Credit: Imago

Carla Devine

Sat 19 April 2025 21:00, UK

Portsmouth will be eager to get going in Championship action again as they prepare to welcome Watford to Fratton Park on Easter Monday.

John Mousinho’s men went away to Norwich City on Friday (18 April) and came away with all three points after a massive 5-3 victory.

Colby Bishop secured a hat-trick and his side ran riot at Carrow Road as they look to extend the gap between themselves and the drop zone in the Championship.

Preview

Victory against Norwich was a massive result for Pompey in their quest to secure a second consecutive term in the Championship.

There are now six points separating Portsmouth from the relegation zone, and victory against Watford would secure safety in the Championship.

Given how well the South Coast side has performed on home turf so far this season, Mousinho’s men will no doubt be eager to get into the game at Fratton Park with an electric atmosphere expected.

Watford come into the game with nothing to play for now as they sit 10 points away from the play-offs and could already have one eye on the summer now.

A 2-1 defeat against Burnley with nine men on the pitch is not the result that would fill the Hornets with too much momentum going into this clash either.

Form Guide (Championship)

Portsmouth: WDLLW

Watford: LLWLD

Team News

The clash against Norwich proved to be too soon for Conor Shaughnessy to return, but he could be involved in the squad on Monday, having been working on his return from injury.

Paddy Lane, Hayden Matthews, Callum Lang and Jacob Farrell are all ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, though, leaving Mousinho to cope without.

Watford will be without Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe, who both received red cards against Burnley on Friday.

The Hornets could see the return of Kevin Keben to the matchday squad, although the Burnley clash proved to be too soon.

Zavier Massiah-Edwards had to miss out against the Clarets too due to concussion protocol, but could be used against Portsmouth.

Amin Nabizada has joined the long-term injury list at Vicarage Road and will miss the rest of the season alongside Kwadwo Baah, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Yasser Larouci.

Predicted line-ups

Portsmouth: Schmid, Swanson, Poole, Atkinson, Ogilvie, Dozzell, Potts, Ritchie, Aouchiche, Murphy, Bishop.

Watford: Selvik, Ngakia, Pollock, Abankwah, Wiley, Louza, Dwomoh, Ince, Bayo, Vata, Doumbia.

Where to watch

Monday’s game kicks off at 3 pm and it’s available to watch via Sky Sports +.

Supercomputer Prediction

With the momentum on Portsmouth’s side, the Opta supercomputer has backed Mousinho’s men for victory on Monday with a 43.2 per cent chance.

Watford have a 30.1 per cent chance of victory, meaning Pompey have to be at their best and can’t let their opponents have too many opportunities in the game.

The points could be shared, although a draw is 26.7 per cent likely.