Today : Jan 22, 2025
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22 January 2025

Portsmouth Faces Stoke City Amid Relegation Battle

Both teams strive for points as the Championship season heats up at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth is set to face Stoke City on Wednesday, January 22, with kick-off scheduled for 19:45 GMT at Fratton Park, marking a pivotal clash for both teams embroiled in the relegation zone.

The pressure is mounting for Pompey, who are still positioned within the relegation zone, even after securing a win against Middlesbrough. A victory against the Potters could see them leapfrog Stoke City and potentially escape the bottom three, depending on other match outcomes mid-week.

Fans interested in attending the match can still secure their tickets through the club's Ticketmaster page. Stoke City has been allocated 2,168 tickets, which went on sale on January 2. Ticket prices are set at £28 for adults, £22 for seniors over 65, £19 for young adults, and £11 or £6 for junior fans.

For those unable to attend, the match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+. While the primary Championship game offered by Sky Sports on the same night features Plymouth Argyle versus Burnley, fans can also find Pompey versus Stoke available for viewing through Sky Sports' streaming service. To watch, Sky subscribers can search Pompey on their Sky box about 30 minutes before kick-off. Alternatively, fans can access all Sky Sports channels with a 24-hour NOW TV Day Membership, priced at £14.99, or sign up for monthly sports subscriptions starting at £26.

Live coverage of the match will also be provided by The News, which will feature player ratings, post-match insights from manager John Mousinho, and other matchday highlights.

Both teams will contend with significant injury lists. Portsmouth will be without key players including Paddy Lane, Jacob Farrell, and Ibane Bowatt, all ruled out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Conor Shaughnessy, Mark O'Mahony, and Regan Poole are reportedly on their way back from injuries, but Kusini Yengi remains sidelined for several more weeks.

Stoke City faces its own challenges, with several players sidelined due to various injuries. Million Manhoef (knee), Eric Bocat (calf), Sam Gallagher (hamstring), Ben Pearson (hamstring), and Jordan Thompson (groin) are all set to miss this fixture. On the injury front, Lynden Gooch and Ben Gibson are both nursing problems, but there is optimism for Pearson and Bosun Lawal, who could make appearances for their under-21s on Tuesday night.

The match will be officiated by referee Josh Smith, supported by assistant referees Sam Lewis and Hugh Gilroy, with James Bell serving as the fourth official. Smith's officiation record this season includes 90 yellow cards and one straight red across 23 matches, along with seven penalties awarded. This matchup will mark the first time he officiates a Portsmouth game this season, having previously overseen two Stoke matches, which resulted in one win and one draw.