Derby v Portsmouth: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Derby County host Portsmouth in the Championship at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday, 20 December 2025, with the hosts eyeing the play-off picture and the visitors looking to put more distance between themselves and the relegation places.

Head-to-head has been tight between Derby County and Portsmouth. Five of the last six meetings finished level, the other a 4-0 home win for Derby County in December 2024.

Derby come in with momentum after a 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday and a home draw with Millwall, following defeat by Leicester. Portsmouth ended a three-game losing run by beating Blackburn 2-1 last time out.

The hosts are without Carlton Morris, Lewis Travis, Owen Beck, Max Johnston and David Ozoh. Portsmouth list defenders Connor Ogilvie, Conor Shaughnessy, Josh Knight and Jacob Farrell as sidelined, plus forwards Franco Umeh-Chibueze and Thomas Waddingham and midfielder Reuben Swann, so their defence could be stretched.

Season profiles point to contrasting routes. Derby average 42% possession, have scored 30 league goals and carry an aerial threat with nine headed goals, while converting all three penalties. Portsmouth average 49% possession and have scored 17, but deliver plenty of balls from wide areas, with 335 open-play crosses at 21.79% accuracy. Joe Ward has five assists for the Rams, while Joshua Murphy has five for Portsmouth.

In the table, Derby sit 12th on 30 points and a win would move them closer to the play-off places. Portsmouth are 21st on 20 points and victory to reach 23 points could pull them further clear of the relegation zone.