‘Shouldn't expect anything other than’: Sky Sports pundit shares bleak Portsmouth Championship outlook
Pompey travel to Southampton on Sunday sitting 19th in the Championship standings.
Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Don Goodman has conceded Pompey are in for another relegation battle this season.
And the former Wolves and Sunderland man is adamant securing Championship survival once again would represent success for the Blues.
It was a mixed start to the campaign before the three-week international break at Fratton Park, with John Mousinho’s men picking up eight points from their opening seven matches.
That included an unbeaten run of three matches heading into the stoppage, with Pompey looking to continue their unbeaten stretch when they visit Southampton this Sunday.
After the Southampton showdown, tough fixtures against Sheffield United, Norwich City, Wolves and Millwall await in quick succession.
Despite owners Tornante increasing the transfer kitty in the summer having survived the drop in their previous two Championship campaigns, Goodman is predicting another difficult season on the south coast.
Sky Sports pundit shares bleak Pompey outlook
Goodman told OLBG who offer the best betting sites: ‘I think every season that John Mousinho oversees Portsmouth surviving in the Championship is a successful season.
‘I don't know for sure, but my best guess is that they'll have one of the bottom six budgets in the Championship, and straight away that puts you on the back foot.
‘Then you've got to consider this is only their third season back in the Championship. When you put those two things together, we probably shouldn't really expect anything other than a relegation battle.
‘They finished 18th last season and had to finish strong. They won four of their last six. They finished 16th the season before and went unbeaten in their last five; again, they had to finish strong to avoid relegation.
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‘This season, the hope would be that they wouldn't be in a relegation battle with six games to go like they have been the previous two seasons. Maybe they can be in a more comfortable position.
‘They're 19th at the minute with a game in hand on most, but they've got a tough run of games, so it could get worse before it gets better.
‘Southampton, Sheffield United, Norwich, Wolves, and Millwall - that's their next five. It looks a tougher run than the opening seven games they've just had. At the end of that little run of games, we're going to know even more about where Portsmouth are.
‘But John Mousinho, for me, is doing a terrific job and should be applauded for the job he's doing. But when you analyse everything, you imagine they would be one of the teams having to fight hard through the winter to keep their heads above the line.’