First game of 2026 and three points at home are needed

Bristol City versus Portsmouth at Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday 1st January 2026 with a kick off at 3pm. This is the first home game of 2026 and definitely 3 points are required for city to keep in contention of the play off places against a struggling Portsmouth who are battling to stay out of the relegation places.

Bristol City and Preston North End have a longstanding history of competitive matches across various competitions. Here's an overview of their recent head-to-head record:

29 November 2025: Portsmouth 0–1 Bristol City 

Overall Head-to-Head Record - Competitive matches since the 2009–10 season

Matches played: 14

Bristol City wins: 5

Portsmouth wins: 3

Draws: 6

Goals scored:

Bristol City: 13

Portsmouth: 13

The rivalry has been remarkably even on the scoresheet.

Recent Pattern

Recent fixtures have leaned heavily toward home advantage, with both sides recording convincing 3–0 wins on their own ground in December 2024. Bristol City broke that pattern most recently by edging a 1–0 away win in November 2025.

History of Bristol City:

Established in 1894, Bristol City FC have a storied history in English football. The club, based in South Bristol, achieved prominence in the early 20th century, earning promotion to the top flight in 1906 and reaching the FA Cup final in 1909. In the 1980s, Bristol City faced financial challenges but rebounded, and are now a well-established second division side.

A defining moment in the club’s modern history came in 2017 when the team, then competing in the EFL Championship, secured a historic 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarterfinals. This win at Ashton Gate Stadium marked a standout achievement for the club.

Seen by many as England’s largest club to have never achieved top flight football, Bristol City's home matches are played at Ashton Gate. Currently plying their trade in the EFL Championship, The Robins have been managed by Gerhard Struber since June 2025.

For all upcoming Bristol City fixtures click here.