Portsmouth boss assesses Championship relegation battle as he pinpoints the five teams in greatest danger
The 19th-placed Blues have 10 games to avoid a return to League One
It’s now five clubs battling to avoid the two remaining relegation spots, according to John Mousinho.
But Pompey’s boss is refusing to set a survival points target after coming unstuck with his predictions last season.
With 10 matches remaining, Mousinho believes that the 19th-placed Blues represent the top of the mini-league embroiled into the battle to stay in the Championship.
With a seven-point gap opening up above, allowing QPR and Charlton plenty of breathing space, the head coach believes the fight is now focused between Pompey, Blackburn, Leicester City, Oxford United and West Brom.
His men are next in action on Monday night (8pm) in the televised encounter with Derby, by which time all of their rivals which have fulfilled weekend fixtures.
‘I don’t think there is any point in doing that’
And Mousinho acknowledges a return to winning ways at Fratton Park is essential.
He told The News: ‘There’s no points target, just try to win on Monday.
‘Last season, I actually believed when we got to around 44 points that might be enough - it turned out to be woefully short. So I don’t think there’s any point in doing it.
‘When we went up from League One it was always you aim for two points a game. Naturally, in the Championship, you are aiming for 50 points, but you don’t know if that’s going to be enough. You don’t know if that’s going to fall short.
‘Realistically, we are probably at the top of that mini-league of clubs which can go down. QPR and above are safe.
‘Naturally, there’s a seven-point gap between QPR, us and Charlton. I don’t know what other fans will think, that feels about right to me. All of sudden it can go either way.
‘It could be a scenario where in two games we are on 46 points and one point behind QPR, there’s a lot of unpredictability, we saw that in the league on Wednesday night. We pretty much see it in the Championship every single week in terms of results and what happens.
‘I don’t think there’s any point in worrying too much about other teams. Ultimately, we just have to get results.’
Staying up with 52 points in 2024-25
Pompey last season secured their Championship status after reaching 52 points with two matches to spare.
Ultimately, they finished on 54 points, earning 16th spot to mark an encouraging return to a level the Blues had last competed in 12 years earlier.
Mousinho’s men presently have 40 points from 36 matches, with a game in hand on all their relegation rivals, leaving them with 10 fixtures still to fulfil.
He added: ‘I don’t know if last year’s experience is useful, I’m not sure if it’s relevant or not to be honest.
‘I don’t know what it gives you, whether it gives you a boost or not, but we didn’t have any experience in it last year and did a really good job. It’s not something we are really looking to focus on.
‘I would much rather not be in a relegation battle, it’s much more fun when you are competing at the top end of the league. It’s tough when you aren’t winning games and you've got to keep bouncing back and answering certain questions which aren’t about winning.’