EFL expert makes 'uncertain' Portsmouth, West Brom and Charlton relegation claim
An EFL pundit has delivered his take on the Championship relegation battle.
Portsmouth have been told they have given themselves a ‘much better chance’ of avoiding relegation into League One after their recent run of improved form - but could still fall back into the third tier come the end of the season.
Last weekend’s battling 1-1 draw with local rivals Southampton meant Pompey have now lost just one of their last eight league games and that was enough to keep John Mousinho’s side sitting just one point and one place above the Championship relegation zone.
A potentially crucial clash lies in wait this weekend as Pompey host fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion at Fratton Park in the second of three consecutive home games for Mousinho and his players. The Baggies are sitting two points above Pompey ahead of the game and are currently on a run of six games without a win in all competitions.
With a nerve-shredding final three months of the season lying ahead, Pompey’s bid to avoid relegation has been assessed by Championship pundit Don Goodman - and he has revealed he is unsure whether Mousinho’s side can preserve their second tier status.
What has Don Goodman said about Portsmouth’s bid to avoid relegation?
The former Wolves and Sunderland striker told NewBettingSites.uk: “I mean, there are a lot of teams down there that you wouldn’t bet on surviving. You just can’t say for certain they’ll be okay. Portsmouth know they’re in a battle, but they must be feeling a lot better than they did eight games ago. They’ve won three, drawn four, and lost only one of the last eight. When that run started, they were in the bottom three, having lost seven of nine and taken just four points from those nine games.
“Credit to John Mousinho and the players, they’ve become competitive again, and that gives everyone hope and belief. This run has also had a knock-on effect, dragging a couple of other clubs into the mix. West Brom and Charlton are now desperately looking over their shoulders whereas eight games ago, I don’t think anyone at West Brom, and possibly Charlton, expected to be in this situation. I can’t say for certain that Portsmouth will survive, but what I can say is that recent performances and results have given them a much better chance.”
What has John Mousinho said about his Portsmouth squad?
When asked about potentially having too many players, Mousinho said: “If I ever get them back, I’ll worry about that then! All I can see at the moment is I can go into the physio room and put out a really good Championship side. That’s not even a joke, we’d have a brilliant team.
“With the Charlton game rearranged we’re really heavy on fixtures in February. We have a busy Easter, too, so it would be wonderful if we had too many players available. If we get that, it’s a problem I’d rather deal with over what we’re dealing with now. I can handle it (having too many players), it’s just not going to happen. My time at Portsmouth tells me that’s not going to happen, my time in football tells me it’s not going to happen. If it does, I’ve got a headache I want.”