Portsmouth faithful all say same thing as key change made to huge Leicester City fixture
Pompey’s run in is accelerating and the Blues have had two more games selected for live television coverage as they vie for Championship survival.
Pompey fans have vented their frustration after a key change in kick-off time for their key game against Leicester City next month.
The Championship fixture was expected to take place on Saturday, April 18 and represented the Blues’ final home 3pm kick-off of the season.
However, it has been confirmed the showdown between the two relegation rivals will be brought forward to 12.30pm after being selected for live television coverage on Sky Sports Football.
This means Pompey's final 3pm kick-off at Fratton Park of the season was their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on February 14 - more than two-and-a-half months before the campaign’s climax.
The contest is likely to have huge ramifications at the bottom of the standings, with John Mousinho’s men currently sitting three points above Gary Rowett’s struggling side, who occupy 23rd at present.
The Foxes have won just one of their previous 12 league matches, which has seen them plummet down the table in recent months, while the Blues have failed to win any of their past five.
The April 18 showdown represents the latest Pompey fixture selected for live television coverage, with their re-arranged game against Ipswich Town on Tuesday, April 14 also chosen for broadcasting. Kick-off for the twice postponed game against the Tractor Boys at PO4 has been pushed back to 8pm.
Meanwhile, the Blues' huge game against Oxford United on Easter Monday was also recently chosen for live coverage by Sky Sports as the race for survival intensifies.
But Sky's decision to bring Pompey’s showdown with Leicester City forward has been strongly opposed by supporters on social media, who have voiced their disappointment at the Blues’ lack of 3pm home fixtures in the run in.
Here’s the best of the reaction from X, formerly Twitter.
Pompey fans on Sky Sports decision
@LostTransport: Time to abolish the 3pm blackout.
@ryanlewis79: Was always going to be on Sky wasn’t it. 6 pointer. Still no Friday night game.
@kenziemoore01: 3pm kick offs just don’t exist anymore.
@daniel_son79: Ok so make that no more Saturday 3pm kick offs left this season at home. At least it won’t be as bad back in League One next season.
@joe121099: No more 3pm home kick offs lol
@NeilNutbeam: Absolute joke. Can’t wait to be back in League One for normal kick off times.
@WrightingWayne: Fed up with this now to be honest.
@pompey_live: 3pm home game? What’s one of those?
@Fajita_peter: EFL must be close to announcing a 12:30 blackout.
@Colwell1982: Cant win a game on sky as it is. Sky confirming our relegation early.
@AdamRedman80: 12:30 kick offs. Anti football.
@LeeMasonPFC: No 3pm kick offs at home since 14th of February to the end of the season.
@willgershkoff: I can’t make the 12:30 kick offs as I work in the morning on Saturdays. Sky ruining it for working people.