Portsmouth rivals announce manager sack as Championship dogfight heats up
Portsmouth have taken a huge stride towards Championship survival when many supporters did not expect it, as they put five past Norwich City on Good Friday.
The 5-3 win at Carrow Road, courtesy of a Colby Bishop perfect hat-trick, Matt Ritchie and Regan Poole’s goals, ensured a massive three points as the run-in now looks a little kinder to Pompey.
John Mousinho‘s men have three games left, including Easter Monday’s hosting of Watford at Fratton Park. Win that, and the Blues are mathematically safe – and the return of the South Coast derby is finally upon us.
Portsmouth rivals sack manager amid stark relegation fears
Portsmouth have garnered admiration for the loyalty they have shown to Mousinho, especially given the injuries and budget constraints with which he has been operating since bouncing up from League One last year.
Mousinho has a lot of credit in the bank and deservedly so – it’s easy to forget this is his first managerial job, and he remains south of 40.
Elsewhere, clubs around Pompey have acted fast and hit the panic button on their managers, including Cardiff City – who have now sacked two bosses within the same season.
Following Cardiff’s loss at Sheffield United on Friday (18 April), the Bluebirds have announced they have parted ways with Omer Riza, who only replaced Erol Bulut in late September.
Cardiff are now second-bottom with three fixtures remaining, as senior midfielder and former Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey takes the reins to try and stave off a likely relegation.
Ramsey was only 17 when he faced Portsmouth in the 2008 FA Cup final as a substitute, and went on to have an illustrious career with the Gunners and Juventus before returning to his boyhood side. Now he’s attempting to keep them out of League One.
Should the South Wales outfit fail to avoid the drop this season, they will fall into the third tier for the first time in 22 years.
Championship relegation picture with three to play
After Friday’s remarkable result, Portsmouth can look at the survival race with far more of a peripheral perspective.
While work remains, Pompey can seal the deal with a win over Watford on Monday, and a draw or even a defeat could still be enough based on results around the grounds.
Plymouth were robbed late on at Middlesbrough by a horrific penalty decision and now subsequently stare down the barrel, while Luton’s win at Derby keeps them fighting, the two are level on points just above managerless Cardiff.
| Portsmouth are safe Monday if… | Elsewhere |
| Win v Watford | SAFE |
| Draw v Watford | Two of: Cardiff draw/lose, Luton lose, Derby lose, Hull draw/lose and Derby draw/win |
| Lose v Watford | Plymouth draw/lose, Cardiff lose, Hull lose and Derby draw/lose |
Hull are far from out of the woods, and head to Fratton Park on the final day with survival still potentially there to play for. Oxford are one point below the Blues, who are now level with Preston on 49.
Stoke are on 50 and as good as safe, with all the sides above now mathematically certain of survival.