Portsmouth relegation prediction made by supercomputer after Preston defeat
Portsmouth were left in despair again on Saturday after suffering a second successive Championship defeat.
The 2-1 loss at Preston North End on 15 March has left Pompey in a predicament following a rollercoaster week which has seen the gap to the relegation zone cut from 10 points down to just four.
John Mousinho was left raging at his Portsmouth side as they pulled level late on at Deepdale through Colby Bishop, only to concede a decisive second with three minutes to go.
Portsmouth back under survival threat as Opta prediction released
Portsmouth were left stunned by the late developments at Deepdale and what certainly hasn’t helped is the improvement of numerous teams below them in the Championship table.
Underneath 17th-placed Pompey come three sides who won on Saturday, with only two beaten (Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle).
Within just six days of the memorable Fratton victory over Leeds United on 9 March, Mousinho’s Blues have put themselves back in relegation danger.
The Opta supercomputer has updated its predicted final table using a wealth of algorithm statistics, and has predicted Pompey to finish in their current position of 17th with between 52 and 53 points.
The Blues’ relegation probability has been ranked at an increased 3.92 per cent, but still only a nominal figure in comparison to their relegation rivals.
Portsmouth have been depleted by injuries this campaign but Mousinho is determined to avoid using it as any kind of excuse, with two defeats in a row now preceding the international break before the hosting of Blackburn Rovers (29 March).
Mousinho hopes for players back for Blackburn
After the Blackburn fixture at Fratton Park rounds off March, Portsmouth will have just seven Championship games remaining.
Currently on 42 points, Pompey will need to surpass around 52 to be sure of retaining their spot in the second tier next season.
The renewed doubt does little to help planning for next season, with the Blues looking home and hosed only last weekend after beating Leeds in the South Coast sunshine – a result which made their competitors take serious notice.
| POS | Championship table 2024-25 | PLD | PTS | GD |
| 17 | PORTSMOUTH | 38 | 42 | -15 |
| 18 | Oxford | 38 | 42 | -16 |
| 19 | Hull | 38 | 41 | -8 |
| 20 | Stoke | 38 | 39 | -14 |
| 21 | Cardiff | 38 | 39 | -20 |
| 22 | Derby | 38 | 38 | -11 |
| 23 | Luton | 38 | 35 | -26 |
| 24 | Plymouth | 38 | 33 | -37 |
Portsmouth will hope for the return of several of their squad in time to face play-off-chasing Rovers, with many having been big misses.
It could also see new Swedish signing Alexander Milosevic make his Fratton debut as he gets up to match sharpness having arrived as a free agent.