BBC pundit issues Portsmouth relegation verdict after Preston loss
Portsmouth are in a relegation dog fight after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Preston on Saturday.
After 38 games, Pompey find themselves in 17th place with 42 points and are only four points away from the relegation zone.
Derby County are currently occupying 22nd place and they are on 38 points.
Guy Whittingham issues verdict on Portsmouth getting relegated
Guy Whittingham believes that there is some reason to panic for Portsmouth as the gap to the relegation zone has reduced.
They were 10 points clear and looked comfortable, but them seemingly taking their foot off the gas has seen them back in the mix.
Speaking after the game at Deepdale, he told BBC Radio Solent: “It is getting tight. The good thing is that there are three or four teams below Pompey that are just above relegation.
“You are a part of that mix but it’s disappointing – having last weekend moved 10 points out of the relegation zone and that’s down to four. That does start your panicking again with some tough fixtures coming up it has to be said.
“Certainly the Plymouth one they didn’t start the game well enough in terms of the way Plymouth played, they stayed deep and then this one. The game was there to be taken in the first-half but not realising that at the time on the pitch and players not being able to do anything about it.”
John Mousinho needs to use the international break to galvanise his players
John Mousinho faces a critical juncture following consecutive defeats to Plymouth and Preston, slashing their buffer from the Championship relegation zone to just four points.
With an international break offering respite until their clash with Blackburn, Mousinho must act decisively to arrest this slide.
He should conduct a thorough tactical review, addressing the inability to convert first-half dominance against Preston into goals, pinpointing why some of his players struggled in unnatural roles.
Adjusting his lineup to ensure players operate in their optimal positions could sharpen their attack.
| Championship table (2024/25) | Points |
| 17. Portsmouth | 42 |
| 18. Oxford United | 42 |
| 19. Hull City | 41 |
| 20. Stoke City | 39 |
| 21. Cardiff City | 39 |
| 22. Derby County | 38 |
| 23. Luton Town | 35 |
| 24. Plymouth | 33 |
He also must bolster defensive resilience after late errors by conducting drills focusing on communication and concentration are essential.
Mousinho should leverage the break to rebuild morale, using the 1-0 Leeds win as a psychological anchor to remind the squad of their potential.
Training should emphasise intensity and finishing, areas Whittingham flagged as deficient.
With eight games left, including tough fixtures, he must instill a siege mentality, rallying his team to treat each match as a must-win.
Engaging the squad in honest discussions about accountability and tweaking his pressing gameplan to counter deep-lying defences, as seen against Plymouth, will be key.