Portsmouth

Tom Chappell
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

The victory over Millwall felt like a throwback to the way in which Pompey won so many games at Fratton Park last season.

It was a vintage performance typical of the John Mousinho dynasty at Pompey - comprising a committed press, players working hard for each other, some exceptional football on display and a handful of sensational goals.

We had a strong shape, built from the back nicely with Nico Schmid's return, and looked an immeasurably better outfit with Callum Lang in the squad. Blimey how we've missed him.

You would be forgiven for raising your eyebrows at a further five changes to the side when the team news landed, but yet again, after some albeit questionable calls in recent weeks, Mousinho got his set up spot on.

Pompey looked at it and hungry from the off, with 15 minutes on the clock it began to feel a case of when, not if, we would be opening the scoring.

That soon came through one of the best goals Fratton has seen in a while from 'Super' Zak Swanson. Another day to add to that man's list of big performances in the moments that matter.

Adrian Segecic will be disappointed his perhaps overcooked cross that delightfully landed in the back of the net won't go down as his own, and I doubt we will see a better solo goal this season than the third of the afternoon from Jordan Williams.

Colby Bishop deserves a lot of credit for the decoy run, unlocking the space for the second stunner of the day from a right-back (playing as a left-back).

Defensively, Pompey still have a real issue with set-plays - conceding when we were very much in control of proceedings, which meant for a nervy period before the eventual third goal.

This was one of few dents on what was otherwise a near-spotless 90 minutes.

We will travel to Sheffield United with a rediscovered confidence about us, full in the knowledge that one win does not solve every issue straight away. There is plenty still to work on, and a lot to be pleased with too.

As someone said to me on Saturday, don't just keep doing the right things, do things right.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Joshua Adu-Donkor
BBC Final Score

Image source, Shutterstock Editorial

Portsmouth ended a run of six winless Championship games by defeating play-off chasing Millwall 3-1.

Although Pompey striker Colby Bishop didn't get on the scoresheet, he impressed throughout the game.

Bishop was a real nuisance to the Millwall defenders and his link-up play was exceptional, especially with forwards Josh Murphy and Adrian Segecic.

The 29-year-old was the club's top goalscorer last campaign with 11 in the Championship, although he has just the one league goal so far this season.

But the goals will come for Pompey's number nine if he can continue to perform in the way he did against Millwall. This will be crucial for Portsmouth ahead of the festive period.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

A much-needed victory and a performance that warranted three points. It has been a long wait for an afternoon like this for Pompey fans.

The quality of the goals were spectacular. It may be some time before we witness strikes as impressive as the ones from Zak Swanson and Jordan Williams again.

Returning players were key. Adrian Segecic was impressive and Callum Lang's comeback, even just for 30 minutes, was extremely welcome. Add Josh Murphy nearing full fitness and Pompey look a much better outfit.

Nico Schmid's return in goal is also a positive although even John Mousinho admitted it was harsh on Joe Bursik to drop him.

The issues defending set-pieces remains a huge concern though. Millwall scored one and could have had more their corners.

For all the positives until that is fixed it will keep making life tougher for Pompey than it needs to be.

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho praised his side's performance after beating Millwall on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues scored two brilliant solo goals as they beat the Lions to record their first Championship victory since early October.

"I rated the performance really highly [but] I know there'll be some disappointment in the fact that when Millwall went down to 10 men and we had that two-goal lead that we didn't put the game to bed," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"We made it really nervous for ourselves for that 15-20 minute period but I still thought we'd done so many of the things that we wanted to do properly and we were very positive.

"I thought we committed really well so if the game had spun the other way in the last 10 minutes obviously there would been a huge amount of frustration but I thought the performance was definitely there.

"We've got the two right-backs playing out of position at left-back, it's a really nice bonus for us that they scored, I'm really pleased for the pair of them."

Portsmouth are back in action on Wednesday when they travel away to Sheffield United in the Championship.

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Portsmouth will seek an end to their six match winless streak as they welcome sixth placed Millwall on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey currently find themselves in 20th on the Championship table, just four points ahead of Sheffield United in 22nd.

The Lions are having markedly better season but have not found all three points in any of their past three games and will be looking to restabilise in order to stay within the play-off spots.

• Portsmouth have lost their last four league matches against Millwall, with all four defeats coming via a one goal margin.

• Millwall are looking to win three consecutive away league games against Portsmouth for the first time, winning 1-0 on their last two visits in April 2012 and January 2025.

• Portsmouth have failed to score in each of their last two home league matches – they haven't gone three in a row without a goal at Fratton Park since March 2014 when they were a League Two side, failing to net against Cheltenham, Burton and York during that time.

