Portsmouth will be looking to claim their first win of the season when they host Sunderland to Fratton Park in Championship action this Saturday.
Fresh off their promotion from League One following a remarkable title-winning season, Pompey have made a promising start in the Championship. John Mousinho's squad currently holds 13th place in the standings, having secured three points from their first three games.
Although three points might not seem remarkable at first glance, it's important to recognize that Pompey have faced a tough slate of early fixtures, staying undefeated throughout.
Sunderland, in contrast, have kicked off the season in spectacular fashion, sitting atop the Championship table with a flawless nine points from their opening three matches. Led by new manager Régis Le Bris, the Black Cats have surpassed pre-season expectations, which were tempered following their 16th-place finish 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
Here's how to watch this EFL Championship match in the U.S.:
TV channel: —
Live stream: —
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in the USA.
Paramount+ is where fans residing in the United States can watch select games from EFL Championship. Free trials are available for new users to Paramount+.
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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.
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What time does Portsmouth vs. Sunderland kick off?
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).
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sat, Aug. 31 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Central Time | Sat, Aug. 31 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sat, Aug. 31 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sat, Aug. 31 | 7:00 a.m. |
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