Former Pompey favourite Guy Whittingham believes Portsmouth must use their comeback win over Blackburn Rovers as a turning point in their fight for Championship survival.
Pompey bounced back from three straight defeats with a vital 2-1 victory at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon. Despite falling behind to Yuki Ohashi’s first-half opener, John Mousinho’s side responded impressively after the break.
Callum Lang levelled just after the hour mark before Ibane Bowat scored his first goal for the club to seal all three points.
The result lifted Portsmouth out of the relegation zone, leaving them one point clear of 22nd-placed Oxford United, and Whittingham believes the timing of the win could prove crucial with a demanding festive schedule ahead.
Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, the former Blues striker praised both the performance and the importance of the result.
“Blackburn were the third-best away team in the league behind Coventry, so this was a huge and much-needed result,” Whittingham said.
“It doesn’t define the season in terms of survival, but it should give Pompey real confidence. They played well against a strong side, went behind and still found a way to win.”
Whittingham added that the manner of the comeback could signal a shift in momentum.
“It felt like one of those days where the season could turn, especially given how badly they needed it. We thought it might happen after Millwall, but it didn’t quite click. Now you hope this is the moment it does.”
While he stopped short of predicting a long winning run, Whittingham pointed to encouraging signs in recent performances, including the away display at Swansea, and believes upcoming fixtures offer opportunity.
“They’re not playing top-of-the-table sides next. Derby, QPR and Charlton are coming up — no games are easy, but these are matches where you can pick up points.”
Whittingham also suggested the relegation battle is already taking shape, with a clear group of clubs likely to be involved until the end of the season.
“There’s about seven teams in it. You wouldn’t expect anyone higher up to get dragged in unless there’s a spectacular collapse. Those teams above, like Watford or Birmingham, are already well clear.”
With several bottom-half opponents still to visit Fratton Park, Whittingham believes Pompey have a genuine chance to build on Saturday’s win — provided they use it as a platform rather than a one-off result.
Leave a Reply