Sheffield United vs Portsmouth: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Championship 2025/26

On: November 24, 2025 8:42 PM

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Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Match Preview

Bramall Lane prepares for a pivotal Championship clash this Wednesday as Sheffield United host Portsmouth.¹ The mood in the Steel City has shifted dramatically after the Blades’ emphatic 3-0 derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. That result ended a poor run of form and has given Chris Wilder’s side renewed belief that they can climb away from the relegation zone.

They face a Portsmouth side that is also fighting for survival in 19th place. John Mousinho’s men picked up a vital 3-1 win over Millwall recently but have struggled for consistency on the road. With both teams separated by just 4 points in the lower half of the table, this is a genuine “six-pointer.” Can the Blades harness the momentum from their derby win, or will Pompey spoil the party?

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
Competition: Championship (Matchweek 17)
Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield (Capacity: 32,050)
Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Kickoff Time: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET / 01:15 IST (Thursday)
Referee: Leigh Doughty
TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports+
TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo
TV Channel (India): FanCode (Live Stream)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), FanCode (India)

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Sheffield United:

Position: 22nd in Championship (13 Points).
Form: Turning a Corner? The 3-0 win vs Sheffield Wednesday was their best performance of the season, snapping a 4-game winless streak.
Current Challenge: Consistency. They have not won back-to-back games all season. Wilder needs to prove the derby wasn’t a one-off.

Portsmouth:

Position: 19th in Championship (17 Points).
Form: Mixed. A massive 3-1 win vs Millwall followed a disappointing 3-2 loss to Hull.⁵ They have conceded 21 goals this season.
Current Challenge: Away Form. Pompey have looked fragile on their travels, recently losing 4-0 to Birmingham.⁶

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — What’s at Stake

For Sheffield United:

Escaping the Drop Zone: A win could lift them out of the bottom three for the first time in months. It would also validate Wilder’s claims that their “underlying stats” are better than their league position suggests.

For Portsmouth:

Breathing Room: A win would open a 7-point gap between them and Sheffield United, giving them a significant cushion from the relegation dogfight.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Team Form

Sheffield United (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Sheffield Wednesday (3-0)
D vs QPR (0-0)
L vs Coventry (1-3)
L vs Derby (1-3)
L vs Preston (2-3)

Portsmouth (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Millwall (3-1)
L vs Hull (2-3)
D vs Wrexham (0-0)
L vs Birmingham (0-4)
L vs Stoke (0-1)

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Team News

Sheffield United:

Tyrese Campbell: Doubtful. The derby hero (2 goals) picked up a knock but is desperate to play. If he misses out, Tom Cannon starts.
Tahith Chong: Out (Meniscus Injury – Late Dec).
Ollie Arblaster: Out (Cruciate Ligament – Out for season).
Chiedozie Ogbene: Out (Hamstring Injury).
Ben Godfrey: Out (Knee Injury).¹⁶
Gustavo Hamer: Available (Likely to feature from the bench as he builds fitness).

Portsmouth:

Connor Ogilvie: Out (Knee Injury – Feb 2026).
Conor Shaughnessy: Out (Hamstring Injury).
Jacob Farrell: Out (Groin Injury).
Harvey Blair: Out (Hamstring Injury).
Nicolas Schmid: Out (Goalkeeper injury).
Will Norris: Expected to continue in goal.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Head to Head

08 Feb 2025: Sheffield Utd 2–1 Portsmouth
28 Sep 2024: Portsmouth 0–0 Sheffield Utd
20 Apr 2013: Portsmouth 3–0 Sheffield Utd
30 Oct 2012: Sheffield Utd 1–0 Portsmouth
05 Mar 2011: Portsmouth 1–0 Sheffield Utd

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Predicted Lineups

Sheffield United (4-2-2-2):

Wilder sticks with the system that destroyed Wednesday.

GK: Michael Cooper
RB: Femi Seriki
CB: Japhet Tanganga
CB: Ben Mee (C)
LB: Sam McCallum
CDM: Sydie Peck
CDM: Jaïro Riedewald
CAM: Andre Brooks
CAM: Callum O’Hare
ST: Danny Ings
ST: Tyrese Campbell (or Tom Cannon)

Portsmouth (4-2-3-1):

Mousinho relies on his creative midfield trio to feed Bishop.

