Portsmouth

The BBC's 72+ EFL podcast team have taken a look at the Championship relegation picture, with some huge games in store at the end of the international break.

Easter Monday (6 April) sees Blackburn and West Brom face-off, level on points just above the drop zone, just hours after second-bottom Oxford United head to Portsmouth.

Third-bottom Leicester will also head to Portsmouth and Blackburn during the run-in.

Former Watford and Reading winger Jobi McAnuff said: "We know Easter weekend is absolutely pivotal and that Portsmouth v Oxford game is looming large, though they both have another game first (on Good Friday).

"It could genuinely could come down to those matches against the teams in and around you. They are absolutely massive.

"Portsmouth are, at the moment, the team I'd be a little bit concerned about in terms of their current form.

"You take it game by game, of course, but that is 100% one everyone in the squad is looking at going 'we need to win that game - if we are going to stay up that is a must win.'

"This two weeks now for Portsmouth is going to be the longest because it's doom and gloom - (losing) 6-1 against a team on their holidays in QPR (in their final game before the break)."

McAnuff also hailed the impact of interim West Brom boss James Morrison, who has taken eight points from his five games at the helm after replacing Eric Ramsey, winning the past two and only being denied three straight wins by a last-gasp leveller against Southampton.

"The big thing about those games - clean sheets," McAnuff said. "When you are in a battle, being hard to beat is the fundamental thing.

"They were really close against Southampton and got pegged back right in the last couple of minutes. It could have been a killer blow.

"To come back from that and now find those couple of wins, they'll have gone into this break absolutely bouncing. The confidence, that feeling back in the dressing room, is absolutely massive at this stage.

"Massive credit to James Morrison because there were a few eyebrows raised. He knows the club inside out and sometimes that's what it takes.

"At the moment he's had a really positive upturn."

"What Pompey simply have to do is make it hard to beat them.

"It's felt like teams recently had not had to work hard, not had to do anything significant to find victories."

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon break down why team selection failed Portsmouth at the weekend in their 6-1 hammering by Queens Park Rangers and reflect on the negative atmosphere brewing within the fanbase.

Listen to the latest episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Marlon Pack says the international break has come at "the right time" for Portsmouth after the worst performance of their season left them staring relegation in the face.

Pompey were were booed off the pitch by travelling fans at Loftus Road after being thrashed 6-1 by hosts QPR, a performance Pack admitted was "unacceptable".

"We need to come back better. We need to be asking questions about what we stand for. And we need to have honest conversations about what we need to do," Pack told BBC Radio Solent.

"In terms of the break it comes at the right time for us. We can have a big reflective period for all of us players. But we need to take accountability."

Portsmouth are in a worrying tailspin with the end of the season in sight with John Mousinho's side winless in six and just a point above the drop zone with eight games to go.

"Yes we are in a poor run of form but there are still plenty of games to go," said Pack. "We are out of the relegation zone but we can't rely on other people and other results we need to start taking ownership and taking care of business ourselves."

Tom Chappell
Portsmouth fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Shutterstock

Saturday was the darkest day of Pompey's season.

It left me, and I'm sure many present alongside us in the Loftus Road away end, genuinely shocked leaving the ground and heading home.

An argument you could've made heading into the weekend was that, although the results hadn't been falling our way, Pompey weren't being blown away and when losing, were usually losing by a single goal in games. On Saturday that completely changed.

The performance was insipid, we were hopeless and, based off what we saw, as heartbreaking as it is to say, nothing is telling me anything other than Pompey are going down.

With eight games to go and (somehow!) still a point keeping us above the drop-zone, that might sound like calling it early.

But I'd ask anyone to watch that 90 minutes of football and come to any conclusion other than this is a Pompey side with relegation written all over them.

Pompey's away following has snapped. The travelling support was visibly and audibly furious throughout the game and at full-time, and rightly so.

Chants in large part revolved around the ownership, many deemed the players not fit to wear the shirt.

For me, the zeitgeist of ownership at Pompey is absolutely a conversation to be had. We were under-funded in the summer, and under-funded in January. I've written previously about a rudderless Pompey being sent into battle.

But Sunday in isolation had very little to do with the powers that be at the football club. The performance was rancid and we got it very wrong from the off, and those decisions aren't board related.

In the same breath, John Mousinho did an exceptional job in the promotion season during his inaugural full campaign in management and played a blinder keeping us up last season. He is widely held as a huge gamble which paid off emphatically.

