- Stoke are 17th in the Championship table on 55 points, one place and four points better off than Portsmouth in 18th on 51.
- Stoke have won two of their last three meetings with Pompey, who have no win in their last visit to the bet365 Stadium.
- Mark Robins has made Stoke a compact, pragmatic side that can hold up home teams and exploit transitions.
Stoke have the edge in survival clash
With both teams just above the relegation line, Saturday’s late-season encounter between Stoke and Portsmouth is a huge fixture in terms of survival.
Mark Robins has worked wonders with the Potters since he took charge in January 2025, creating a compact, disciplined unit that is rarely turned over at home.
Stoke have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five games, but their home record in the Championship of nine wins, six draws and six losses from 21 fixtures is not as bad as the league table suggests.
Pompey have picked up of late
Portsmouth are on a high, however, after going unbeaten in their last five - a run that includes three consecutive wins and recent victories over Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
Mousinho has turned the visitors into a front-foot, high-pressing side since taking over in January 2023, but his recent tweaks have made them even more direct and aggressive in recent weeks.
Sorba Thomas tops the scoring for the Potters with 10 goals in 42 Championship games, but Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has two of the last four and is a good anytime goalscorer bet for this clash.
Adrian Segecic is the top scorer for Portsmouth with five in 35 Championship appearances, but he has three assists in their last five, which shows the dual threat he brings to Pompey’s recent resurgence.
Potters can win in tight survival battle
Stoke are 149/100 favorites for this home clash, which seems about right considering their form at the bet365 Stadium. Pompey have improved on the road in the last couple of games with one win and one draw, but their overall Championship record of five wins, seven draws and nine losses from 21 away games is not convincing.
Stoke’s compactness and threat from set-pieces should see them get the three points in a big game for the two sides just above the drop zone. The key battle will be between Robins’ structured, transition style and Mousinho’s more direct approach, with the wing-backs and set-pieces likely to decide the match.
