Portsmouth FC: How Pompey secured Championship survival

After Portsmouth’s win over Blackburn a few weeks ago, I had a quick word with one of the coaching staff. I offered my congratulations and pointed out safety was now potentially just a couple of wins away.

The response was, “I might be able to sleep at night then.” I don’t think they were joking. This is the pressure of a relegation battle.

It’s worth reflecting on what Portsmouth have achieved. Survival with two matches to go in a first season back in the Championship with one of the division’s lowest budgets is, in itself, a great achievement.

But throw in all the injuries and misfortune, and it is worth considering how it compares to winning League One last season. It’s certainly not far off.

This was a side that were six points adrift of safety after 15 matches with just one win to their name. They looked short of goals and leaky at the back. A bad combination.

Portsmouth have had to be a play-off-calibre team since then just to survive.

Colby Bishop’s earlier than expected return from heart surgery has obviously been key, but so has John Mousinho’s decision to alter the playing style. That takes courage.

He spent the whole of pre-season working with the players, implementing one style. Pompey had dominated possession in League One last season.

But the decision to be more direct with the ball and press aggressively out of possession at times has paid dividends. The football hasn’t always been easy on the eye, especially at Fratton Park, but it’s been effective.