Pompey Secure Championship Safety

Following a 1-0 win over Watford at Fratton Park on Easter Monday, Portsmouth have sealed their place in next season's Championship lineup.

Victory sends John Mousinho's side up to 16th in the table on 52 points, 6 clear of 22nd place Luton Town with just 2 games remaining.

You may be wondering how Pompey are mathematically safe if there are still enough points up for grabs for Luton to catch them... Well, here's the deal:

• Plymouth Argyle (24th) and Cardiff City (23rd) are on 43 points so cannot catch Portsmouth
• Luton Town (22nd) are on 46 points so could catch up IF they win their final 2 games and the Blues lose theirs
• Derby County (21st) have 46 points and Hull City (20th) have 48 points - While it may seem that they both could surpass Pompey in the table, they actually have to play each other this Saturday (April 26th) and therefore they cannot both achieve the maximum points haul of 6 required to leapfrog the Blues - Only 1, if any, can win that game at the MKM Stadium this weekend
• It is therefore not mathematically possible for Portsmouth to finish below 3 of the 8 teams currently sat beneath them

Colby Bishop was on target with a header on the 26th minute in PO4 to give the Blues a 1-0 lead over The Hornets after goalkeeper Egil Selvik spilled Josh Murphy's teasing cross from the left-hand side.

The goal itself was rather comical as the ball fell out of the Norwegian's hands and on to Bishop's head, then he managed to claw the rebound away but straight back on to the Pompey striker's head and THEN it finally rustled in the back of the net.

Watford defender Kevin Keben was dismissed in the second half after hacking Josh Murphy down outside of the penalty area - The Blues winger was the last man and about to line up a shot on goal so the decision was easy for referee Sam Allison, though Hornets boss Tom Cleverley was not as convinced. He claimed the man in the middle "guessed".

It was a nervy ending at Fratton Park despite the man advantage but the job was completed after 11 minutes of additional time following a professional perfomance from all involved, notably some outstanding hold-up play deep inside the Watford half near the corner flags from both Matt Ritchie and substitute Christian Saydee.

After the full-time whistle, head coach John Mousinho joined in with the fist pumps to the crowd - An action he has only performed on a handful of occasions, last releasing his excitement and relief in way of celebration in front of supporters after the 2-0 victory over Lincoln City on the final day of the 2023/24 League One season as his side had already confirmed their promotion as champions before the game.

Understandably, the gaffer prefers to hold off from celebrating until the job he was assigned at the start of the campaign is complete.

Next up for Pompey, a trip to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday, the 26th of April (3pm kick-off). They then host Hull City on the last day of the season on Saturday, the 3rd of May (12:30pm kick-off).

The Blues could end this season in the top half - They are just 4 points behind Watford in 12th with 6 left to play for.

Following confirmation of Leeds United and Burnley's respective automatic promotions to the Premier League on Monday night, there are now 8 clubs confirmed to be competing in the second tier in 2025/26 with more set to be joining them over the next fortnight.

Birmingham City were promoted as champions of League One earlier this month and will be joined by either Wrexham, Wycombe Wanderers or Charlton Athletic - The automatic promotion race in the third tier is looking likely to go down to the wire.

Portsmouth's bitter rivals Southampton have already been relegated from the Premier League which means the South Coast Derby will return for 2 more editions next term - They last faced off for a league clash all the way back on the 7th of April, 2012 when David Norris heroically scored a last-gasp equaliser with a sensational volley from the edge of the box at St Mary's.

No side has ever been relegated quicker than Southampton, whose fate was confirmed following a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the 6th of April and with 7 games still to play.

2016 Premier League winners Leicester City will be joining them in the Championship in August and Ipswich Town are quite possibly going to the third side relegated from the top flight - The Tractor Boys need a miracle to overcome a 15 point deficit with just 5 games remaining.

Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford are all mathematically safe from relegation and too far behind the Play-Off places in the Championship and therefore will once again be competing in the division next season.

Pompey fans will find out the fixtures for the 2025/26 season, as well as their First Round Carabao Cup opponents, on EFL Fixture Release day! This year, that takes place on Thursday the 26th of June.

The new Championship campaign will commence on Friday the 8th of August with at least 1 fixture likely to be scheduled for live television broadcast and the majority of the remaining opening day games taking place on Saturday the 9th/Sunday the 10th.

League One and League Two begin a week earlier.

The First Round ties in the Carabao Cup will be played on Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th of August.

Keep listening to The Football Hour on Express FM between now and the final show of the season (Friday the 30th of May) for all of the latest news involving Portsmouth Football Club and the 2025/26 Championship season. The Express FM website and app will also keep you informed with breaking news throughout the summer before on air coverage of the new campaign commences in July (Dates TBC).