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Portsmouth welcome Derby County to Fratton Park on Tuesday with both sides looking for a much-needed victory after inconsistent starts to the 2026-27 Championship campaign.
John Mousinho's Portsmouth have won just one of their opening four competitive matches, while John Eustace's Derby are still waiting for their first league victory after collecting one point from their opening three fixtures.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Portsmouth vs Derby County key stats
- Portsmouth have conceded in all four of their competitive matches this season, shipping 11 goals during that sequence.
- Both teams have scored in all four of Portsmouth’s competitive games this season.
- Both teams have scored in three of Derby’s four competitive games this season.
- Both teams have scored in two of the last three meetings between these sides.
Portsmouth vs Derby County preview: Pompey face Rams looking for first league win
Portsmouth vs Derby — Tale of the Tape
| Portsmouth | vs | Derby |
|---|---|---|
| 15th | Position | 21st |
| 3 | Points | 1 |
| 5 | Goals For | 3 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 7 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 22nd | Home / Away Rank | 18th |
Portsmouth head into Tuesday's contest knowing that their defensive record needs to improve significantly if they are to climb away from the lower reaches of the Championship table.
Mousinho's side have conceded 11 goals across their opening four competitive matches, beginning the campaign with a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United in the EFL Cup before suffering the same scoreline against Queens Park Rangers in their league opener.
The south coast club finally picked up their first victory when they travelled to newly promoted Lincoln City and produced a 3-1 success, but they were unable to carry that momentum into their most recent outing.
Portsmouth fell to a 2-1 defeat against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday, with summer arrival Marko Milovanovic scoring his first goal for the club from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The late goal could not rescue a result for Portsmouth, although Milovanovic's arrival provides Mousinho with another attacking option as he attempts to make his side more productive in front of goal.
The defensive problems are more pressing, however, because Portsmouth have conceded at least one goal in every competitive match this season and have already allowed opponents to score three times in three separate fixtures.
Their recent home meetings with Derby also provide little room for complacency, with the Rams claiming a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park in March through an early Sammie Szmodics goal.
Portsmouth have not beaten Derby in a league meeting since a 3-1 Premier League victory in January 2008, while their last victory over the Rams in any competition came in the EFL Cup in August 2015.
That record should give Derby confidence despite their poor start to the current campaign.
Eustace's side sit 21st in the Championship after taking just one point from three league matches, with their only positive result coming in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City.
Derby began the season with a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Lincoln City before suffering another 2-1 loss against Charlton Athletic in their Championship opener.
The Rams then recovered from conceding twice against Cardiff to earn a point, but Saturday's trip to Swansea City exposed major problems at both ends of the pitch.
Derby lost 3-0 and failed to record a single shot on target, while Swansea managed 12 attempts at goal, leaving Eustace with plenty to address before Tuesday's trip to the south coast.
The visitors can nevertheless take encouragement from their recent record against Portsmouth because they have avoided defeat in each of their last 12 league meetings with the south coast club.
That sequence includes the 1-0 victory at Fratton Park last season, when Szmodics struck after only eight minutes to give Derby a lead they ultimately protected.
The problem for Derby is that their current attacking form makes another shutout difficult to predict. They have scored only twice across their first three Championship matches and were completely ineffective in front of goal against Swansea.
Portsmouth vs Derby County form guide & betting tips
| Portsmouth | vs | Derby |
|---|---|---|
L
W
L
|
Form | L
D
L
|
| 3 | Points | 1 |
| 16th | Form Table | 21st |
| 5 | Goals For | 3 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 7 |
L
L
W
L
|
Form (All Comps) | L
L
D
L
|
Whispers predicts: Portsmouth 2-2 Derby County
Portsmouth have defensive weaknesses that Derby should be capable of exploiting, but the hosts have produced a more convincing attacking output than Eustace's side during the opening weeks of the campaign.
We predict both teams to score at 1.80 (4/5), while a draw is priced at around 3.20 (11/5). With both defences showing vulnerabilities, over 2.5 goals at around 1.90 (9/10) also appeals.
> Both teams to score at 1.80 (4/5) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 2.5 goals at 1.90 (9/10) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result – Draw at 3.20 (11/5) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – Portsmouth 2-2 Derby County at 15.00 (14/1) | Likelihood: Outsider