Connor Ogilvie sends Portsmouth teammates Championship survival message
Connor Ogilvie has told his Portsmouth teammates exactly what they must do if they want to secure Championship survival over the next seven games.
Portsmouth currently sit 17th in the league, five points clear of the relegation zone, as the season begins drawing to a close.
Last Saturday, Pompey took a big step in confirming their Championship status for next season, beating Blackburn 1-0 at Fratton Park.
Josh Murphy, whose 20th-minute goal was enough for John Mousinho’s side to claim all three points, has now accumulated 17 goal contributions this campaign, the seventh most in the division.
Portsmouth have now won five of their last eight games, a run of results which has been important in their climb up the table.
Ogilvie: Survival is ‘up to us’
At the end of December, Portsmouth were deep in the Championship relegation zone, down in 23rd position with just 20 points from 22 games.
Since the turn of the year however, Pompey have been a completely different side, and are now within touching distance of securing their position in the second tier.
Portsmouth defender Ogilvie knows that the south coast side can now control their own destiny.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, he said: “It’s in our hands now obviously, it’s just up to us now to get the results that are needed to retain our Championship status.
“That’s why I joined Portsmouth, to be in the Championship. It obviously took a bit longer than we hoped, but we got there and it’s really good now.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good place, it’s just about what we do on the pitch to get the results needed to stay up.”
| Position | Team | GP | GD | Pts |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 39 | -14 | 45 |
| 18 | Stoke | 39 | -12 | 42 |
| 19 | Oxford | 39 | -17 | 42 |
| 20 | Derby | 39 | -9 | 41 |
| 21 | Hull | 39 | -9 | 41 |
| 22 | Cardiff | 39 | -20 | 40 |
Millwall trip remains ‘must-win’ for Portsmouth
Despite all the positivity around the club, it is important to remember that the job is not yet done, and Championship survival is not secured as of yet.
The relegation battle in the second division has sparked into life over the last month, and it seems that most clubs in and around the drop zone have found some form at the perfect time.
Derby, Stoke, and Luton have all found big wins over the last week, and Portsmouth cannot let the teams below them within touching distance.
Pompey travel to South London on Saturday to face Millwall, in what can still be considered a ‘must-win’ game, as they look to reach the magical 50-point mark.
In the reverse fixture, Millwall left Fratton Park with all three points after a 1-0 win, so it certainly won’t be an easy game for John Mousinho’s side.