His decision-making has been questionable this season, granted, and he is far from immune from criticism, but there's only so many miracles a man can pull off.

Two years ago, our away trip to Peterborough ended up signifying the moment the fanbase knew we'd 'done it,' in terms of promotion from League One. It wasn't mathematically sound at the time, but it's a moment many reflect on as a time when we all believed.

Now, I'm afraid to say, I've got a horrible feeling that the QPR game may be a point we look back on as a time where many stopped believing. I'd be the first one to be happily proved wrong, but that is sadly the severity and precarious nature of Pompey's Championship status at this moment in time.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

For all the limitations of Portsmouth's recent performances they had been competitive in every game. They were not close to being so on Saturday.

Yes, Queens Park Rangers scored just about every time they had a shot but the first 30 minutes in particular were so poor defensively from Pompey.

Playing Ebou Adams as a number 10 and John Swift deeper was a huge failure. John Mousinho got that one wrong.

Pompey need Adams' athleticism in the midfield. The news that he's picked up a knee problem added injury to insult.

I can't remember the last time I've seen the away fans as angry as they were at the final whistle. They did not hide their fury when the players went over.

Portsmouth are outside the relegation zone and have a game in hand. But they've taken one point from six games. You'd be hard pushed to find a fan confident of Championship survival right now.

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has said there is "loads to unpick" from his side's 6-1 loss at Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday.

Mousinho was reflecting upon Pompey's 18th loss of the season which the stats would suggest was harsh on the visitors having registered more than double the number of Rangers shots and getting 33 touches inside the opposition box at Loftus Road.

Two goals each though from Paul Smyth, Rayan Kolli and Richard Kone - with Portsmouth's sole goal coming from John Swift in the first half - mean the south coast club are now only one point above the relegation zone.

"We conceded three goals in quick succession really early on and they felt particularly poor today," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"There is loads to unpick, we know what we've produced today is nowhere near good enough and if you come away from any game losing by that margin you know there's a lot of soul searching to do.

"Everybody has been talking in there but it's my responsibility with how we set the boys up today and what we've produced which is why head coaches get hired and why they're the ones that lose their jobs, and I need to take everything I've spoken about and heard in there and hopefully turn it into something positive."

Portsmouth do not have to drastically change the way they are playing to pull away from danger in the Championship, according to head coach John Mousinho.

Pompey have lost four of their past five league games and are just one point above the relegation zone as they prepare to visit QPR on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"We need to make something happen - we need to commit more bodies in the box, change the quality of crosses, get better at set-pieces and get better at finishing," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"These are the things I'm going to focus on rather than ripping everything up and completely change the way we're going to play. We need to focus on a few things which leads me to being fairly measured and calm."

Only relegated Sheffield Wednesday (23) have scored fewer than Portsmouth's 36 league goals so far this season while their top scorer, Adrian Segecic, has found the net six times.

"I genuinely don't think we're a million miles away," added Mousinho

"If I did, everyone at the football club knows I'd change things quite dramatically and drastically which we have the ability to do but I don't think we need to at the moment."

Listen to more Portsmouth content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth will seek an end to a five-match winless streak to keep them outside of the bottom three when they visit Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey have lost four of their past five matches, drawing one, to be left just one point above the relegation line.

But hosts Rangers put an end to a four-match losing streak of their own on Saturday with a comeback win over Leicester City and will be hoping to see out their season in a better position.

• QPR are winless against Portsmouth since their opponents returned to the Championship (D1 L2), with their last league win over them coming in February 2011 under Neil Warnock (2-0).

• Portsmouth won 2-1 in this exact fixture last season (October 2024), ending a run of 12 league trips to face QPR without a victory (D4 L8). They last did so in back-to-back league campaigns in 1922-23 and 1923-24.

• QPR have lost their last three Championship home matches; the last time they lost four consecutive home league games under the same manager was in February-April 2015 under Chris Ramsey (5), when they were in the Premier League.

• Portsmouth are winless in their last five league matches, suffering more defeats in these last five (D1 L4) than in their previous 13 combined (W6 D4 L3).

• Harvey Vale scored and assisted in QPR's 3-1 win at Leicester last time out, registering more goal involvements in that game (2) than in his previous 18 Championship outings (1 goal).

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

"Unsustainable", "crazy", "broken." Pick your adjective to describe the state of the finances in the Championship. The league consistently spends more on wages than its entire income. You don't need to be an accountant to know that is bad.

