How does Portsmouth’s xG during the 2025/26 Championship season compare to their rivals across the second tier?

Pompey are looking to push on during the 2026/27 season after re-establishing themselves in the Championship over the past two campaigns.

Finishes of 16th and 18th in the second tier followed promotion from League One at the end of the 2023/24 season. But Pompey came into the summer aiming to bolster their squad in a bid to start knocking on the door of the top half of the Championship.

John Mousinho was pleased with Pompey's display in their final friendly against Darmstadt on Saturday. Picture: Jason Brown | Jason Brown

placeholder image — John Mousinho was pleased with Pompey's display in their final friendly against Darmstadt on Saturday. Picture: Jason Brown | Jason Brown

However, John Mousinho has revealed the club is having to adapt their transfer plans due to a recent FA rule change regarding overseas players.

It's providing extra challenges for a Pompey side that, once again, did well last year to avoid relegation despite having one of the lowest wage bills in the Championship.

But Pompey could have ended the season even higher if this xG table of the 2025/26 campaign is to be believed. Mousinho's men ended the season 14th in expected goals, with many sides either outperforming or underperforming the metric.

One of the wildest examples of discrepancy is Hull City's 23rd-place position in the xG table, given that the Tigers finished sixth and won the play-off final to earn promotion to the Premier League.

With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the 2025/26 Championship xG table below courtesy of Snusbolaget.

2025/26 Championship xG table:

Position/team/xG PTs/(where they actually finished)

1 Ipswich 87 (2nd)

2 Coventry 85 (1st)

3 Boro 82 (5th)

4 Southampton 76 (4th)

5 Birmingham 73 (10th)

6 Sheff Utd 72 (13th)

7 West Brom 71 (21st)

8 Millwall 68 (3rd)

9 Watford 65 (16th)