(Credit: Imago)

Hayden axed in two changes - Portsmouth predicted XI v Norwich City

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

15 Apr 2025, 12:30 pm

Portsmouth head to Norwich City this Good Friday in the first part of their Championship double-header over the Easter weekend.

John Mousinho knows one more win is highly likely to be enough for Pompey to survive, though not many believe it can come on the road given his side have lost 12 of their last 13 away from Fratton Park.

The Blues take on a Norwich side who despite sitting in the bottom half of the table, boast two of the top three goalscorers in the league in Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent.

The two teams did, however, play out a goalless stalemate in the reverse fixture at Fratton back in December.

Portsmouth could make two changes v Norwich

Mousinho's shape tends to be one of the easiest to predict in the Championship, opting for his signature 4-2-3-1 formation at least nine times out of 10.

However, the players within it often change - and with two games in three days across the extended weekend, the Portsmouth boss could be inclined to rotate somewhat.

Pompey's strongest fit side at present would likely look as it did against Derby County last Saturday (12 April), except with Andre Dozzell back in for Isaac Hayden and Adil Aouchiche replacing Christian Saydee.

Rob Atkinson was a huge boost when he returned from injury at the weekend, enabling Connor Ogilvie to move back out to left-back while partnering Regan Poole. His game with Derby was certainly eventful - two goals and one own goal later.

Conor Shaughnessy could be involved in the matchday squad in Norfolk this Friday but is unlikely to be fit to start.

Pompey to spring a surprise on the road?

Portsmouth have given their supporters precious little optimism for the two remaining away games of this Championship season.

Norwich's attack a dangerous and the Blues could do a lot worse than trying to give as good as they get. The Canaries are suspect at the back and Mousinho's side have enough ammunition to hurt any team.

POS	Championship table 2024-25	PLD	PTS	GD
19	PORTSMOUTH	42	46	-16
20	Hull	42	45	-9
21	Derby	42	43	-10
22	Cardiff	42	42	-21
23	Luton	42	40	-26
24	Plymouth	42	40	-38

Pompey are not out of the woods yet

Josh Murphy will be returning to his old stomping ground, where he played 100 senior games including nine in the Premier League.

Blues fans will be a lot more confident when part two of the Easter weekend rolls around and Watford come to Fratton Park, but any points anyhow are welcome at this stage.

John Mousinho