Preview: Aldershot Town vs Portsmouth – prediction, team news, fixtures

Portsmouth will play their second friendly in two days when they head to the Recreation Ground to face Aldershot Town on Wednesday.

The Shots finished just outside the National League draw for 2025-26, while Pompey secured Championship survival for the second successive season.

Game preview

Aldershot were involved in a relegation battle last season, collecting 46 points from as many games to finish four points behind the bottom four.

After finishing 15th or lower in seven of eight seasons, Aldershot will be hoping to push higher under new manager Scott Davies.

The 38-year-old has returned to the club where he made 85 appearances as a player after spending four years as player manager at Slough Town.

Davies has already taken charge of three friendlies this summer, including a 2-0 win against Badshot and a goalless draw against Bedford.

Aldershot recorded a third clean sheet in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Fleet Town, although they will be well aware that a tough test awaits on Wednesday.

After testing themselves against the Championship, Aldershot will face Farnborough, Oxford United, Hanwell Town and Braintree before kicking off the new National League season with an away clash with Boston United on August 8.

Unlike their rivals, Pompey are yet to play a pre-season friendly after kicking off their preparations with a training camp in Ireland.

However, that would change in Wednesday’s match, where Pompey will face each other Jermain Defoe’s Woking in their first pre-season friendly on Tuesday.

Portsmouth prepare for the campaign starting with an EFL Cup tie with West Ham United on August 8 and a Championship meeting with Queens Park Rangers on August 15.

The south coast side will be aiming for promotion after being involved in relegation battles since winning promotion to League One in 2023-24.

Pompey have already strengthened their ranks with three new additions in their bid to build a squad that can improve after finishing 16th and 18th in the past two seasons.

Portsmouth recruited Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny from Stockport County and Dundalk, respectively, before announcing Estonia international Rocco Shein as their third signing of the summer, ensuring the new arrivals will have plenty of time to adapt to their new surroundings ahead of the season.

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Team News

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Davies may decide to share the minutes in his squad, which has been largely bolstered by new signings following a major recruitment drive.

The hosts are likely to encounter a back line consisting of Michee Efete, Michael Stickland, Kiki Oshilaja and Tyrese Dyce.

At the other end of the pitch, Tristan Abrahams could be given the chance to lead the line against Portsmouth.

As for the visitors, defenders Conor Ogilvie and Zak Swanson are without knee problems.

Mousinho’s team selection will be influenced by what factor in Tuesday’s friendly, making it a tough line-up to predict.

The Pompey manager may be tempted to give the club three new players, Bailey and Kenny.

Aldershot Town are likely to start the list:

Hayes; Efete, Stickland, Oshilaja, Dyce; Outlaw, Frimpong; Sansah, Nelson, Peart; Abrahams

Portsmouth starts with:

Killip; Knight, Dia, Matthews, Williams; Shein, Le Roux; Kenny, Bailey, Anderson; Waddingham

We say: Aldershot Town 0-2 Portsmouth

Portsmouth may not have the sharpness of Aldershot’s game, but boasting a Championship side, we think the visitors will prove too strong for their National League rivals on Wednesday.

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