‘The onus is on’: Sky Sports pundit and ex-Southampton man makes intriguing Portsmouth prediction ahead of Charlton Athletic
Pompey make the trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend sitting in the Championship relegation zone.
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton is predicting another difficult afternoon for Pompey against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
The Blues are back in action this weekend, hoping to make a much-needed return to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to Sheffield United and Bristol City.
After a run of six losses in their previous eight, John Mousinho’s men dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season following Saturday’s disappointing result against the Robins.
Pompey could move back out of the drop zone on Saturday lunchtime as they face a Charlton side currently in free fall despite a bright start on their return to the second tier.
The Addicks have lost all of their previous four Championship matches, which has moved them out of the play-off picture and down to 17th as a consequence.
Despite Nathan Jones men conceding 12 goals during that time, Prutton, who had a four-and-a-half affiliation with Southampton, has predicted the south London outfit to fend off the Blues this weekend and reignite their campaign.
Sky Sports pundit delivers intriguing Pompey prediction ahead of Charlton
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Essential EFL podcast, he said: ‘Given what we’ve seen from Charlton, they were going superbly well basically until that Southampton game.
‘Obviously they did lose that Wrexham game before but they were in such a wonderful position, and given the fact we’ve seen a side come up and do what they’ve done, this little run has derailed them by dropping them down to 17th.
‘There’ll be none more understanding of that fact than Nathan Jones. He’ll be turning over every single stone trying to work out how to arrest this shocking run of form with shocking results and the amount of goals they’ve conceded will have them climbing up the walls.
‘Whereas Pompey, it’s a slightly different incarnation of a side that came up. But having dropped below that dreaded dotted line, they obviously need to make sure they can sort this out pretty soon.
‘I think the onus is on Charlton given where they are, given what they’ve done, given what I’ve seen so far from them this season to get their season back on track with a home win.
‘Charlton to get back to winning ways, 1-0. It won’t be pretty, it’ll be effective though because that’s all they need.’
Pompey’s crucial Championship run
Pompey make the trip to The Valley, where they haven’t claimed maximum points since 2018, on Saturday marks the start of another run of three games in eight days for the Blues.
A visit to south Wales to face 21st-placed Swansea City awaits in midweek for Mousinho’s men, who then return to Fratton Park on December 13 to welcome 18th-placed Blackburn Rovers.
He said: ‘It’s a massive week, absolutely massive week - and in a lot of ways season defining.
‘Yes (that has been his message to his players). I think we’re six points off Charlton, I think we’re level on points with Swansea and I think, after last night’s result, we’re four points off Blackburn.
‘These are sides we have to compete with and we have to try to close the gap and reel in. That’s why these next three games are so big.
‘I might be wrong, but it feels like it’s the first time we’ve played three games in a week against sides that aren’t promotion contenders and are in and around us in the table.
‘Pre-season you may have looked at it and thought, those home games against Preston and Millwall we need to be competitive in, because they’re going to be sides in and around us in the table. They’re both in the top six at the minute.
‘But these are sides who are actually in and around us in the table.’
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