The waiting is almost over and the Championship action is about to begin again. After seven pre-season matches that yielded six wins, with 17 goals scored and not a single one conceded, the meaningful fixtures are finally upon us. Pompey get the 2025/26 campaign started by making the short trip up to Oxford to face a side they were promoted alongside 15 months ago. The Kassam Stadium contest (3pm kick-off) will be the 26th meeting between the teams in the space of just 12 years. They are often closely fought encounters, with 12 finishing all square after 90 minutes and a further eight settled by a single goal. Pompey's last trip there was a memorable one, however, with Andre Dozzell opening his account for the club before Mark O'Mahony's late finish sealed a 2-0 victory. It formed part of a resurgent run for Mousinho's men, helping them finish 16th in the standings – one point and a single place above their opponents. Gary Rowett's side began pre-season with a tour of Indonesia, while back on home soil they faced two Spanish outfits, drawing with Leganés and beating Málaga. TEAM NEWS Florian Bianchini, Márk Kosznovszky, Luke Le Roux, Adrian Segečić and John Swift will all be hoping to make competitive debuts for Pompey. Colby Bishop (groin) and Harvey Blair (hamstring) are the only members of the first team squad currently in the treatment room. Ciaron Brown (knee), Luke Harris (ankle) and Ole Romeny (ankle) are all currently absent for the home team. VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Marlon Pack ahead of the big game. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 29 wins Oxford: 23 wins 26 draws On The Road Pompey: 9 wins Oxford: 18 wins 12 draws Last Away Meeting Oxford 0 Pompey 2 (Dozzell, O'Mahony) Championship February 15 2025 TICKETS Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets and none will be available to purchase at Oxford on the day of the game. Click here to view a guide to visiting the Kassam Stadium that has been produced by the home club. Oxford have advised that there are roadworks outside the stadium on Grenoble Road that are likely to cause delays both before and after the game. OFFICIALS Referee: Dean Whitestone Assistants: George Byrne and Conor Brown Fourth Official: Dale Baines Whitestone last took charge of Pompey when they were beaten 1-0 on home soil by Millwall back in January, booking two players from the visiting team. He was referee 30 times in total last season, brandishing 105 yellow cards and just a single red to Swansea's Harry Darling. MATCH COVERAGE Supporters in the UK will be able to watch the game live via the Sky Sports+ app. Those based overseas can watch the game on Pompey+ (also available on Paramount+ in the USA), either through a monthly/annual subscription or by purchasing a match pass. The pre-match show is live before the game for Pompey+ subscribers and overseas fans with a video subscription/match pass. George Wedlake will be joined by Andy Awford and Mark Kelly in the Fratton Park studio. 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 Glen Little 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.
Bit of a surprise that! Colby Bishop fit to play (and skippering the side!), no sign of Josh Murphy, but debuts for Adrian Segecic, John Swift and Florian Bianchini. On the bench are new boys Luke Le Roux, Mark Kosznovszky, and Yang Min- Hyeok.
Oxford United Starting Line Up:- Number1, J. Cumming Number22, G. Leigh Number6, M. Helik Number5, E. Moore Number15, B. Spencer Number4, W. Vaulks Number8, C. Brannagan Number19, T. Goodrham Number27, W. Lankshear Number17, S. Mills Number9, M. Harris Substitutes:- Number20, T. Bradshaw Number26, J. Currie Number23, S. Dembélé Number21, M. Ingram Number2, S. Long Number39, G. O'Donkor Number10, M. Phillips Number18, L. Sibley Number24, H. ter Avest
Half time. 0-1 to Pompey with a 38th minute goal from Aussie new boy Adrian Segecic, after their keeper had blocked a Colby Bishop shot. He almost scored a second minutes later. We have looked the better side so far, and deserve the lead. Florian Bianchini has had a couple of chances, and Callum Lang has looked decent on the right wing.
Half Time Match Stats:- Overall possession Oxford United 46.6%Portsmouth 53.4% Shots Oxford United 7Portsmouth 5 Shots on target Oxford United 3Portsmouth 4 Total touches inside the opposition box Oxford United 8Portsmouth 7 Goalkeeper saves Oxford United 3Portsmouth 3 Fouls committed Oxford United 8Portsmouth 5 Corners Oxford United 2Portsmouth 4
Final whistle. 0-1 to Pompey. Good away win for us. Joint second in the table The lad Segecic looks an excellent prospect for us. Good performances by all our defenders today. Oxford look like they will have a difficult season, if they carry on playing like they did today.
