Portsmouth fans given early chance to watch their team at Fratton Park
Portsmouth fans can begin making more detailed plans to watch their team as next season’s schedule starts to unfold.
Portsmouth now know that they’ll travel to Oxford United on the opening weekend of the Championship season, before they face Norwich City in their first league game at Fratton Park a week later.
However, fans will now have an earlier opportunity to watch their team at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth to face Reading in the first round of the Carabao Cup
The draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup was made on Thursday (26 June) shortly after the release of the Championship fixtures.
Pompey were drawn at home to League One side Reading. This fixture will take place on 12 August, a few days after John Mousinho’s side’s first Championship game of the season, so it’ll be the first opportunity for fans to watch their team at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth last faced Reading during the 2023/24 season in League One when they did the double over the Royals. The last time the two sides faced off before that was in 2015, when Reading dumped Pompey out of the League Cup in the second round.
Carabao Cup will allow Mousinho to test fringe players
It’s unlikely that Mousinho will be going all out to make a deep run in the Carabao Cup. These days, most Premier League and EFL clubs treat the competition as a less urgent priority.
However, this fixture will allow Mousinho to see how certain fringe players can settle into the team.
| Championship | 9 August | Oxford (A) |
| Carabao Cup | 12 August | Reading (H) |
| Championship | 16 August | Norwich (H) |
It could be the perfect chance to test Portsmouth’s Australian stars, who struggled for minutes last season due to injury.
Adrian Segecic may be given the chance to play his first game at Fratton Park, and any other new signings would likely appreciate another run-out with their new teammates.
It will also be the first chance for many Pompey fans to welcome their new heroes to Fratton Park.
There is currently no pre-season fixture scheduled to take place at Portsmouth’s home ground, although the club haven’t ruled out organising one yet. Mousinho’s men will, however, travel to Reading for a pre-season fixture on 26 July.
Portsmouth have never won the League Cup, although they have reached the quarter-finals five times in their history.
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