'Be ready for a few more bumps in the road'

Portsmouth started 2025 with a 4-0 win over Swansea

It started with a dramatic draw at Leeds which could easily have been a win or a loss and it ended with a emphatic win over Swansea City.

The first half of Portsmouth's season back in the Championship certainly hasn't been dull, although there have probably been more downs than ups in between those two matches.

Perhaps most notably, Portsmouth are above the dreaded dotted line despite having played two games fewer than most of their opponents. Staying up by goal difference, goals scored or any other means come May would be a successful season.

What's gone well so far? Crucially Portsmouth have found their home form right when they needed to. They've taken 13 points from the past five matches at Fratton Park. That's three more than the total they've managed in the other 18 games they've played.

Realistically that's not sustainable and five of the top eight still need to travel to PO4 this season. The away form does need to improve but continuing to beat mid-table and below teams at home will be crucial to survive.

'His return gave everyone a lift'

Colby Bishop has scored three times since returning from heart surgery

Colby Bishop's return was much needed. Given what he and his family went through in the summer, his return to full health was the only real priority.

His appearance on the team sheet at home to Preston gave everyone a huge psychological lift. His performances on the pitch make the team notably better. He only has three goals to his name but Pompey look a different attacking unit when he's playing.

To return from heart surgery at the level he has, in the shape he is in, is testament to what a great professional he is, as well as an excellent player. If he was five years younger big money offers would be coming Pompey's way for his services.

Callum Lang was brought in to get Portsmouth promoted last January. He made his contributions to ensure that happened. If there was a "player of the half season" award he'd surely win it.

Nine goals is a fantastic return bettered by only three players in the Championship. His four against Coventry was one of the club's great individual performances. His work rate and energy is vital to Portsmouth's pressing game, which has become very effective. There's a reason most sides are now reluctant to play out from the back against the Blues.

There's plenty that hasn't gone right for Portsmouth. The opening fixtures were brutally difficult. However October was a very concerning month.

They picked up just four points against in-theory easier sides and ended the month rooted to the bottom of the table. It was hard for anyone to feel optimistic heading home from the Sheffield Wednesday match at Fratton Park. The recovery since then has been impressive.

'Plenty hasn't gone right for Portsmouth'

Conor Shaughnessy has made just two appearances this season

I'm going to write about the January transfer window next week. The hope is Pompey can have a stronger window than last summer when 11 new first team faces arrived.

Josh Murphy has been good. Matt Ritchie took time to get going but looks a very useful addition. Nicolas Schmidt looks a bargain in goal. However, some of the others don't look up to Championship football.

Portsmouth have been very unlucky with injuries, especially as centre-back Ibane Bowat won't play a minute all season and Conor Shaughnessy has managed just two games.

They don't have the squad depth to overcome multiple injuries. There is a suspicion that the loan players signed last season (Abu Kamara, Alex Robertson, Tino Anjorin and Myles Peart-Harris) would all be regulars if they were still at the club. Would this Pompey team beat last season's?

Finally there have been too many "no shows" from Portsmouth away from home. Stoke, Cardiff, Derby and Bristol City were all dreadful performances where Portsmouth were well beaten and, in a couple of those matches, could have lost by a fair bit more.

It's no coincidence they've all come during busy periods of fixtures exposing Pompey's squad depth. However, the second half of the season is hardly light on matches, especially in January.

There have been away losses and draws where Portsmouth have played very well and that will happen again in the second half of the season. It's understandable. When Portsmouth aren't quite at it, they have to find a way to stay in matches.

Given where Portsmouth were at the end of October, it's a fine achievement to be out of the bottom three at the start of 2025. Conversations I have had suggest the budget is right near the bottom of the division, so 21st or better would be a good season.

John Mousinho deserves huge credit for turning things around. A couple of quality additions in January and a slight improvement in fortunes with injuries and there's no reason why survival won't happen...

Just be ready for a few more bumps in the road.