This is not a new problem. It has been going on for more than 15 years. For all the predictions of a financial implosion, it has not happened.

For most clubs the owners just keep on piling the money in.

Some in the hope that they will reach the Premier League, stay there and see the value of their asset skyrocket.

Some just love the club and know that if they step aside, they will struggle to find anyone to fill their shoes.

My guess is if regulation did not come in, the Championship would just keep losing money by the bucketload, year after year. I do not think the English Football League would collapse.

But just because the division would not implode is not a reason to do nothing. We have already seen Derby, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday face the prospect of liquidation.

In all three cases their owners were desperate to reach the Premier League. When they failed, they were unable or unwilling to keep funding the losses.

The current levels of spending is great for players and agents but it's hard to see how it is good for the wider game.

Fixing the problem is not easy. When financial restrictions were first introduced Championship clubs started "selling" stadiums to their owners to boost revenues. People will always look for loopholes. Chelsea have sold a hotel to themselves, women's teams have been sold.

As crazy as it sounds, it is difficult to prevent clubs losing money.

Pompey Chief Executive Andy Cullen told me on Wednesday financial regulations in the Championship are set to be voted in and could come in line with the Premier League rules. This would prevent clubs making the usual £10-15 million losses we often see with spending linked to income.

However, if parachute payments are allowed to count as income, it will make the inbuilt advantage relegated clubs have even more entrenched and the Premier League even harder to reach for most teams.

Eisner is right about the need for the Premier League to share more money with the rest of the pyramid. The Premier League and the pyramid need each other.

It does not seem like a deal is close even with the Independent Regulator having the ability to eventually dictate a deal. Getting anyone to hand over money they perceive as theirs is difficult.

Change could be coming. It would be good for all of football, not just Michael Eisner and Portsmouth.

By the time this season ends Eisner's investment in Portsmouth will likely be just shy of £60m. It is a lot of money but as things stand Pompey still have a bottom end playing budget in the Championship.

You can only survive in a division for so long with that. Something needs to change.

"They just can't find a way through at the moment.

"Teams have analysed Portsmouth and decided 'if we sit back, they won't score', and they have been proven right.

"Last year when Jacob Murphy and Callum Lang were playing, with Colby Bishop up front, that's when we were at our most potent - they are being missed but we have to get on with who we've got and find a way to score goals that will help you win games."

27 shots, 68% of the ball, but deja vu all over again as Pompey suffered a fourth straight defeat at Fratton Park, and now have just one goal in those games.

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon are joined by expert summariser and Fratton Park legend Guy Whittingham to reflect on Pompey's defeat by Derby, how to solve their goalscoring issues and where, exactly, the Blues go from here.

There's also your questions answered in Moon's Musings.

Listen to the full episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

To lose one game at home when you've largely dominated but can't score is unfortunate. To lose three out of four is a very worrying pattern.

Potentially the most damning thing was Derby's game plan. They seemed content to sit back and defend in the knowledge they could keep Pompey at bay and get a goal from a counter attack or a set-piece.

They were right. They hit the post and bar as well as scoring their goal.

There's no lack of effort from Portsmouth but there's a clear lack of quality in the final third. A change of striker with Jacob Brown in for Colby Bishop didn't change much.

They are outside the relegation zone but in the worst form of the five teams battling to stay up. They are heading in wrong direction.

It's a big few days ahead for John Mousinho as he searches for solutions, which are anything but obvious

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent following Monday's 1-0 defeat by Derby County at Fratton Park.

"There is a bit of a sense of deja vu, definitely from the Sheffield United and Hull games [both 1-0 defeats at home]," he said.

"I thought we controlled the game and we got into some really good areas. But ultimately, when we look back at it, we were let down by the quality of the final ball and decision-making in the final third.

"When we put balls into the box with quality, we weren't quite there and then when we did have bodies in the box, we put it into the goalkeeper's hands or behind for a goal kick.

"Our night was pretty frustrating because I think we have played well for large parts of that game and we have done 90% of the things that we are asking the boys to do really well. We just haven't added the quality in the final third."

On the battle against relegation: "There is no need to panic, but at the same time we need to show a sense of urgency.

"Bizarrely, with one point in five games, we are still a point out of the relegation zone with a game in hand, so it's not terminal, but we do have to find a way to go and win at the weekend."

