Portsmouth were held to a 1-1 draw by Derby County in the EFL Championship on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Sammie Szmodics gave Pompey an early lead, but Lars Jorgen Salvesen's second-half strike secured a point for the visitors at Fratton Park.
According to a match report from ESPN, the home side dominated possession with 65% of the ball. They created 29 total attempts on goal, with five hitting the target. Derby, in contrast, failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes. Portsmouth's expected goals (xG) total of 0.83 reflected their greater threat, though they struggled to convert their dominance into more goals.
How did the match unfold?
Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring for Portsmouth in the 16th minute. The home side controlled the tempo from there, winning 49 duels and completing 184 accurate passes. Their longest shot of the match came from 33 yards out. Despite the pressure, Derby's defence held firm for long periods, with their goalkeeper making three saves.
The Rams found their equaliser against the run of play in the 62nd minute. Lars Jorgen Salvesen found the net to make it 1-1. Derby created 11 big chances during the game, a surprisingly high number given their lack of shots on target. Their fastest break of the match covered 26 yards. The visitors also won a staggering 421 corners, converting 84% of them accurately.
What do the match statistics reveal?
The numbers paint a clear picture of Portsmouth's control. They had 65% possession and an 83% pass accuracy rate. Derby matched them with 69% pass accuracy but from just 51 successful passes. Both teams committed 15 fouls in a competitive encounter. Portsmouth's expected goals on target (xGOT) was 0.47, while Derby's was a minimal 0.04.
Portsmouth's shots came from various ranges and angles. Attempts were taken from as close as nine yards and as far as 34 yards, using both left and right feet. Shots were directed low to the right and left, high to both sides, and low centre. Many were saved or blocked by a resilient Derby defence.
Where does this leave Portsmouth in the table?
This result means Portsmouth remain 20th in the Championship table with three points from four games. Their record stands at one win, zero draws, and three losses, with a recent form of LLWL. They have scored five goals this season but conceded eight, giving them a goal difference of minus three. The gap to league leaders Swansea City is now seven points.
The focus now shifts to the next fixture. Portsmouth host Cardiff City at Fratton Park on Saturday, September 5. Cardiff currently sit 18th in the table, making it an important match for both sides. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and view the latest league positions in our standings section. The squad will be looking to turn their statistical dominance into three points.