• Since Alex Neil's first league game as Millwall manager on New Year's Day 2025, only Coventry (75) have won more points in the Championship than the Lions (62).

• Only Sheffield United (11) have scored fewer Championship goals this season than Portsmouth (12), with Pompey ranking second bottom for shot conversion (6.5%) ahead of only the Blades (5.9%).

Regan Poole says Portsmouth have a fresh slate as they return to Championship action after the international break.

Pompey entered the break winless in six games, losing four of them, and have slipped within four points of the relegation zone, while their 12 goals scored in 15 games is the second fewest in the division.

Poole, 27, has played every minute in the league so far and ahead of Saturday's visit of Millwall (15:00 GMT) he told BBC Radio Solent: "It's been a tough couple of months. From the last international break to this one has been pretty poor but it's a new slate, time to go again and put it behind us.

"Up until [the 4-0 defeat on 1 November at] Birmingham we were defensively very good. Then we conceded seven goals in the next two away games.

"It needs to be nipped in the bud - get back to being defensively solid. As a team we're lacking a bit of confidence and belief, we're not scoring enough goals as a team, but with a couple of bodies back now, things are looking a bit brighter."

Poole said the experienced players in the squad are helping to keep morale up and added: "We know we're not far away but certain things need to change. The Birmingham game doesn't define our season.

"We're looking to get back to being defensively solid and hitting the back of the net a few more times. We need to be better."

Seven points from their opening four games had the Blues in the play-off pack but just seven from the next 11 has seen them tumble down to 20th.

Last season Pompey earned 40 points from their 23 games at Fratton Park but they have won just two of their opening eight home games this season, taking eight points.

"We're hoping to turn our home form back to how it was last year," Poole added.

"This table changes very quickly. It's a crazy division. We know we can beat anyone but we need to go and prove that. The thing with us is confidence and belief."

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says "there is always going to be a risk" when it comes to playing Callum Lang as he returns from a second hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old forward is back available for selection against Millwall this Saturday (15:00 GMT) along with goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid and forward Adrian Segecic.

Lang has not played for Pompey since 16 August having undergone surgery and missed two months of last season, also with a hamstring problem.

"Whenever he steps on a football pitch, there's always going to be a risk," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"Whether it's for half an hour here, half an hour there, whether it's for the full 90 minutes."

Pompey are winless in their last six games and will be hoping players returning from injury can provide the quality to improve their form and keep them out of the relegation zone which they currently sit four points above.

"At some point we just have to pull the plaster off and actually put him into action," Mousinho added.

"Whether that's off the bench, whether that's from the start.

"Straight away that exposure means every single player that goes out there is at risk of an injury and Millwall are a really good example of a side that have had a huge amount of injuries at the minute and are struggling from that point of view and there's plenty of other sides in the league.

"With Lang we just have to take the medical advice and do as best we can."

You can listen to more from John Mousinho on BBC Sounds.

"From this process and where it is, you're just riding the wave until we get players back on the pitch."

Missed out on BBC Radio Solent's Pompey review of the season so far on Friday? We've got you covered.

Catch up on the thoughts of Ian Wilding, former Portsmouth winger Mark Kelly and Portsmouth News' Neil Allen as they discuss injuries, boss John Mousinho and whether Pompey can survive another season in the second tier.

Listen to the full review and more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Shutterstock

Watch a Solent Sport Special as Ian Wilding reviews Portsmouth's start to the 2025-26 season from 18:00 GMT on Friday 14 November.

With special guests former Pompey winger Mark Kelly and the Portsmouth News' chief Pompey reporter Neil Allen, join the trio as they take a look at Pompey's season so far in this hour-long special.

Make sure to get involved by sending "Solent" plus your message to 0800 321333 on WhatsApp or via @solentsport on X.

You can watch the full episode live as it happens on the BBC Sport Website or you can listen in on BBC Radio Solent.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Two months ago, Portsmouth had the better of a goalless south coast derby at St Mary's. They were a win away from jumping into the top six and fans were dreaming of a memorable season.

Since then Portsmouth have taken six points from 10 matches, including just two from their past six to sit only four points and two places above the relegation zone.

In my view, injuries are the number one reason for Portsmouth's slide and the derby week was a key moment.

Pompey had already lost Callum Lang to a hamstring injury in the middle of August. Josh Murphy wouldn't start a game after the derby for nine matches. Nico Schmid hasn't appeared since breaking his hand against Southampton, albeit Joe Bursik has proved a solid deputy.

