Sky Sports pundit deliver clear Portsmouth relegation verdict after crucial Leicester City showdown
Pompey lifted themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leicester City.
Tommy Smith believes Pompey are ‘as good as safe’ following their crucial 1-0 win over relegation rivals Leicester City.
And fellow Sky Sports pundit Mat Sadler has discussed the Blues’ controversial goal after potential handball shouts against Ibane Bowat.
It continued Pompey’s impressive turn of form since the international break and are now unbeaten in their previous five, while claiming maximum points in all of their past three.
The defeat for Leicester, however, means they’re now staring down the barrel of back-to-back relegations and are eight points from safety.
And Smith, who enjoyed a successful career with Huddersfield Town, Stoke City and Middlesbrough, was adamant Mousinho’s troops showed the correct fight and desire to turn their fortunes around at a critical time of the season - something Gary Rowett’s men haven’t done.
Sky Sports pundit shares Pompey survival verdict
Speaking on Sky Sports after Saturday’s game, he said: ‘Five games now unbeaten for Pompey against some tough opposition.
‘He was dead right to mention the QPR game pre-the international break. Off the back of that, it could’ve gone one of two ways but it’s gone in a really positive way.
‘It optimises what Portsmouth have had in these last five games and what Leicester haven’t.
‘Pompey had everything Leicester need in terms of that fight, aggression and they got the job done.
‘They’ve now put themselves in an unbelievable position and I think they’re as good as safe.’
Sky Sports pundit on Pompey’s winning goal
But there were no Leicester appeals, with that goal ultimately proving the difference in the huge survival showdown.
However, Sadler, who joined Smith in the Sky Sports studios after the match, made it clear referee Gavin Ward and his assistants made the right call to allow the goal.
The ex-Walsall boss said: ‘I don’t want to see that goal taken away from anybody.
‘This is where the whole VAR thing comes into debate in that you don’t want to see goals taken away that should be.
‘Gary on the other side of things may bemoan that from his point of view. For me that’s a goal in every way you look at it.
‘We look at the game as a whole, not much in it. A real cagey game settled by a set-play and that’s the Championship sometimes. The game was won off a better delivery and more willing runners in the penalty area.’
Your next Pompey read: Portsmouth contract state of play ahead of summer window with 11 set to leave for free