Portsmouth almost made vital mistake which would have confirmed relegation
Portsmouth secured their survival on Easter Monday, but their season almost went in a completely different direction.
Bishop Colby’s sole goal against Watford was enough to ensure that Portsmouth could not go down with two games to spare.
It was no doubt a massive achievement for the club, and they could still finish in the top half this season.
However, in a recent interview, Mousinho admitted that the board could have made one decision which would have only ended in disaster.
Mousinho admits he could have been sacked by Portsmouth
Despite Portsmouth’s eventual survival, there were many points during the season when relegation looked almost certain.
Portsmouth only won one of their first 14 Championship matches, which included heavy defeats against Stoke City and West Brom.
However, despite just sitting on nine points after 14 matches, Portsmouth decided to stick by Mousinho for the rest of the campaign.
This worked a treat, with Portsmouth having the seventh-best form in the division since Boxing Day.
| Portsmouth’s Championship record since Boxing Day | |
| Games played | 23 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Losses | 10 |
Now, Mousinho has admitted in a recent interview that Portsmouth ‘could have sacked him’ after their awful early-season form.
“Let’s not beat around the bush – there were times this season where they could have looked at some of those heavy away defeats and thought, well, maybe that’s the time to change,” Mousinho told the BBC (25 April).
Portsmouth would have been relegated without Mousinho
Simply put, Portsmouth would have been relegated if they had sacked Mousinho.
No one knows the players better than him, and he has managed to get the very best out of them in 2025.
Despite a few Portsmouth fans wanting Mousinho sacked after the defeat to Coventry, the manager is largely adored by the Fratton Park faithful.
Now, the 38-year-old is one of the most respected managers in the league, with David Prutton personally praising Mousinho for his work at Portsmouth.
The challenge for the Pompey boss now will be to ensure that the club continues on its upward trajectory for the next campaign.
A mid-table finish will likely be the goal. However, if they can continue their current form, a playoff charge isn’t out of the question.
Hopefully, Mousinho will be fully backed in the summer to ensure his vision for the upcoming campaign is met.