City will return to the ProAmpac Stadium for the first time since April, marking their first second tier fixture in over six decades, as they welcome Portsmouth on Saturday 22 August (12:30pm KO).
Read all the key match information, statistics and thoughts of head coach Chris Cohen and Ryley Towler.
Opposition Information
Portsmouth have had a difficult start to their latest Sky Bet Championship campaign after being on the end of two consecutive 3-1 defeats. The first of those came at the London Stadium in the Carabao Cup where Adrian Segecic opened the scoring before Jarrod Bowen and Valentin Castellanos ruined Pompey’s party. The second 3-1 defeat came in their league opener when they welcomed QPR to Fratton Park and were undone by an Ilias Chair brace and a Koki Saito goal.
There has been a total of eight incomings in Hampshire so far this summer, many of whom will be unfamiliar faces to viewers of English football, however, one who doesn’t fit that description is, Abu Kamara. He returns to Fratton Park, the place where he enjoyed his most fruitful season in the 2023/24 campaign when he contributed to 18 goals in Portsmouth’s Sky Bet League One winning season.
Another recognisable face that has joined Pompey’s rank is Odin Bailey who signs as a free agent following the conclusion of his contract with Stockport County. He’s made 116 appearances since joining the Hatters in January 2024 following a successful trial period from Salford City. He’s made brief substitute appearances in both of Pompey’s defeats so far this season.
Cohen said: “Every game we’re going into trying to win but you win them in different ways, Portsmouth at home is an opportunity to go and take three points the exact same as Middlesbrough away was but the way we go about it may just be a little bit different.”
Return to the ProAmpac Stadium
After a long summer of work at the ProAmpac Stadium, football returns home this weekend as the Imps welcome Portsmouth. Ahead of playing the first home game in the second tier for 65 years, both Chris Cohen and Ryley Towler spoke about their excitement.
Cohen said: “I can’t wait, I think I’ve already said this earlier in the week but the Wycombe game at home feels like a lifetime ago so to get back in front of the supporters who played such an important role in the season we had last year is going to be amazing and we’re going to need them again this year.”
Towler said: “I’ve not seen the new stadium yet but I’m sure it’ll look amazing; it was such an important place for us last season and to have the fans back there again will be a huge boost.
Ryley Towler’s Thoughts
Towler joined the Imps in July 2025 and has made 50 appearances in all competitions including 48 during City’s historic title-winning campaign and scored the late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town at the Accu Stadium. He joined from Portsmouth where he spent three seasons and made 45 total appearances, he spoke ahead of the first game at the ProAmpac Stadium this season and his thoughts on playing Pompey for the first time since leaving.
He said: “I’m happy to make 50 appearances at this great club, since I’ve come in it has felt like home and it makes it much easier coming to a club like this where the players and the staff make it so easy for you to settle in and obviously the journey we went on last season, definitely a place to call home now.”
He added: “I still speak to a few of the people at Portsmouth, I absolutely loved my time there, it’s a great club, obviously I got promoted with them as well so I’m looking forward to seeing the people, players and fans but the aim will always be to get three points.”
H2H
The last time the Imps hosted Portsmouth was the final game of the 2023/24 season, the year in which Pompey won the title and earnt their place in the Sky Bet Championship. City needed all three points to secure a play-off place but two late goals from the away side meant the Imps fell short by two points. The goals that day were scored by Paddy Lane and Myles Peart-Harris with familiar face, Ryley Towler, also playing the full 90 minutes from the opposition.
Another recent meeting between the two sides at the ProAmpac Stadium came in November 2020 when once again the away side were victorious. It was Tom Hopper on the scoresheet for City that day when he scored a consolation following a brace from John Marquis and a goal from Ronan Curtis, the former going on to score five goals in 20 appearances for the Imps in the second half of the 2021/22 season.
Match Information
City will wear their home kit for their return to the ProAmpac Stadium as they take on Portsmouth - get yours HERE.
Tony Harrington will be the first referee to take charge of a game at the ProAmpac Stadium this season with his assistants being Jacob Graham and Jonathon Block, the fourth official for the afternoon will be Tim Robinson.
John Helm will be alongside Sam Habergham providing the commentary for Imps+ at home for the first time this season - check out your streaming options HERE.