Final Match Stats:- Overall possession Oxford United 49%Portsmouth51% Shots Oxford United 18Portsmouth 9 Shots on target Oxford United 4Portsmouth 4 Total touches inside the opposition box Oxford United 31Portsmouth 24 Goalkeeper saves Oxford United 3Portsmouth 4 Fouls committed Oxford United 15Portsmouth 10 Corners Oxford United 8Portsmouth 4
Adrian Segečić scored on his debut as Pompey started the new Championship campaign with a victory at Oxford. They controlled the first half and perhaps should have gone in for the break with more than a one-goal advantage. Their opponents unsurprisingly improved following the interval, but did little to test Nicolas Schmid between the sticks. John Mousinho handed competitive bows to three of his summer signings, with Segečić, John Swift and loanee Florian Bianchini all named in the starting 11. Meanwhile, Colby Bishop was fit enough to lead the line after recovering from a groin injury and wore the captain’s armband. Recent arrivals Luke Le Roux, Márk Kosznovszky and Minhyeok Yang were all named among the substitutes. It was Pompey who provided much of the early threat, although Bianchini could not adjust his body to connect cleanly with Callum Lang’s cross. A shot from the latter was then cleared behind, with Andre Dozzell’s corner just about dealt with by keeper Jamie Cumming. Oxford’s first chance of note came following a quick break up the pitch, although Schmid was barely troubled by a Mark Harris shot. The visitors had a great chance to break the deadlock on 21 minutes after Bishop had hooked the ball into Lang’s path. He then laid it neatly off for Bianchini, but the Frenchman could only sweep his effort straight into the arms of Cumming. They might have been made to pay for that profligacy when a long Will Vaulks throw caused chaos and Schmid would have been relieved to gather the ball following a spot of pinball. Another break then saw Cameron Brannagan race into the box and hit a shot that took a deflection off Regan Poole before being turned around the post by Schmid. It was the Blues who deservedly forged ahead on 38 minutes, though, as they capitalised on a dreadful Brannagan back-pass. The ball went straight to Bishop who raced away and although his attempt was saved by Cumming, SEGEČIĆ followed up to calmly find the net from the edge of the box. And it might have got even better for the Australian, who soon hit a fierce long-range strike that was acrobatically repelled by Cumming. In between those moments, there were home cries for a penalty ignored by referee Dean Whitestone after Stan Mills bounced off Lang and fell to the turf. Half Time: Oxford 0 Pompey 1 The visitors looked to make a fast start to the second period, although Lang’s centre was just too high for Bianchini at the back post. Oxford soon stepped things up, though, and after initially being stopped by Connor Ogilvie, a Mills drive almost managed to sneak its way inside the near post, with Schmid just about scrambling it behind. Both sides were trying to apply pressure and Segečić fired over after skipping past a challenge and bursting inside, although Lang felt he should have passed. It was United who found the net on the hour mark, with Brannagan’s deflected attempt flying straight to Will Lankshear, who nodded home from a few yards. The home fans leapt to their feet in celebration, only to have to sit back down again when they saw the offside flag. Bianchini made way for Minhyeok on 69 minutes and the Tottenham loanee soon fired over after Lang’s cross head been nodded down by Segečić. From a Swift free-kick, Lang then sent a teasing ball across the face of goal that Ogilvie could not connect with. Terry Devlin replaced Lang out wide for the closing stages, as Pompey looked to protect their slender advantage. And Zak Swanson also came on for Swift late on, with Oxford looking to apply some late pressure to snatch an equaliser. They went close to finding one, with Jack Currie teed up by Siriki Dembélé to hit a shot that was tipped over the bar by Schmid. But the Blues managed to see out eight minutes of added time to ensure the campaign would begin on a positive note. Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Spencer, Moore (c) (ter Avest 66), Helik, Leigh (Currie 69); Vaulks (Sibley 81), Brannagan; Mills, Lankshear (Bradshaw 81), Goodrham (O’Donkor 87); Harris (Dembélé 69) Booked: Goodrham Subs not used: Ingram, Long, Phillips Pompey (4-2-3-1): Nico Schmid; Jordan Williams, Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Connor Ogilvie; John Swift (Zak Swanson 86), Andre Dozzell; Callum Lang (Terry Devlin 80), Adrian Segečić (Thomas Waddingham 90+3), Florian Bianchini (Yang Minhyeok 67); Colby Bishop (c) Goals: Segečić 38 Booked: Swift, Ogilvie Subs not used: Ben Killip, Hayden Matthews, Ibane Bowat, Luke Le Roux, Mark Kosznovszky Referee: Dean Whitestone Attendance: 11,492 (1,490 Pompey fans)
Well a great start to the season. Last week, after the friendly, I made the comment that Lang was not really a right winger. I think he read my comment and was determined to prove me wrong - he had a very good game. Segecic, despite having a good game, will require some time to adjust to the pace of the championship but I have little doubt he will. He combines talent with determination. When Terry Devlin first came on the Pompey scene he was similarly off the pace initially but his determination has been such that he quickly came up to scratch.. Swift seems to have similar qualities to Pack. At 31 i suppose he has a slightly brighter future than Pack at 34 (and now injured). Biannci failed to impress on the day. However, the brief appearance of Yang promoted some optimism. I would be interested to know if he can play on both wings. If so he may be a useful reserve to both wingers. This would also cover the possibility of injury/form loss with Segecic, allowing Lang to move into No 10 and Yang on the wing. This would mean we have some depth in the front line. However, I expect our other signings to feature in the Carabo Cup tonight which hopefully will reveal even further depth. se
