Dan Godfrey

Fri 7 March 2025 8:00, UK

Portsmouth are looking to return to winning ways in the Championship but will face a tough task against leaders Leeds United this weekend.

Pompey were left frustrated last time out after losing 1-0 at Luton Town but will seek a response against Daniel Farke’s ruthless Yorkshiremen in a Sunday lunchtime clash at Fratton Park (9 March).

Portsmouth have relied heavily on their home form to tread water in the Championship, winning six of their last eight games at Fratton, but facing Leeds could be a different kettle of fish with their outrageous attacking setup.

Portsmouth host star-studded leaders Leeds

Portsmouth have secured plenty of admirable results in the Championship this season, especially having found their feet after a difficult opening couple of months to the campaign.

Leeds were Pompey’s first opponents back in the second tier, and a 3-3 draw was played out in which John Mousinho and his men surprised even themselves by grabbing a result.

In a game which was tilting on a knife-edge, Portsmouth could either have won or lost all in added time, while eventually emerging with a welcome point.

Since then, Leeds on the whole have been every bit the promotion favourites many expected them to be, having won 22 and lost just three of their 35 league games, scoring 72 goals and shipping only 22.

While Portsmouth saw their three-game winning run come to an end against Luton last time out, Leeds’ streak of five victories was halted at Elland Road as West Brom took home a 1-1 draw.

Championship form guide

Portsmouth: LWWWL

Leeds United: DWWWW

Head-to-Head

Since the turn of the century, Portsmouth have lost just one of their nine meetings with Leeds United, with four of the last five ending in draws.

One of those was of course the 3-3 spectacle back in August, the first showdown between the two since a goalless stalemate at Fratton Park in 2012.

The two met twice in the Premier League during the 2003-04 campaign, in which the Blues completed a league double over the Whites including a 6-1 thrashing on the South Coast, Gary O’Neil hitting a brace.

Portsmouth v Leeds United team news

Portsmouth are still besieged by injuries, but it’s nothing Mousinho and his staff aren’t used to.

The Blues could however welcome back Freddie Potts to the starting XI after he featured as an unused substitute at Luton.

Jordan Williams is not yet fit to return, and while Mousinho hopes Conor Shaughnessy and Rob Atkinson can feature again this season, they remain some way off.

Callum Lang was the star of the show against Leeds United in the reverse fixture but is expected to be out for the rest of the season, alongside Hayden Matthews, while Matthews’ compatriot Thomas Waddingham is now ready to return to the matchday squad.

As for Leeds, there do not appear to be any major fresh injury concerns, though Farke is really spoilt for choice in terms of his attack and midfield.

Brenden Aaronson could be dropped for Wilfried Gnonto after struggling with his goal contributions since the New Year and being given public advice from his manager this week. Joel Piroe is joint-leader of the Championship scoring charts with 15, and will lead the frontline on Sunday.

Predicted line-ups

Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Poole, Pack, Ogilvie, Dozzell, Potts, Ritchie, Aouchiche, Murphy, Bishop.

Leeds United: Meslier, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo, Tanaka, Gruev, James, Gnonto, Solomon, Piroe.

Score prediction: Portsmouth 2-2 Leeds United

Portsmouth would certainly take a draw if offered upon them now, with Leeds United almost certain to dominate possession and create the bulk of the opportunities on goal.

Nicolas Schmid and his backline should expect to be busy, and the midfield will anticipate dropping five to 10 yards deeper than in previous Fratton contests.

However, as shown several times this season including in the last meeting, Leeds can also leak chances, and Pompey will have to be clinical in what the likes of Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie create.

Colby Bishop will need his best shooting boots on, and the Blues’ home record is something they should be looking to preserve.

Leeds fans and many neutrals will expect a win over Portsmouth, but it’s absolutely possible Mousinho’s men can dig out a result. They have to take their opportunities in what could be a chaotic contest.