Championship survival secured - how did Pompey do it?

Two wins over the Easter weekend secured Portsmouth's 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.

Colby Bishop is the club's top scorer with 11 Championship goals this season

Form at Fratton Park has been key. Since early November only Leeds United can better Pompey's 11 home wins.

Incredibly, in that period the Blues have never squandered a lead at home, going on to win every match that they went ahead in.

Teams might have underestimated Pompey at home at the back end of 2024, but no one will have done so this calendar year. Yet they kept churning out the results.

The results may not have improved significantly away from home, but the performances did. Pompey haven't lost a game by more than one goal since a weakened 11 were well beaten at West Brom in January. This after numerous games in the first half of the season did or could have ended in a hammering.

Recruitment has also been key despite few mistakes. Josh Murphy is a strong contender for player of the season. Matt Ritchie and Andre Dozzell were very useful late-summer free agent additions. Nicolas Schmidt looks like a Championship-level goalkeeper. West Ham will be extremely pleased at Freddie Potts development.

In January, Pompey needed players who could make an immediate impact. Despite the calf injury, Rob Atkinson was a brilliant addition. Cohen Bramall, Isaac Hayden and Adil Aouchiche have all made contributions.

Injuries have been a huge problem, but they affect all clubs. Portsmouth may struggle again next season if they can't get their key players on the pitch on a more regular basis. There is no magic fix, though.

John Mousinho is a sought-after manager

What now for John Mousinho? We know other clubs have taken note of how good a job he's done. It is not out of the question that someone makes him an offer he cannot refuse.

But he knows he's loved at Fratton Park. The owners would have stuck with him even if the club had been relegated. The fans never turned on him, despite some dismal away performances.

Taking Portsmouth to the Premier League in football's current climate would require a once-in-a-generation season where everything went perfectly.

That might be realistically out of reach for now, but there's still scope for the club to move forward next season. Mousinho won't feel he's taken Portsmouth as far as he can just yet.