Portsmouth Vs Stoke city

Stoke City’s manager, Mark Robins, will be aiming to extend his unbeaten record since taking charge when his team faces Portsmouth in a Championship clash this Wednesday. Robins, who has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure at the helm of the Potters, will be keen to keep the momentum going as Stoke travels to Fratton Park to take on a Portsmouth side that has shown resilience, especially on their home turf. Portsmouth, on the other hand, will be hoping to maintain their solid form at home, having avoided defeat in their last six matches at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth enters this match sitting just inside the relegation zone, with their position determined by goal difference. The team’s performance this season has been a mix of ups and downs, as they’ve managed to win six of their 26 matches, but have drawn eight and lost twelve. However, their fortunes have been quite different when it comes to their home and away performances. At Fratton Park, Portsmouth has managed to gather 19 points from 12 home fixtures, whereas they’ve only collected seven points from their 14 matches on the road. 

In their most recent match at home, Portsmouth secured a third consecutive victory, defeating Middlesbrough 2-1. The win was particularly impressive as Portsmouth came from behind to claim the three points, with Matt Ritchie scoring both goals for his team. This victory extended their strong run at home, which now includes five wins and one draw from their last six games. The last time they tasted defeat at Fratton Park was back in October, when they were beaten 3-0 by Sheffield Wednesday. Since then, Portsmouth has been a force to be reckoned with on their home ground.

The team’s recent form gives them confidence heading into this encounter with Stoke City. However, they will also be seeking revenge for the heavy 6-1 loss they suffered at the bet365 Stadium in the reverse fixture last October. While Portsmouth will no doubt be motivated to turn the tables, they face a challenging task. Historically, their recent head-to-head record against Stoke has been poor. Portsmouth has failed to win any of the last four meetings between the two sides, with their most recent success over Stoke coming in a 4-0 home victory during the EFL Cup in October 2009.

On the other side of the pitch, Mark Robins has been steadily laying the groundwork for his Stoke City team. Since taking over as manager, Robins has overseen an unbeaten run across his first three matches in charge. His tenure began with a goalless draw against Plymouth Argyle, followed by a thrilling extra-time victory over Sunderland in the FA Cup third round. Stoke City’s most recent match, however, ended in a 1-1 draw away to West Bromwich Albion. Despite taking the lead early on through Nathan Lowe’s ninth-minute strike, they were pegged back by a 71st-minute equalizer from Grady Diangana. 

The draw with West Brom extended Stoke’s unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions. However, it also meant that Robins is still awaiting his first league win as manager of the Potters. While the unbeaten streak is encouraging, the draw at West Brom also highlighted the challenges Robins faces in securing a victory in the league. For Robins, getting that first league win is an important milestone, and the upcoming match against Portsmouth offers another opportunity to make that breakthrough.

Despite their recent form, Stoke City’s away performances remain a concern. They have not won any of their last six league matches on the road since their 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on November 6. This poor away form has led to struggles in the Championship, with Stoke looking for answers as they try to improve their results away from home. The upcoming trip to Fratton Park will present a tough test, especially given Stoke’s recent history against Portsmouth in away fixtures. The Potters have won just one of their last seven meetings with Portsmouth away from home, with five losses and one draw during that stretch. The lone victory came in February 2010, when Stoke managed a 2-0 win at Fratton Park.

Robins will be hoping that his team can turn around their away form and secure the three points against a Portsmouth side that has shown resilience at home. For Portsmouth, the match represents another opportunity to build on their recent successes and continue to push up the table, while also seeking to avenge the heavy defeat they suffered earlier in the season. Both teams will be highly motivated for this encounter, making it a crucial fixture for both sides as they look to solidify their positions in the Championship.

As the match draws closer, all eyes will be on both managers to see how they set up their teams and whether either side can take advantage of the other's weaknesses. Portsmouth will be looking to extend their excellent home record and improve their position in the league, while Stoke will be hoping to finally secure a league win under Mark Robins and put an end to their struggles away from home. With both teams having a lot to play for, this match promises to be an exciting and competitive contest.