Leeds United will hope to retain their advantage at the summit of the EFL Championship against Portsmouth on Sunday.
EFL Championship leaders Leeds United will look to extend their remarkable 17-game unbeaten league run when they travel to Fratton Park on Sunday for a clash against Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Pompey will aim to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Luton Town and continue their strong home form as they push to avoid the drop.
Portsmouth have been fighting to create distance between themselves and the relegation zone, and despite their recent 1-0 loss to Luton Town, they remain in a favorable position with an eight-point cushion over the bottom three. Before that setback, they had put together a three-game winning streak, securing victories over Cardiff City (2-1) and Queens Park Rangers (2-1) at home, along with a 2-0 away win against Oxford United.
Returning to Fratton Park will be a welcome boost for Pompey. Portsmouth have been formidable at home, winning eight of their last 11 league matches, drawing twice, and losing just once. Their attacking efficiency has also been impressive on home turf, scoring at least two goals in eight of those encounters while maintaining defensive solidity by conceding no more than one goal per match.
Despite struggling against Leeds United in recent years, failing to win any of their last five meetings, Portsmouth will take confidence from their impressive home record against the Yorkshire club, having avoided defeat in each of their last five home league games against Leeds (W2 D4).
Leeds United are in prime position to return to the Premier League, sitting at the top of the Championship table with an impressive record of 22 wins, 10 draws, and just three defeats from 35 matches. Their 17-game unbeaten streak (W12, D5) has seen them build a three-point lead over second-placed Sheffield United and maintain a five-point gap to Burnley in third.
Daniel Farke’s side had been on a five-game winning run, but they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion last weekend after Junior Firpo’s opener was canceled out by Darnell Furlong. That result marked just the fourth time Leeds have dropped points at Elland Road this season, with one of those occasions coming against Portsmouth in an entertaining 3-3 draw on the opening day.
As the Championship’s top-scoring side with 72 goals, Leeds will rely on their attacking firepower to break down a Portsmouth defence that has conceded the second-most goals in the division. However, history is against them in this fixture, as Leeds have not won at Fratton Park since a 3-2 victory in April 1986. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s injury woes continue to pile up, with Hayden Matthews becoming the latest player to be ruled out for the rest of the season. He joins a long list of absentees, including Callum Lang, Paddy Lane, Ibane Bowat, and Jacob Farrell, all of whom are also out for the remainder of the campaign.
Further compounding Pompey’s selection issues, Rob Atkinson, on loan from Bristol City, is set to miss six to eight weeks due to a calf injury. Additionally, Jordan Williams and Conor Shaughnessy remain sidelined, reducing head coach John Mousinho’s options, particularly in defence.
With a crucial game against league leaders Leeds United, Mousinho may opt to make a couple of tactical adjustments to freshen up his side. Freddie Potts and Kaide Gordon are strong contenders to be included in the starting XI. Meanwhile, January signing Thomas Waddingham, who arrived from Brisbane Roar, could be named among the substitutes after showing progress in his recovery from a minor groin strain.
Portsmouth are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Nicolas Schmid starting in goal. The backline will feature Zak Swanson at right-back, skipper Marlon Pack and Regan Poole forming the central defensive partnership, while Connor Ogilvie operates as the left-back.
In midfield, Isaac Hayden and Freddie Potts will be deployed as the holding midfielders, providing defensive cover and initiating build-up play. The attacking trio will consist of Kaide Gordon on the right, Adil Aouchiche in the central playmaker role, and Josh Murphy on the left. Colby Bishop, Pompey’s primary goal threat, will spearhead the attack as the lone striker, tasked with leading the line against a strong Leeds United defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Swanson, Pack, Poole, Ogilvie; Hayden, Potts; Gordon, Aouchiche, Murphy; Bishop
Leeds United
Leeds United will head to Fratton Park without several key players, as Ethan Ampadu and Max Wober remain sidelined with knee injuries. Their absence continues to limit Daniel Farke’s defensive options. Up front, Patrick Bamford is also unavailable due to a calf issue, reducing Leeds United’s attacking depth.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Mateo Joseph, who sustained an ankle problem during his substitute appearance against West Bromwich Albion last weekend. The young forward will need to undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability.
Farke faces a decision in midfield, with Joe Rothwell having started alongside Ao Tanaka last time out. However, Ilia Gruev could be recalled to offer a different dynamic in the engine room. Meanwhile, the Championship’s joint-top-scorer, Joel Piroe, will aim to add to his 15-goal tally as he leads the attack.
Leeds are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Illan Meslier guarding the goal. The defensive line will feature Jayden Bogle at right-back, while Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk form the centre-back pairing. Junior Firpo is expected to continue in the left-back role.
In midfield, Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka will operate as the double pivot, providing balance between defence and attack. Further forward, Daniel James will bring pace and directness on the right wing, with Brenden Aaronson deployed as the attacking midfielder in the central role.
Manor Solomon will be a creative force on the left flank, aiming to carve open Portsmouth’s defence. Spearheading the attack will be Joel Piroe, who will look to continue his prolific goalscoring form and exploit any defensive frailties in Pompey’s backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Rothwell, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe
Key Stats
-
Portsmouth are winless in their last five league meetings with Leeds United. They have recorded four draws and one loss (D4 L1) during this period, with their most recent encounter ending in a 3-3 draw at Elland Road in August last year.
-
The Whites have failed to win any of their last six away league games against Portsmouth (D4 L2), with their last victory at the stadium coming in April 1986 (3-2).
-
After failing to win any of their first six home games this season (D3, L3), Pompey have turned their form around, winning eight of their last 11 Championship matches at Fratton Park (D2 L1).
-
The Whites are unbeaten in their last 17 Championship games (W12 D5), their longest streak without defeat in the league since their legendary 30-game unbeaten run under Don Revie between May 1973 and February 1974.
-
This match will kick off at 12 PM, and Leeds have struggled in early fixtures this season, averaging just 1.22 points per game in league matches starting before 3 PM (P9 W2 D5 L2). In contrast, they have averaged 2.50 points per game in fixtures kicking off at 3 PM or later (P26 W20 D5 L1).
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
Joel Piroe will be the key player to watch in this matchup as he continues his push for the Championship Golden Boot. The Dutch forward has been in prolific form this season, sitting as the league’s joint-top scorer with 15 goals, making him a crucial figure in Leeds United’s promotion charge.
Since arriving from Swansea City, Piroe has seamlessly integrated into Daniel Farke’s attacking setup, offering a combination of lethal finishing, intelligent movement, and composure in front of goal. His ability to find space in the box and convert half-chances into goals has made him one of the most clinical forwards in the division.
Against a Portsmouth side that has the second-worst defensive record in the league, Piroe’s predatory instincts could prove decisive. Leeds will look to dominate possession, and if their creative midfielders can supply him with quality service, he will be a major threat to the hosts’ backline.
With Leeds United looking to extend their 17-game unbeaten streak, Piroe will be eager to add to his tally and guide his side one step closer to Premier League promotion.
Prediction
Portsmouth 1-2 Leeds United
Leeds United’s firepower and unbeaten run make them favorites, but Portsmouth’s strong home form and defensive resilience at Fratton Park suggest they won’t go down without a fight. Leeds will dominate possession, but Pompey’s ability to stay compact and hit on the counter could cause problems. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.
