Credit: Imago

Parth Jhaveri

Thu 3 April 2025 12:10, UK

Portsmouth are still living dangerously as they sit just five points above the relegation zone.

At one point in the season, Portsmouth were one of the favourites to go down back to the third division of English football as they sat plum last in the Championship table.

A resurging run from John Mousinho’s side saw them win four out of five games which pulled them out of the drop zone and helped them create a narrow cushion between themselves and the bottom three.

Mousinho’s side are not yet completely safe as they need to continue picking up points after the surprise turn of events in the bottom half of the table.

Portsmouth’s relegation odds increase

Pompey took a huge step towards safety with their home win against Blackburn Rovers last weekend. Although it was a dull game, Mousinho’s men managed to get the job done and maintain their narrow gap from the bottom three.

However, the recent turn of events has indirectly mounted pressure on the South Coast side as the relegation odds have gone slightly against Portsmouth.

Derby County, who were one of the bookmakers’ favourites to get relegated recently, have managed to go on a four-game winning streak and pull themselves out of the drop zone.

John Eustace’s side beat Preston North End 2-0 comprehensively on 2 April and jumped out of the relegation zone.

Derby’s match-winning run has seen relegation odds shift against Portsmouth. According to Sky Bet Championship relegation odds, Pompey have a 20/1 odds of getting relegated.

That has dropped slightly as a result of Derby’s winning run, which Mousinho can do nothing about, but is still way off the 10/1 odds from last month.

While Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town and now Cardiff City are the favourites to go down, Derby have managed to improve their survival odds.

Job not done yet for Mousinho

The 2008 FA Cup winners have won two games from their last five Championship fixtures, maintaining a five-point gap from the relegation zone.

With the dynamics changing every week, Pompey cannot afford to get complacent if the final few games or they risk dropping back down.

They have a tough run of fixtures ahead with two back-to-back away trips to Millwall and Coventry City. The South Coast side have been surviving based on their impressive home form, but their away form is concerning.

With four of the seven fixtures being away trips, Mousinho cannot afford to relax.

And with other teams around him going on unbeaten runs and picking up points, Portsmouth too need to win games to ensure their survival.