Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Tue 22 April 2025 10:31, UK

Portsmouth will compete in the Championship again in 2025-26, confirmed after Easter Monday’s 1-0 win over Watford at Fratton Park.

Pompey continued their fine home form (21 April) to dig out the last victory they needed to mathematically confirm safety.

Colby Bishop netted his fourth goal of the Easter weekend to separate the sides in PO4, with the Blues now six points clear of the drop zone with two games to go – survival now assured as Hull City and Derby County have to face one another before the end of the season.

Bishop becomes Portsmouth top scorer

Portsmouth fans were able to thoroughly enjoy their afternoon at Fratton Park on Monday not just for survival, but also the return of both Conor Shaughnessy and Callum Lang in late cameos.

It was widely considered that Lang, in particular, would not feature again this season, so even though safety is now certain, his availability, albeit carefully, for the final two games, is a lovely boost.

Lang has been on 10 goals since before he picked up his injury against Oxford United in February, with Bishop equalling the total with his Good Friday hat-trick away at Norwich City (18 April).

And Pompey’s number nine went one better by netting Monday’s winner, bringing him to an 11-goal total.

This is a striker who until this season had not featured in the Championship in his career. More remarkably, Bishop missed the first three months of the season after undergoing major heart surgery.

Now, he’s hit double figures in a side who have struggled at times this term, but who can now finally start preparing for next season in the second tier.

Portsmouth could have Golden Boot winner up top next year

It’s a very impressive record that Portsmouth have in attack in the Championship this year.

Bishop and Lang with 21 goals between them, having missed a combined period of over five months on the sidelines, is superb.

Josh Murphy’s seven goals and 13 assists have also dictated the Blues’ successful survival bid, and it is imperative these experienced operators are kept in the squad next season.

Leeds United and Burnley both secured automatic promotion on Monday, Leeds in particular ensuring Stoke City’s push for safety is not yet confirmed as Joel Piroe slammed home four of a 6-0 win.

Piroe is now on 19 goals – still just eight ahead of Bishop, who has missed months of football. The hope now is that with a fully-fit season behind him, the Blues’ frontman can be a lethal asset and there is no reason why he cannot challenge to outscore his opposite numbers across the league next season.