are having markedly better season but have not found all three points in any of their past three games and will be looking to restabilise in order to stay within the play-off spots.

• Portsmouth have lost their last four league matches against Millwall, with all four defeats coming via a one goal margin.

• Millwall are looking to win three consecutive away league games against Portsmouth for the first time, winning 1-0 on their last two visits in April 2012 and January 2025.

• Portsmouth have failed to score in each of their last two home league matches – they haven't gone three in a row without a goal at Fratton Park since March 2014 when they were a League Two side, failing to net against Cheltenham, Burton and York during that time.

• Since Alex Neil's first league game as Millwall manager on New Year's Day 2025, only Coventry (75) have won more points in the Championship than the Lions (62).

• Only Sheffield United (11) have scored fewer Championship goals this season than Portsmouth (12), with Pompey ranking second bottom for shot conversion (6.5%) ahead of only the Blades (5.9%).

Regan Poole says Portsmouth have a fresh slate as they return to Championship action after the international break.

Pompey entered the break winless in six games, losing four of them, and have slipped within four points of the relegation zone, while their 12 goals scored in 15 games is the second fewest in the division.

Poole, 27, has played every minute in the league so far and ahead of Saturday's visit of Millwall (15:00 GMT) he told BBC Radio Solent: "It's been a tough couple of months. From the last international break to this one has been pretty poor but it's a new slate, time to go again and put it behind us.

"Up until [the 4-0 defeat on 1 November at] Birmingham we were defensively very good. Then we conceded seven goals in the next two away games.

"It needs to be nipped in the bud - get back to being defensively solid. As a team we're lacking a bit of confidence and belief, we're not scoring enough goals as a team, but with a couple of bodies back now, things are looking a bit brighter."

Poole said the experienced players in the squad are helping to keep morale up and added: "We know we're not far away but certain things need to change. The Birmingham game doesn't define our season.

"We're looking to get back to being defensively solid and hitting the back of the net a few more times. We need to be better."

Seven points from their opening four games had the Blues in the play-off pack but just seven from the next 11 has seen them tumble down to 20th.

Last season Pompey earned 40 points from their 23 games at Fratton Park but they have won just two of their opening eight home games this season, taking eight points.

"We're hoping to turn our home form back to how it was last year," Poole added.

"This table changes very quickly. It's a crazy division. We know we can beat anyone but we need to go and prove that. The thing with us is confidence and belief."

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says "there is always going to be a risk" when it comes to playing Callum Lang as he returns from a second hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old forward is back available for selection against Millwall this Saturday (15:00 GMT) along with goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid and forward Adrian Segecic.

Lang has not played for Pompey since 16 August having undergone surgery and missed two months of last season, also with a hamstring problem.

"Whenever he steps on a football pitch, there's always going to be a risk," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"Whether it's for half an hour here, half an hour there, whether it's for the full 90 minutes."

Pompey are winless in their last six games and will be hoping players returning from injury can provide the quality to improve their form and keep them out of the relegation zone which they currently sit four points above.

"At some point we just have to pull the plaster off and actually put him into action," Mousinho added.

"Whether that's off the bench, whether that's from the start.

"Straight away that exposure means every single player that goes out there is at risk of an injury and Millwall are a really good example of a side that have had a huge amount of injuries at the minute and are struggling from that point of view and there's plenty of other sides in the league.

"With Lang we just have to take the medical advice and do as best we can."

You can listen to more from John Mousinho on BBC Sounds.

"From this process and where it is, you're just riding the wave until we get players back on the pitch."

Missed out on BBC Radio Solent's Pompey review of the season so far on Friday? We've got you covered.

Catch up on the thoughts of Ian Wilding, former Portsmouth winger Mark Kelly and Portsmouth News' Neil Allen as they discuss injuries, boss John Mousinho and whether Pompey can survive another season in the second tier.

Listen to the full review and more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Shutterstock

Watch a Solent Sport Special as Ian Wilding reviews Portsmouth's start to the 2025-26 season from 18:00 GMT on Friday 14 November.

With special guests former Pompey winger Mark Kelly and the Portsmouth News' chief Pompey reporter Neil Allen, join the trio as they take a look at Pompey's season so far in this hour-long special.

Make sure to get involved by sending "Solent" plus your message to 0800 321333 on WhatsApp or via @solentsport on X.

You can watch the full episode live as it happens on the BBC Sport Website or you can listen in on BBC Radio Solent.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Two months ago, Portsmouth had the better of a goalless south coast derby at St Mary's. They were a win away from jumping into the top six and fans were dreaming of a memorable season.

Since then Portsmouth have taken six points from 10 matches, including just two from their past six to sit only four points and two places above the relegation zone.

In my view, injuries are the number one reason for Portsmouth's slide and the derby week was a key moment.

Pompey had already lost Callum Lang to a hamstring injury in the middle of August. Josh Murphy wouldn't start a game after the derby for nine matches. Nico Schmid hasn't appeared since breaking his hand against Southampton, albeit Joe Bursik has proved a solid deputy.

