It’s clear to see’ – EFL experts deliver decisive Portsmouth survival verdict as pressure mounts
Portsmouth may be hovering just one point above the Championship relegation zone ahead of their crunch clash with Charlton Athletic, but leading EFL analysts insist the bigger picture tells a far more encouraging story.
Despite back-to-back defeats — including a dramatic late loss to Sheffield United courtesy of Andre Brooks’ stoppage-time winner — confidence in Pompey’s survival chances remains surprisingly strong.
Ali Maxwell of the Not The Top 20 podcast believes the performances under John Mousinho are far better than the results suggest. Watching Portsmouth’s recent displays, Maxwell argued that the team are producing some of their sharpest football of the season — even if the finishing touch has deserted them.
Against Sheffield United, he felt Pompey dominated the first half and looked dynamic across the pitch, only to be undone late on. Maxwell also highlighted the impact of Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell in the decisive moment, while praising goalkeeper Michael Cooper for crucial saves that kept the Blades in the game.
Crucially, Maxwell stressed that underlying numbers and visible improvements both point in the right direction. While the proximity of the relegation zone naturally fuels anxiety, he believes hitting peak performance levels at this stage of the campaign is a major positive. Compared to his mid-season outlook, he now feels significantly more optimistic about Pompey’s ability to avoid the drop.
Bishop’s goal drought raising alarm bells
However, not everything is rosy.
Co-host George Elek warned that Colby Bishop’s struggles in front of goal could ultimately define Portsmouth’s fate. Bishop has managed just one league goal this season despite generating 6.35 expected goals — meaning he is more than five goals below what the data suggests he should have scored.
Even his expected goals on target (4.44) paints a concerning picture, particularly when compared to rivals. Elek pointed to players like Joe Gelhardt and Carlton Morris, who have converted similar or lower xG totals into significantly more goals.
While Bishop has never been renowned as an elite finisher, the scale of the underperformance this season is stark. Elek suggested that the difference between survival and relegation could come down to whether Portsmouth start converting their dominance into goals.
Survival still in their hands
For now, the message from EFL experts is clear: Portsmouth’s performances offer genuine hope.
But with the table tightening and margins razor-thin, Mousinho’s side must quickly turn promising displays into points — because in a relegation battle, improvement alone won’t be enough.
Leave a Reply