Don Goodman makes manager sack warning ahead of Portsmouth v Blackburn
Don Goodman has issued a potential manager sack warning ahead of Portsmouth’s game against Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park.
Following the international break, John Mousinho’s side will host Blackburn with an aim to return to winning ways.
Pompey have lost their last two Championship games, succumbing to Preston North End and Plymouth Argyle.
Pompey’s last two losses have left them just four points above the drop zone with the risk of a relegation battle looming over their heads.
Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers are sitting five points below the last Championship play-off spots as they aim for a surprise return to the Premier League.
Valerien Ismael already under pressure at Blackburn
While pressure remains on Mousinho to guide Pompey to safety, he is not actually under pressure for his job. Instead, Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael could face the sack if Blackburn’s results do not improve.
Ismael took over the reins at Ewood Park in February after John Eustace left the Rovers to join Derby County. Since taking over, Ismael has struggled and has not won a single game in the Championship.
The former Watford manager has lost three games and managed to draw just one, with unattractive performances on display from the team in pretty much every game.
| Opposition | Home/Away |
| Blackburn Rovers | Home |
| Millwall | Away |
| Coventry City | Away |
| Derby County | Home |
Goodman spoke to the Football League World [21 March] and gave his two cents on Ismael’s situation at Blackburn.
He said: “I think Valerien Ismael probably knows the score. Obviously he’s managed in England before at Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Watford, and he knows that, at the end of the day, if as a head coach or manager you don’t achieve expectations of a football club then you’re not really going to last very long.
“But he’ll be aware, if results don’t pick up his job will be under threat.”
Portsmouth need to pick up points
At one stage, Pompey were plum last in the Championship but Mousinho managed to guide the team out of the relegation zone with a string of consistent performances.
However, the South Coast side are once again edging towards the drop zone because of poor results in the last few weeks.
The Englishman needs his side to regroup and secure positive results in the last eight rounds of the Championship.
With just four points differentiating Pompey and the relegation zone, Mousinho’s side are not at all in the comfortable position. With tricky fixtures ahead, Portsmouth must make the most of the winnable games at Fratton Park.
Any hiccups could massively affect Pompey as the 17th to 24th positions in the Championship table are separated by nine points, and there is an expectation that the relegation fight will go right down the wire.