Boost for Portsmouth’s Championship survival hopes after Ipswich Town postponement
Good news for Pompey’s Championship survival hopes this afternoon.
Pompey remain outside of the relegation places following a string of positive results after their meeting with Ipswich Town was postponed today.
Fellow strugglers Norwich City fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke City, an outcome which keeps the Blues out of the bottom three with the 3pm kick-off against Kieran McKenna’s side falling foul of the freezing temperatures.
Sorba Thomas torments Canaries at Carrow Road
Sorba Thomas was the difference between the sides, as a terrible game sparked to life with two goals in seven second-half minutes.
Thomas provided the ammunition for Sam Gallagher to open the scoring from close range in the 75th minute, before he smashed in the second himself seven minutes later from Million Manhoef’s ball in.
That meant Pompey stayed a point above the cut-off point for relegation - and now have two games in hand over the Canaries.
The other result near the foot of the Championship table was a positive one for John Mousinho’s side, as Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic played out a 2-2 draw at Ewood Park.
Nathan Jones’ side let a two-goal lead slip as Charlie Kelman bagged a first-half double to put the Addicks firmly in control. A Rovers double from Moussa Baradji, with his second goal arriving 13 minutes from time, ensured the spoils were shared - and both sides within four points of Pompey.
Managerless Oxford United weren’t in action, as their lunchtime kick-off with Sheffield United also was postponed as a result of the weather.
Swansea City went down 2-1 at the death to Millwall, with Caleb Taylor scoring the winning goal in the 92nd minute. Ben Cabango earlier cancelled out Mihailo Ivanovic’s opener. Swansea remain 17th.
Championship results go the way of John Mousinho’s side
Southampton had a bleak day, as they were battered 4-0 at Middlesbrough. Four goals in 22 second-half minutes left Pompey’s rivals shell-shocked ahead of their visit to Fratton Park later this month.
Basement side Sheffield Wednesday were soundly beaten 3-0 at QPR to leave them on -7 points, following their deductions this season.
With Leicester City hosting West Brom tomorrow, it means none of the teams who ended the afternoon in the bottom 11 places of the Championship picked up victory.
In the division’s other games today, leaders Coventry City went down 3-2 at Birmingham City, Preston North End defeated Bristol City 2-0 and Wrexham were 2-1 victors over Derby County.
Hull City’s home meeting with Watford was called off just minutes before kick-off, because of players safety concerns over the area surrounding the Tigers’ pitch.