‘The biggest problem Portsmouth’s got’: ITV and talkSport pundit Ally McCoist’s view on Blues' survival fight with Blackburn Rovers and West Brom
The legendary pundit and former Scottish striker assesses the Championship survival shake-up
Respected commentator Ally McCoist believes Pompey’s relegation rivals showing signs of life is a concern for their Championship survival hopes.
The respected ITV and talkSport commentator feels the Blues are in serious relegation ‘danger’, as Blackburn Rovers offer fighting qualities and West Brom’s form picks up at a big moment in the season.
McCoist weighs up Pompey’s survival fight
McCoist has cast his expert eye over the scrap to stay up at the foot of the second tier, with seemingly, five teams battling to avoid two spots to go down with Sheffield Wednesday.
John Mousinho’s men are in terrible form, after a single point from six games has seen them sucked into a worrying position on the cusp of the bottom three.
McCoist pinpointed that as a major cause for worry for Pompey, but sees a rival in Blackburn showing the appetite for a survival scrap after one loss in four
Meanwhile, West Brom have picked up back-to-back wins to lift their spirits, after a shocking run of 13 league games without a win.
McCoist feels that has put a very different complexion on the Championship relegation picture for the Blues.
Speaking to talkSport Bet, McCoist said: ‘The biggest problem Portsmouth have got apart from their own form, which would be a concern, would be West Brom's last couple of results and the fact that Michael O'Neill is managing a team of real fighters at Blackburn.
‘They've picked up massively since he's gone there, which I'm delighted for because Michael's a good lad. And West Brom, the Baggies, had a couple of tight victories and they've taken them up to 20th place. Portsmouth are in danger.
‘Look at it right now, West Brom and Oxford have given them so many chances. They're sitting at 39 points. A couple of weeks ago, I was thinking about Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, and they looked at West Brom at one point.
‘Now it's completely changed. It's completely changed. And as I say, right up to Charlton, who are probably okay, sitting at 48 points. But Blackburn 43, West Brom 43, Portsmouth 40, all the way down. That is a real dogfight.’
McCoist aired his apprehension over Pompey’s 6-1 thrashing at QPR last weekend, with that defeat following on from four home reverses on the spin at Fratton Park.
He added: ‘The worrying thing from Portsmouth's point of view, away from Fratton Park, that was a terrible result. And when you're conceding six goals, it's a big concern.’