The Bluebirds face Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon on the South Coast.
Portsmouth vs. Cardiff City
Sky Bet Championship
Saturday, 5th September 2026
3:00pm KO
Fratton Park
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | CURRENT FORM
Pompey have played five competitive games so far this season. The began the campaign with a 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat, before losing by the same scoreline at home to QPR on the opening day of the Championship campaign.
Their first win of the season came at Lincoln City on August 22nd, winning 3-1. They followed the triumph up though with two defeats, away at Bristol City, 2-1, and losing 2-0 at home to Derby County on Tuesday evening.
Adrian Segečić is their top goalscorer in all competitions with two strikes, while former Bluebird Ebou Adams, Terry Devlin, Marezi and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen all netting once.
26/27 | Portsmouth in competitive action
Overall: LLWLL
Home: LLL
Away: LW
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | POMPEY
John Mousinho has been in charge of Portsmouth since 2023. He led the side to an 18th place finish in the Sky Bet Championship last term.
Australian forward Adrian Segečić was their top scorer last season with 11 strikes.
Pompey returned to the second tier in 2024 under the tutelage of Mousinho, winning Sky Bet League One.
They had an extremely busy summer, welcoming nine permanent signings and three loans. Goalkeeper Daniel Bielica (NAC Breda), midfielders Odin Bailey (Stockport County), Rocco Shein (Fredrikstad), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia) and forwards Eoin Kenny (Dundalk), Luke Brooke-Smith (Wellingham Phoenix), Tyrese Shade (Burton Albion), Abu Kamara (Hull City) and Marko Milovanović (Almeria) were signed on permanent agreements. Defenders Jayden Meghoma (Brentford), Benjamin Arthur (Brentford) and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Chelsea) have come in on loan for the 2026/27 season.
2026/27 Squad
GK | Nicolas Schmid, Ben Killip, Daniel Bielica.
DEF | Benjamin Arthur, Connor Ogilvie, Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Jayden Meghoma, Zak Swanson, Terry Devlin, Jacob Farrell, Michael Ani, Madiodio Dia.
MID | Marlon Pack, John Swift, Márk Kosznovszky, Rocco Shein, Josh Murphy, Odin Bailey, Iyad Mohamed, Ebou Adams, Chinedu Agu.
FOR | Colby Bishop, Adrian Segečić, Abu Kamara, Franco Umeh, Tyrese Shade, Thomas Waddingham, Keshi Anderson, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Luke Brooke-Smith, Mark Milovanović, Eoin Kenny, Tayo Singerr, Nathaniel Chioma.
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
BBM: "We’re glad of the quick turnaround, because it gives us a chance to hopefully put on a great performance and try to win. It’s something that we’re very used to, and we’re always happy when we’re together. We will travel with a clear idea of what we’re going to do."
Gabe Osho: “I think it’s tough because technical mistakes can happen in the game, but physically I think we need to be better, getting at them more and we’ll look to put that right. They’re probably looking at this as a game that they have to do well in especially as they lost their last game as well. Every game is different and causes different challenges."
John Mousinho: “Cardiff City have had a pretty steady start to the season after bouncing straight back to the Championship following their relegation a couple of years ago. We can expect a side full of talent at this level. We’re almost there, but haven’t been taking advantage of those moments when we’re on top and are getting punished for that. I certainly don’t think that we suddenly need to abandon the way we have been playing or to start panicking."