Portsmouth vs Hull City: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 28 February 2026
One of the marquee fixtures of this Championship matchday will take place on Saturday at Fratton Park, where Portsmouth host Hull City. The visitors are battling for direct promotion, while the hosts are trying to keep clear of the relegation zone. Given the Tigers' recent form, backing their success seems justified.
Match preview
Portsmouth return home after three consecutive away matches. John Mousinho's side started strong with two wins in London – 3-1 over Charlton and 3-1 against Millwall – but then fell 2-1 to Wrexham, unable to recover after conceding twice in the first half. Zak Swanson pulled one back, but a full comeback proved too much – the demanding schedule is taking its toll.
In the league table, Portsmouth currently sit 19th, five points above the drop zone. At home, they've shown discipline: in their last ten Championship games at Fratton Park, they've never conceded more than once per match. However, their record against Hull is concerning – their last win dates back to December 2020.
Hull City remain in hot pursuit of automatic promotion to the Premier League. After a winless spell, the Tigers roared back last round, defeating Derby County 4-2 – decisive goals from John Egan and Lewis Koumas came in the final 15 minutes. Sergei Yakirovich's team are fifth, trailing second-placed Middlesbrough by six points with a game in hand.
Hull's away form is especially impressive: six wins and a draw in their last seven road games, including four straight victories—with clean sheets in three of those. In November, the Tigers already bested Portsmouth 3-2, and now they have the chance to complete a seasonal double.
Probable lineups
- Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Poole, Ogilvie, Swanson, Pack, Adams, Caballero, Segecic, Alli, Bishop.
- Hull City: Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Hughes, Drameh, Hadziahmetovic, Slater, Joseph, Gelhardt, Millar, McBurnie.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Hull have won six of their last seven Championship away matches.
- Portsmouth have not beaten Hull since December 2020.
- Hull won the reverse fixture in November 3-2.
Prediction
Portsmouth show grit and organization at home, but a hectic schedule and key injuries limit their potential. Hull, meanwhile, are consistent on the road and boast a versatile attack capable of breaking down even well-drilled defenses. Expect a hard-fought contest, but the visitors' class and form should prove decisive.