Against Sheffield Wednesday six days later, Conor Shaughnessy tore his hamstring going to intercept a ball. Wednesday's goal from that move effectively ended Pompey's chances of getting anything from that match and Shaughnessy is sorely missed at the back.

Pompey's squad is not strong enough to cope with the absence of so many key players. Colby Bishop's drop in form is a concern but also linked to the absences around him.

Of the players signed this summer, only Adrian Segecic has made a big impact, although he's missed the last four matches due to injury.

Josh Knight has been up and down at the back. Luke Le Roux and Mark Kosznovszky are yet to adjust to the Championship. Hayden Matthews, signed back in January, hasn't kicked on as was hoped.

These players may still go on to prove astute signings but Pompey need fit players who can affect Championship football now. Matt Ritchie was never adequately replaced.

John Mousinho will be given time to turn this situation around, you can be sure of that.

Last season he had captain Marlon Pack playing out of position in defence. Yes, Pack had some poor games away from home but his performances at Fratton Park were hugely significant in the run of home wins which that kept Pompey up.

Similar outside-the-box thinking might be required this time around, especially with left-back Connor Ogilvie now out for up to three months.

A fully fit Murphy and the returning trio of Lang, Segecic and Schmid will make a big difference and be a huge help to the side. Whether it will be enough to turn things around remains to be seen.

Pompey had an excellent January transfer window 12 months ago but there are still still another 10 fixtures to navigate before any reinforcements can appear.

"I would edge towards why Pompey are where they are is more the players - who they've got available and how well they're playing rather than tactics.

"But that doesn't mean John Mousinho has got everything right because they wouldn't be in this position if he had."

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon reflect on Portsmouth's 3-2 loss at Hull City and discuss whether it might now be time to panic.

You can listen to the latest episode of 'Who Needs Mourinho?' and get more Portsmouth news on BBC Sounds.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shuttershock

The bright start to the season now feels a distant memory.

Pompey have taken just one point from the past five matches. Hull City feels like a game where a draw at the very least was there for the taking.

Defensively, Portsmouth weren't good enough. Hull had already missed two excellent chances before they scored and the winner came from a fairly simple long ball.

Josh Murphy understandably is not 100% fit but he played the full 90 minutes and Pompey's second goal came from a moment of Premier League quality from the winger.

A back three worked out against Wrexham but didn't have the desired outcome at Hull. Luke Le Roux's slow start to his Pompey career continued as he was taken off at half-time

The international break will help a couple of key players get closer to fitness. It will also give boss John Mousinho time for some soul searching and to try to figure out solutions.

Pompey need them.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Shuttershock

Saturday afternoon's defeat by Hull City means Pompey's wait for a second away win in the Championship this season will be three months at least. Adrian Segecic's winner at Oxford feels an awfully long time ago.

According to folklore, "if the first week in August is unusually warm, the coming winter will be snowy and long". In Pompey's case, this could not be closer to reality.

A seventh league loss with a touch under a third of the season gone already.

John Mousinho's side are not currently performing at the level required of them to maintain second-tier status.

Our form is alarmingly poor, and there is a palpable immediacy to win a couple of games and go on a positive run, which is something that right now this team just does not look capable of.

One man who did not deserve the outcome from Saturday was Terry Devlin, a gritty, passionate display and two goals to go with it. Two generational knee slides in front of the travelling fans too, so disappointingly futile considering the outcome.

Pompey were probably just about deserving of a point at a push, but you could not make an argument for anything more than that.

Scoring two goals away from home has to yield more of a return than a defeat - we have got to be so much better at defending set-plays and must attack with more of an intensity and purpose.

Plenty to work on then for a group of players bereft of confidence and a tough set of fixtures to tackle once Championship football resumes in two weeks.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said that he was "frustrated" by the way his side conceded goals in Saturday's game at Hull City.

The Blues lost 3-2 in the lunchtime kick-off and have now been beaten in four of their last five matches in the league.

They were level 2-2 at the break, but Joe Gelhardt scored late on from a ball played over the top of the Portsmouth defence to win the game for the Tigers.

"We switched off completely for the third goal and that's what lost us the game, the third one feels like the most frustrating one," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"We worked hard and pressed and looked solid as the game went on but we have to be miles better when we go forward.

"Murph [Josh Murphy] can't be the only outlet we have, we have to take care of the ball better and have to create more in terms of opportunities and we haven't been.

"We have to come back after the international break and cut out those errors that have left us in the table where we are."

Portsmouth are now 20th in the Championship table and return to action next weekend when they host Millwall at Fratton Park.