Championship relegation battle: The challenges Portsmouth, West Brom, Leicester, Blackburn Rovers and Oxford United must overcome ahead of international break
Relegation-threatened Pompey play their final game ahead of the international break against QPR on Saturday
The fight for Championship survival is well and truly on - and in just six weeks time we’ll know if John Mousinho’s troops will have done enough to avoid the dreaded drop back down to League One.
At present, just one point stands between Pompey and the bottom three - a position they last occupied on Boxing Day following their 1-1 draw with QPR at Fratton Park.
Incidentally. the R’s are the Blues’ next opponents on Saturday, with a trip to west London their last outing before the international break.
That stoppage in domestic fixtures will present all teams the opportunity to reset, take stock of what’s ahead of them, and hopefully even welcome back some players who have been sidelined through injury in recents or months.
The last thing Pompey want, though, is to be sitting back in the relegation zone over the next two weeks regretting the position they could find themselves in if results go against them on Saturday.
A win against QPR keeps them out of trouble and the threat of relegation at bay for the immediate future. Anything other than three points at Loftus Road, though, and the Blues are inviting trouble on themselves.
So what other results do Pompey need to go their way over the weekend? Well, we’ve taken a look at the challenges that lie in wait for the other four teams earmarked for those two remaining relegation spots - Blackburn Rovers, West Brom, Oxford United and Leicester. Here’s what we discovered.
This weekend’s Championship relegation battles
QPR (16th) v Pompey (20th)
Current Pompey points total and games played: 40 points from 37 games played.
Last result: Pompey 0-1 Derby County
Form guide (last 5 games): L L D L L
Opponent’s form (last 5 games): L L L L W
Match days in bottom three and last time there: 3 (last - following 1-1 draw with QPR on December 26)
Injuries ahead of QPR game: Josh Knight, Andre Dozzell, Mark Kosznovszky, Josh Murphy, Thomas Waddingham, Franco Umeh, Keshi Anderson, Aji Alese, Florian Bianchini.
Bookies’ odds (Skybet): QPR (9/5), Pompey (6/4), Draw: 21/10
Blackburn Rovers (19th) v Middlesbrough (2nd)
Current Blackburn points total and games played: 42 points from 38 games played
Last result: Millwall 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Form guide (last 5 games): L L D L W
Opponent’s form (last 5 games): D W W L D
Match days in bottom three and last time there: 4 (last - following 2-0 defeat at Norwich on February 7).
Injuries ahead of Middlesbrough game: Andri Gudjohnsen, Sondre Tronstad, Lewis Millar, Aynsley Pears, Matt Litherland, Ryan Hedges, Kristi Montgomery, Augustus Kargbo, Hayden Carter (doubt).
Bookies’ odds (Skybet): Blackburn (16/5), Middlesbrough (4/5), Draw (13/5).
Bristol City (14th) v West Brom (21st)
Current WBA points total and games played: 40 points from 38 games played
Last result: West Brom 3-0 Hull City
Form guide (last 5 games): D L D D W
Opponent’s form (last 5 games): W L L L D
Match days in bottom three and last time there: 1 (last - following 1-1 draw with Southampton on March 11)
Injuries ahead of Bristol City game: Mikey Johnston, Chris Mepham, Karlan Grant, Tammer Bany
Bookies’ odds (Skybet): Bristol City (29/20). West Brom (9/5), Draw (9/4)
Southampton (6th) v Oxford United (22nd)
Current Oxford United points total and games played: 39 points from 38 games played
Last result: Oxford United 1-1 Charlton
Form guide (last 5 games): L W W W D
Opponent’s form (last 5 games): W W D W W
Match days in bottom three and last time outside relegation zone: 21 (last - following 3-1 win against PNE on March 6)
Injuries ahead of Southampton game: Myles Peart-Harris, Brian De Keersmaecker, Tyler Goodrham
Bookies’ odds (Skybet): Southampton 8/15, Oxford United (19/4), Draw (3/1)
Watford (9th) v Leicester (23rd)
Current Leicester points total and games played: 35 points from 36 games played
Last result: Leicester 1-3 QPR
Form guide (last 5 games): D L D W L
Opponent’s form (last 5 games): L W D L W
Match days in bottom three and last time outside relegation zone: 7 (last - following 2-0 win against Bristol City on March 10)
Injuries ahead of Watford game: Aaron Ramsey, Jannik Vestergaard, Asmir Begovic, Harry Souttar, Victor Kristiansen
Bookies’ odds (Skybet): Watford (1/1), Leicester (12/5), Draw (13/5)
For your next Pompey read: QPR boss sets out eye-watering points total Portsmouth, Leicester City & Co will need to avoid relegation