Against Sheffield Wednesday six days later, Conor Shaughnessy tore his hamstring going to intercept a ball. Wednesday's goal from that move effectively ended Pompey's chances of getting anything from that match and Shaughnessy is sorely missed at the back.

Pompey's squad is not strong enough to cope with the absence of so many key players. Colby Bishop's drop in form is a concern but also linked to the absences around him.

Of the players signed this summer, only Adrian Segecic has made a big impact, although he's missed the last four matches due to injury.

Josh Knight has been up and down at the back. Luke Le Roux and Mark Kosznovszky are yet to adjust to the Championship. Hayden Matthews, signed back in January, hasn't kicked on as was hoped.

These players may still go on to prove astute signings but Pompey need fit players who can affect Championship football now. Matt Ritchie was never adequately replaced.

John Mousinho will be given time to turn this situation around, you can be sure of that.

Last season he had captain Marlon Pack playing out of position in defence. Yes, Pack had some poor games away from home but his performances at Fratton Park were hugely significant in the run of home wins which that kept Pompey up.

Similar outside-the-box thinking might be required this time around, especially with left-back Connor Ogilvie now out for up to three months.

A fully fit Murphy and the returning trio of Lang, Segecic and Schmid will make a big difference and be a huge help to the side. Whether it will be enough to turn things around remains to be seen.

Pompey had an excellent January transfer window 12 months ago but there are still still another 10 fixtures to navigate before any reinforcements can appear.

"I would edge towards why Pompey are where they are is more the players - who they've got available and how well they're playing rather than tactics.

"But that doesn't mean John Mousinho has got everything right because they wouldn't be in this position if he had."

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon reflect on Portsmouth's 3-2 loss at Hull City and discuss whether it might now be time to panic.

You can listen to the latest episode of 'Who Needs Mourinho?' and get more Portsmouth news on BBC Sounds.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shuttershock

The bright start to the season now feels a distant memory.

Pompey have taken just one point from the past five matches. Hull City feels like a game where a draw at the very least was there for the taking.

Defensively, Portsmouth weren't good enough. Hull had already missed two excellent chances before they scored and the winner came from a fairly simple long ball.

Josh Murphy understandably is not 100% fit but he played the full 90 minutes and Pompey's second goal came from a moment of Premier League quality from the winger.

A back three worked out against Wrexham but didn't have the desired outcome at Hull. Luke Le Roux's slow start to his Pompey career continued as he was taken off at half-time

The international break will help a couple of key players get closer to fitness. It will also give boss John Mousinho time for some soul searching and to try to figure out solutions.

Pompey need them.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Shuttershock

Saturday afternoon's defeat by Hull City means Pompey's wait for a second away win in the Championship this season will be three months at least. Adrian Segecic's winner at Oxford feels an awfully long time ago.

According to folklore, "if the first week in August is unusually warm, the coming winter will be snowy and long". In Pompey's case, this could not be closer to reality.

A seventh league loss with a touch under a third of the season gone already.

John Mousinho's side are not currently performing at the level required of them to maintain second-tier status.

Our form is alarmingly poor, and there is a palpable immediacy to win a couple of games and go on a positive run, which is something that right now this team just does not look capable of.

One man who did not deserve the outcome from Saturday was Terry Devlin, a gritty, passionate display and two goals to go with it. Two generational knee slides in front of the travelling fans too, so disappointingly futile considering the outcome.

Pompey were probably just about deserving of a point at a push, but you could not make an argument for anything more than that.

Scoring two goals away from home has to yield more of a return than a defeat - we have got to be so much better at defending set-plays and must attack with more of an intensity and purpose.

Plenty to work on then for a group of players bereft of confidence and a tough set of fixtures to tackle once Championship football resumes in two weeks.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said that he was "frustrated" by the way his side conceded goals in Saturday's game at Hull City.

The Blues lost 3-2 in the lunchtime kick-off and have now been beaten in four of their last five matches in the league.

They were level 2-2 at the break, but Joe Gelhardt scored late on from a ball played over the top of the Portsmouth defence to win the game for the Tigers.

"We switched off completely for the third goal and that's what lost us the game, the third one feels like the most frustrating one," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"We worked hard and pressed and looked solid as the game went on but we have to be miles better when we go forward.

"Murph [Josh Murphy] can't be the only outlet we have, we have to take care of the ball better and have to create more in terms of opportunities and we haven't been.

"We have to come back after the international break and cut out those errors that have left us in the table where we are."

Portsmouth are now 20th in the Championship table and return to action next weekend when they host Millwall at Fratton Park.

Image source, Getty Images

The south coast derby between Portsmouth and Southampton has been moved to Sunday, 25 January at 12pm.

It had originally been set for the Saturday at 3pm but, mirroring the game between the two teams in September, it has now been moved to the Sunday with an earlier kick-off.

Earlier in the season Southampton and Portsmouth played out a competitive but fairly disappointing 0-0 draw at St Mary's after plenty of build up and needle between the two rivals.

The derby now moves to Fratton Park, and Saints will have a different manager in the dugout following the sacking of Will Still.