GK: Will Norris
RB: Terry Devlin
CB: Josh Knight
CB: Regan Poole (C)
LB: Zak Swanson
CDM: Andre Dozzell
CDM: Mark Kosznovszky
RW: Florian Bianchini
CAM: Adrian Segecic
LW: Josh Murphy
ST: Colby Bishop

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Impact Bench Options

Sheffield United:

Tom Cannon: If Campbell isn’t fit to start, Cannon (who scored vs Wednesday) is a lethal finisher to bring on.⁴¹
Gustavo Hamer: The most talented player in the squad. His vision against tired Pompey legs could be the difference.

Portsmouth:

Conor Chaplin: The ex-Barnsley man loves playing against Sheffield teams. He offers energy and pressing from the front.
Marlon Pack: Experienced head to calm things down if Pompey are under pressure.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Tactical Outlook

Sheffield United:

Playing Style: High-Octane Pressing. At Bramall Lane, Wilder demands intensity. The 4-2-2-2 box midfield allows them to overload the center. Expect O’Hare and Brooks to drift inside, leaving space for full-backs to overlap.
Weakness: Defensive Transition. They have conceded 26 goals this season. If Pompey bypass the initial press, the backline lacks pace (especially Ben Mee).

Portsmouth:

Playing Style: Counter-Attack Speed. Mousinho knows they can’t dominate possession at Bramall Lane. They will sit in a mid-block and release Josh Murphy quickly. They have scored 12 goals on the road but conceded heavily.
Strength: Midfield Creativity. Dozzell and Segecic are technically gifted. If given time, they can pick passes through United’s lines.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Tyrese Campbell vs. Regan Poole	Pace vs. Positioning: Campbell is flying after his brace. Poole has to be perfect, or Campbell will run in behind all night.	Sheff Utd
Callum O’Hare vs. Andre Dozzell	The Creative Hub: O’Hare buzzes around finding pockets of space. Dozzell must screen the defense or risk being overrun.	Sheff Utd
Femi Seriki vs. Josh Murphy	Speed Duel: Murphy is Pompey’s best outlet. Seriki loves to attack but must be wary of leaving space behind him.	Tie

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Spotlight Players

Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United):

The striker is the talk of the town after his derby heroics. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his pace and newfound confidence make him the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Josh Murphy (Portsmouth):

One of the best wingers in the division on his day. With United’s full-backs pushing high, Murphy will have acres of space to exploit. If he is clinical, Pompey have a chance.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Fan Reactions

Sheffield United Fans:

“The Wednesday win means nothing if we lose to Portsmouth. We have to back it up.”

“Cooper in goal has been a massive upgrade. Finally feels like we have a reliable No. 1.”

Portsmouth Fans:

“Bramall Lane under the lights is tough, but we beat Millwall. We can get a point.”

“Just don’t concede early. If the crowd gets up, we crumble.”

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Where to Watch

UK: Sky Sports+
USA: Paramount+
India: FanCode
International: iFollow / Club Streams

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Match-Defining Factors

The “Derby Hangover”: Will Sheffield United be drained emotionally after the Wednesday win, or energized? A slow start could be fatal.
Portsmouth’s Defensive Errors: Pompey have conceded 3+ goals in two of their last five games. If they make simple mistakes against Ings and Campbell, they will be punished.
The First 15 Minutes: Wilder will want a fast start to get the crowd going. If Portsmouth survive the early storm, the home fans might get anxious given their league position.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Prediction

Score Prediction: Sheffield United 2–1 Portsmouth

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Sheffield United to Win.
Both Teams to Score: YES (Both defenses are leaky; United haven’t kept many clean sheets despite the recent 3-0).
Anytime Goalscorer: Tyrese Campbell (if starting) or Danny Ings.

Analysis: The momentum from the derby win is huge. Sheffield United finally look like a team playing for their manager. Portsmouth are dangerous but defensively fragile away from home. Expect a tight game, but the Blades’ superior firepower and home advantage should see them edge it.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — Final Word

This is a massive opportunity for Sheffield United to finally kickstart their season. The confidence from beating their city rivals should be the catalyst they needed. Portsmouth will fight hard, but their defensive record suggests they will struggle to contain a revitalized Blades attack. Expect a noisy Bramall Lane and a crucial three points for the hosts.

Sheffield United vs Portsmouth — FAQs

When is the Sheffield United vs Portsmouth match?

The match kicks off on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at 19:45 GMT.

Is Tyrese Campbell playing?

He is listed as Doubtful after picking up a knock in the derby, but is expected to feature given his form.

Where can I watch the match in India?

You can stream the match live on FanCode.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

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