Pompey’s League One fate is still to be decided.
With seven games remaining, John Mousinho’s table-toppers hold a comfortable lead over nearest challengers Derby and Bolton. But until it’s mathematically impossible for them or others to overtake the Blues, then nothing can be taken for granted.
There’s still a lot of football to be played, offering the chasing pack enough of an opportunity to claim the top prizes on offer. And the same can be said for another accolade Pompey players will have on their agendas - the Pompey player of the season award.
The News will soon be opening up our vote for fans to have their say on who they believe deserves recognition. There’s certainly plenty of contenders - but who has the best chance of winning. Here’s who we think are the current runners and riders with just a few weeks of the season remaining.
5. Sean Raggett (continued)
A model professional, Raggett deserves recognition for not only his consistent performances this season, but also the way he’s responded to significant set-backs in his Pompey career this term. Calls have been made to hand the former Ipswich man a new contract. There's few who could disagree. | National World
6. Marlon Pack
The Pompey skipper and former Blues youngster will realise a lifelong dream if John Mousinho’s side lift the League One title. And what better way to crown that magnificent achievement than to be named player of the season for his boyhood club. Pack’s class and leadership in the Blues' engine room has been on display all season - but it’s really stepped up another gear in recent weeks as Pompey boast a 15-match unbeaten run and potentially stand just a single game away of sealing their return to the Championship. | National World
7. Marlon Pack (continued)
If it weren’t for an injury earlier in the campaign, Pack’s minutes-on-the-pitch numbers would be right up there with Will Norris and Conor Shaughnessy’s. But it’s not just his ability to control the midfield this season that stands out. Three goals ensures he's the Blues’ most productive midfielder going forward. Meanwhile, eight assists makes him Pompey’s second-highest creative force with Abu Kamara. | Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
8. Paddy Lane
The Northern Ireland international has been on fire for Pompey this season. There’s been plenty of chopping and changing among the Blues forward line this term, while a host of new additions have arrived to bolster that department since the former Fleetwood man moved to the south coast in January 2023. Yet Lane has risen to the challenge and been a near constant as the Blues sweep aside those who dare to challenge them. Eleven goals put him behind only Colby Bishop in the Pompey scoring charts. | National World