Portsmouth will aim for their first win of the season as they host Sunderland at Fratton Park this Saturday in Championship action.
Following their promotion from League One after an impressive title-winning campaign, Pompey have made a solid start in the Championship. Under the guidance of John Mousinho, they currently sit in 13th place with three points from their first three matches. While this might not stand out, it's worth noting that they have faced a challenging set of opening games and managed to stay unbeaten.
On the other hand, Sunderland have made an explosive start to the season, leading the Championship with a perfect nine points from their initial three games. New manager Régis Le Bris has already exceeded pre-season expectations, which were modest after the Black Cats finished 16th last season.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Portsmouth vs. Sunderland live stream, TV channel in UK
Here's how to watch this EFL Championship match in UK:
TV channel: —
Live stream: —
This game is not available for live TV broadcast due to the traditional 3 p.m. blackout for Saturday games. Unfortunately, streaming options are also not available for watching this EFL Championship game in UK.
If the game is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
What time does Portsmouth vs. Sunderland kick off in UK?
| Date | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kick-off time | 3:00 p.m. BST |
| Venue | Fratton Park |
| Location | Portsmouth, England |
This EFL Championship clash takes place at the Fratton Park in Portsmouth, England, and kicks off on Saturday, August 31 at 3:00 p.m. local time (BST).
Portsmouth vs. Sunderland lineups, team news
Pompey are likely to be without the services of a host of player, including Tom McIntyre, Regan Poole, Jacob Farrell, Josh Murphy, Colby Bishop and Kusini Yengi, due to various injury problems.
John Mousinho will likely field a similar XI that took to the pitch against Middlesbrough at the weekend, with 22-year-old attacker Christian Saydee set to spearhead the line after bagging a well-taken brace last time out.
Portsmouth predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Norris — Swanson, Williams, Towler, Ogilvie — Dozzell, Pack — Lang, Lane, Sørensen — Saydee.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
The Black Cats will have to cope without the services of Dan Neil, who is suspended after being sent off over the weekend for two yellow card offenses.
Alan Browne is expected to step in for Neil in midfield, with the rest of the lineup likely unchanged from the starting eleven on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Patterson — Hume, O'Nien, Alese, Cirkin — Browne, Bellingham — Roberts, Rigg, Mundle — Mayenda.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Portsmouth vs. Sunderland prediction
These two sides have had some fierce battles in League One over recent years and are set to rekindle their rivalry in the Championship. Right now, Sunderland are the team everyone in the Championship is keen to avoid, while Portsmouth face a tough challenge on Saturday.
Pompey have yet to secure a win or even find the back of the net at home this season, and that trend doesn’t seem likely to shift against a team that hasn’t shown any signs of letting in a goal so far.
Prediction: Portsmouth 0-2 Sunderland