Pompey have recently visited two of the sides relegated from the Premier League last season – and head to the third straight after the international break. But it does not get any easier this weekend, when they host a Middlesbrough side currently sitting at the top of the Championship standings (3pm kick-off). The Teessiders have yet to be beaten in the league so far this term, although were stunned 4-0 on home soil by Doncaster in the first round of the Carabao Cup. They will, however, be eager to make a return to winning ways, having drawn their past two matches against Southampton and, on Tuesday evening, Stoke. Rob Edwards is the man charged with trying to bring top-flight football back to the club following their drop down into the second tier in 2017. He was appointed head coach over the summer after ex-England international Michael Carrick had been dismissed following a 10th-place finish in May. And the man who has previous led Forest Green and Luton to promotion – the former while working with Pompey sporting director Rich Hughes – has made a good start, already guiding his new side to wins over Swansea, Millwall, Norwich, Sheffield United and West Brom. The Blues secured four points against Boro during the 2024/25 campaign, with a 2-2 draw in the north-east followed by a 2-1 success back on the south coast, courtesy of a Matt Ritchie brace. TEAM NEWS Pompey are missing Callum Lang (hamstring), Nicolas Schmid (hand), Conor Shaughnessy (hamstring), Franco Umeh (hamstring) and Thomas Waddingham (thigh), while Josh Murphy (ankle) remains a doubt. Middlesbrough will be without Seny Dieng (Achilles), Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) and Riley McGree (hamstring), with George Edmundson (hamstring) also going off against Stoke earlier in the week, but former Fratton loanee Sam Silvera could feature. VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Read the thoughts of John Mousinho ahead of the big game. please log in to view this image HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 39 wins Middlesbrough: 42 wins 32 draws At Fratton Park Pompey: 17 wins Middlesbrough: 12 wins 13 draws Last Home Meeting Pompey 2 (Ritchie 2) Middlesbrough (Latte Lath) Championship January 18 2025 TICKETS Tickets can be purchased online here, with the ticket exchange remaining open until two hours before kick-off Click here to read our matchday guide and find out what is happening around the ground ahead of the game. OFFICIALS Referee: Anthony Backhouse Assistants: Paul Hodskinson and Hugh Gilroy Fourth Official: David Rock Backhouse last took charge of Pompey when they drew 1-1 at Hull last November, with four of his five bookings delivered to members of the Blues side. He has been in the middle for five games so far this season, showing 30 yellow cards, but keeping the red one in his pocket. MATCH COVERAGE Overseas fans can watch all the action live on Pompey+ (also available on Paramount+ in the USA), either through a monthly/annual subscription or by purchasing a match pass. George Wedlake will be joined in the Fratton Park studio by Paul Robinson and Danny Rose. Fans can get involved by sending messages and voicenotes to our Pompey+ WhatsApp channel* on +44 7457 413694 or via this link. Please note that the half-time and post-match shows are only available to watch for fans in regions where the game is being shown live on Pompey+. Audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham is available for Pompey+ subscribers or those who purchase an audio subscription/match pass. Click here for more details about using Pompey+, including the answers to some frequently asked questions. Locally-based fans who are not going to the game can listen, as always, via BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online). *Please note that the WhatsApp service is only for sending messages to appear on the matchday show. The club will not be able to reply to any messages.
