Portsmouth will face Oxford United at Fratton Park. The match is set for Monday 6 April, with a 12:30pm kickoff.
With both sides desperate for victory, the stage is set for a gripping contest.
Pompey’s Struggle for Form
Since the start of 2026, Portsmouth have struggled for consistency, leaving them hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. Winless in their last seven matches, the urgency is clear; they must start collecting points quickly to avoid dropping into League One. With four of their final seven fixtures coming against top-half sides, this game represents a crucial opportunity to secure three points before facing teams pushing for promotion.
Oxford’s Injury Update
The fitness of left-back Jack Currie is the primary concern for Matt Bloomfield ahead of the trip to Fratton Park. A minor ankle injury saw him miss out on Friday’s game, and he will likely face a late fitness test to see if he is able to feature.
Tyler Goodrham, Greg Leigh, and Brian De Keersmaecker are unavailable.
Pompey’s Injury List
It’s been a challenging 2026 on the injury front for the hosts, with several regular starters sidelined in recent weeks and a lengthy list in the treatment room.
Full-back Zak Swanson is unlikely to return in time as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained in training, while Oxford United’s play-off final hero Josh Murphy is set to miss the rest of the season with the foot injury that has ruled him out since December.
Ebou Adams, Ajibola Alese, Florian Bianchini, Josh Knight, Mark Kosznovsky, Franco Umeh, and Thomas Waddingham are unavailable.
A Look at the Tactics
Under the management of former Oxford United midfielder John Mousinho, Portsmouth typically set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, built around an energetic, front-foot style. They emphasise aggressive pressing out of possession, looking to win the ball high up the pitch, while in possession they often mix direct play with wide attacking patterns, using wingers and overlapping full-backs as key creative outlets. The system is flexible, frequently shifting into more attacking shapes.
History Favours Portsmouth
This is a fixture steeped in history, having been contested 79 times since 1968. In recent years, however, it has not been kind to the Yellows, who are winless in their last eight against Pompey, stretching back to a 3-2 triumph in 2022.
The last meeting at Fratton Park came in October 2024, when Louie Sibley’s late equaliser earned a valuable point on the road.
The two sides last met on the opening day of the 2025/26 Championship season. On a sun-soaked afternoon at the Kassam Stadium back in August, a first-half strike from Adrian Segecic proved enough to secure victory for Pompey, despite a dominant showing from the hosts.
Yellows fans will certainly view Portsmouth as a ‘bogey team’ based on recent history, so if there was ever a moment to end that hoodoo, this would certainly be it for Matt Bloomfield’s side!