Portsmouth's bid for Championship survival will continue when they welcome Derby to Fratton Park on Monday (20:00 GMT).

Pompey suffered a third defeat in four when they lost at home to Swansea last time out and will be looking to pick up three valuable points in their bid to steer clear of the drop zone.

Derby have a chance to get back on track after losing ground in their hunt for a play-off place when they were beaten 1-0 at Millwall and The Rams know how vital a win here will be.

• Portsmouth are winless in 11 league games against Derby (D7 L4) since a 3-1 home victory against the Rams in the 2007-08 Premier League campaign.

• Four of the last five league meetings between Portsmouth and Derby at Fratton Park have ended as draws, with the Rams winning 2-1 in the other game in 2011-12.

• Portsmouth's current 11-game league winless run against Derby is the third-longest current active streak; they are only on a longer winless run against Chelsea (26 games) and Arsenal (18 games).

• Derby manager John Eustace is unbeaten in his three Championship meetings with Portsmouth (W1 D2), last losing against them as player or manager in February 2012 when he was a sub in a 2-0 defeat for Watford.

• Portsmouth's Conor Chaplin has been involved in four goals in seven league games against Derby (2 goals, 2 assists), although his two goals were scored at Pride Park.

Image source, Shutterstock

John Mousinho says Portsmouth players must focus on their own results in the Championship relegation battle, but concedes the pressure is ramping up heading into the final 10 games of the season.

Pompey host Derby on Monday looking to get back to winning ways having picked up just one point from four games – a run which has left them two points clear of a resurgent Oxford United in the final relegation spot.

Portsmouth were also involved in a tense battle at the bottom last season as they looked to stave off relegation but Mousinho says the only lesson his players can learn from that campaign is that they must ignore the noise around them and focus on themselves.

"I think the situation this season is unique because of the nature of the squad that we have at the moment, it is different to what it was last year and the league is different as well," he said.

"the only thing that matters is how many points we accumulate and everything else around us is irrelevant.

"I know everyone watches other results and everyone has a keen eye on what is going on with the teams around us but it doesn't actually matter, we need to pick up the points.

"If we pick up enough points, we'll be fine and it doesn't matter what the other sides do if we don't pick up enough points, so I think the most important lesson is just to focus on ourselves.

"The pressure should always be on and it is to a certain extent. When it comes down to the last 10 games of the season there are only a certain number of points to play for then and it does feel a bit different, particularly when we are going into this period where we have two games before the break then two games after the break in quick succession as well.

"In a lot of ways that can be season defining."

Mousinho, who expects to have Regan Poole and Conor Shaughnessy available to face Derby, admits he has been impressed with the Rams this season.

"They have been good this year, really good, pushing for the play-offs," he said.

"They have had some very impactful signings over the summer but they have built since that League One campaign where we were neck and neck.

"They have bought very well and kicked on this year and are deservedly pushing for the play-offs."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth know all about premature feelings of Championship safety.

It was 12 months ago when they enjoyed a stunning win against Leeds United to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Seven days and two defeats later, including one to rock bottom Plymouth, the gap was four points and a nervy finale ensued.

No-one was getting carried away when Pompey were six points above the drop zone a few weeks ago but they were playing well and seemingly in a healthy position.

Tuesday night's first-half horror show against Swansea was concerning but came after 11 fairly decent performances in a row.

Only the very best teams do not have a poor game occasionally.

But as John Mousinho pointed out after the match, Pompey are paying the price for failing to cash in when playing well.

They were the better side against Sheffield United and Hull. Both should have been draws at the very least but were defeats.

They should have seen out the match against Blackburn Rovers.

An extra four points would be very useful right now but then every football fan and manager looks at the table thinking "if only".

If you had told a Pompey fan at the start of the season that Josh Murphy and Conor Shaughnessy would miss most of the season injured, Callum Lang would hardly play and be sold and Colby Bishop would be a shadow of the striker he was last season, I am fairly sure they would have bitten your hand off to be sitting in 19th with 10 matches to play.

Pompey's budget is understood to be small, potentially 23rd, above only Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Staying up would again be a brilliant achievement, especially with all the injuries.

But they had put themselves in an excellent position and will forever be kicking themselves if they can't see the job out from here.

If Swansea is just a one-off they should be OK. But after three home defeats in a row Monday night's visit of Derby County feels like a huge game.

Mousinho has said he believes his team perform better under pressure.

The pressure is now certainly on.