Southampton are one place above Pompey in the table, sitting 19th on 15 points while Portsmouth are 20th and have 14 points.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says he feels "frustrated" with fans who leak team news on social media before the club makes their announcement.

"Who knows how much it affects the game?" Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"If you look at the mode that the team is getting out, it's via Portsmouth fans who you would assume would know that information is deliberately kept in house but feel the need to leak that online and spread it.

"We don't want to be a place that's shut off, we want to be open, we want everyone to feel part of the community and welcome.

"It's just a bit of a shame really, a really frustrating one from my perspective and hopefully, it doesn't happen too many times again."

Pompey face Hull City on Saturday (12:30 GMT) but the side will likely be without left-back Connor Ogilvie, who was substituted off in the midweek draw with Wrexham with a knee injury.

"We will send him for a scan tomorrow and we will have the results early next week," Mousinho added.

Striker Thomas Waddingham will be out for a further six to eight weeks with a quad issue but Callum Lang, Adrian Segecic and Nicolas Schmid are all expected to return against Millwall following the international break.

Listen to the full interview with Mousinho and more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Saturday lunchtime brings a big game at both ends of the Championship table as Hull City wlll seek to get their play-off push back on track against lowly Portsmouth (12:30 GMT).

The Tigers went down 2-1 at Derby on Tuesday night to end a six-match unbeaten run from which they claimed 14 points and slipped to 8th, albeit only a point outside the play-off places.

Pompey have gone three games without a goal but did end a run of three straight defeats with an entertaining goalless draw against Wrexham on Wednesday but still slipped to 20th, five points but only two places above the relegation zone.

The Blues have won just once in their past 10 matches, scoring six goals and earning seven points.

• Hull are unbeaten in their past three league meetings with Portsmouth (W1 D2), with their two last season both ending 1-1 – the Tigers haven't gone four without loss against Pompey since 1980 (5 in a row).

• Portsmouth have only lost on one of their past 11 league visits to Hull City (W5 D5), losing 1-0 in September 2011 under Steve Cotterill.

• Hull City have won four of their seven home league games this season (D2 L1) and could already match their win tally from the whole of last season at the MKM stadium (W5 D8 L10).

• Portsmouth have failed to score in each of their past three Championship matches (D1 L2), and could go four in a row without scoring in the second tier for the first time since December 1999 (a run of five).

• Joe Gelhardt has scored eight goals in 15 league starts at home in the Championship for Hull City, and only Norwich City's Josh Sargent (10) has netted more home goals in 2025 than the Leeds United loanee. 11 of his 17 league goals during his career have come in Yorkshire (9 in Hull, 1 in Leeds, 1 in Rotherham).

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Wednesday night's goalless draw with Wrexham was not the victory that would have eased everyone's concerns but it was a much improved performance - albeit it would have been difficult to be worse than Saturday.

It was a bold selection from John Mousinho to play a 3-4-2-1 formation. Conor Chaplin and Josh Murphy were a slightly lopsided pair behind Colby Bishop but this setup got both in their strongest positions.

Wrexham will argue they were worthy of a point as the better side in the first half and missing a one-on-one in the second, however Pompey will be scratching their heads at how at least one opportunity didn't find its way in at the other end.

This showing will help build confidence after the weekend but Pompey must find a way moving forward to win matches like this one.

Portsmouth will look to end a tricky spell with a victory over Wrexham when the Welsh side make the trip to Fratton Park on Wednesday night (20:00 GMT).

Pompey are without a win in four league games, losing their past three successively.

However, Wrexham have begun to build momentum. Undefeated across their past three (W2 D1) to see them start to make an ascent up the table.

• This will be the first meeting between Portsmouth and Wrexham in any competition since 1986, when Pompey beat the Welsh side 4-1 on aggregate in the second round of the League Cup (2-1 away, 2-0 home).

• Wrexham won 1-0 on both of their first two trips to face Portsmouth in the Football League in 1977 and 1978, but did lose 3-0 on their most recent in September 1982 when led by Bobby Roberts.

• Portsmouth have lost their last two home league games, last losing three on the bounce at Fratton Park in March 2018 under Kenny Jackett.

• Wrexham are winless in their last three away league games (D2 L1), but the Dragons haven't gone four without victory on the road since they were promoted back to the Football League in 2023.

• Wrexham's Josh Windass has been directly involved in five goals in seven Football League appearances against Portsmouth, scoring once for Accrington Stanley and grabbing two goals and two assists for Sheffield Wednesday.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho says his team got "everything wrong" from the start of the game with Birmingham City on Saturday.

It was Pompey's third loss in a row after a rampant Birmingham side netted four goals against them.

Mousinho has acknowledged his team need to talk honestly about how to improve.

"We went through everything this morning. It was an honest conversation about what I need to do better," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Clearly there's a different message I need to get across to the boys and clearly we need to change something.

"In my opinion, there are things we've worked on and talked about that should be very, very clear and we're not executing them."

The result leaves Mousinho's side 20th in the standings as they prepare to host Wrexham on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

"We're facing a side that are in very good form. They have three or four players who are in extremely good form," he added.

"For me, that's the exciting part of the challenge."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds