Championship | Gameweek 24

Dec 29, 2024 at 3pm UK

Ashton Gate Stadium

Bristol City vs Portsmouth

Match preview

Bristol City are on the verge of ending the year with back-to-back wins. They narrowly beat Luton Town on Boxing Day, putting an end to their four-game winless streak.

Scott Twine scored the winning goal in the 1-0 win over the Hatters, making it three home games without defeat for Liam Manning's side.

The 11th-placed Robins, seven points behind the top six, will now turn their focus to Sunday's match against Portsmouth, with the hosts looking to claim consecutive league wins for the first time since March/April.

Bristol City are looking for a bit of revenge against John Mousinho's side after losing 3-0 to them at Fratton Park on 7 December.

While they would have been disappointed with that result, the Robins can take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last six home games against Portsmouth (W2, D4).

They'll be hoping to avoid another disappointing end to the year after drawing against Millwall and Birmingham in their last games of 2022 and 2023.

Portsmouth are just one point above the bottom three, having won four, drawn eight and lost nine of their 21 matches this season.

Pompey recorded the most recent of those four wins last Saturday in their home game against Coventry City, thrashing them 4-1 to extend their unbeaten home run to four matches (W3, D1).

But they couldn't quite get the job done against Watford on Boxing Day, even though they went ahead thanks to Zach Swanson's goal in the 10th minute.

Edo Kayembe equalised from the spot following the award of a controversial penalty, before Rocco Vata netted a 95th-minute winner to condemn Portsmouth to a 2-1 defeat, leaving them without a win in their last six away games.

Pompey have now conceded 26 goals in their 11 Championship away matches, with only Plymouth conceding more goals on their travels this season.

Portsmouth will be looking to put in a solid defensive performance in their final match of 2024, as they go in search of their first away league win over Bristol City since a 2-0 victory in September 1991.

Recent Performance

Bristol City Championship form:WLDDLW

Portsmouth Championship form:DWDLWL

Team News

The hosts still can't call on Joe Williams, Kal Naismith and Mark Sykes, but the good news is that the latter two are recovering well from their injuries.

Forward Sinclair Armstrong will miss a fourth game in a row after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month.

Sam Bell could be in line to start for the first time this season after being subbed on at half-time in the Boxing Day win over Luton.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be without Jordan Williams, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Regan Poole and Jacob Farrell.

Mousinho is also missing Harvey Blair, Kusini Yengi and Mark O'Mahony, while Matt Ritchie will have to be assessed after being forced off with a dead leg in the second half.

If Ritchie can't start, Paddy Lane might get his 10th start of the Championship season.

Possible starting lineup

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, McNally; McCorie, Knight, Bird, Pring; Hirakawa, Twine; Bell

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Schmid; Swanson, Pack, Towler, Ogilvie; Potts, Dozzell; Murphy, Lang, Lane; Bishop