Portsmouth

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There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

To lose one game at home when you've largely dominated but can't score is unfortunate. To lose three out of four is a very worrying pattern.

Potentially the most damning thing was Derby's game plan. They seemed content to sit back and defend in the knowledge they could keep Pompey at bay and get a goal from a counter attack or a set-piece.

They were right. They hit the post and bar as well as scoring their goal.

There's no lack of effort from Portsmouth but there's a clear lack of quality in the final third. A change of striker with Jacob Brown in for Colby Bishop didn't change much.

They are outside the relegation zone but in the worst form of the five teams battling to stay up. They are heading in wrong direction.

It's a big few days ahead for John Mousinho as he searches for solutions, which are anything but obvious

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent following Monday's 1-0 defeat by Derby County at Fratton Park.

"There is a bit of a sense of deja vu, definitely from the Sheffield United and Hull games [both 1-0 defeats at home]," he said.

"I thought we controlled the game and we got into some really good areas. But ultimately, when we look back at it, we were let down by the quality of the final ball and decision-making in the final third.

"When we put balls into the box with quality, we weren't quite there and then when we did have bodies in the box, we put it into the goalkeeper's hands or behind for a goal kick.

"Our night was pretty frustrating because I think we have played well for large parts of that game and we have done 90% of the things that we are asking the boys to do really well. We just haven't added the quality in the final third."

On the battle against relegation: "There is no need to panic, but at the same time we need to show a sense of urgency.

"Bizarrely, with one point in five games, we are still a point out of the relegation zone with a game in hand, so it's not terminal, but we do have to find a way to go and win at the weekend."

Portsmouth's bid for Championship survival will continue when they welcome Derby to Fratton Park on Monday (20:00 GMT).

Pompey suffered a third defeat in four when they lost at home to Swansea last time out and will be looking to pick up three valuable points in their bid to steer clear of the drop zone.

Derby have a chance to get back on track after losing ground in their hunt for a play-off place when they were beaten 1-0 at Millwall and The Rams know how vital a win here will be.

• Portsmouth are winless in 11 league games against Derby (D7 L4) since a 3-1 home victory against the Rams in the 2007-08 Premier League campaign.

• Four of the last five league meetings between Portsmouth and Derby at Fratton Park have ended as draws, with the Rams winning 2-1 in the other game in 2011-12.

• Portsmouth's current 11-game league winless run against Derby is the third-longest current active streak; they are only on a longer winless run against Chelsea (26 games) and Arsenal (18 games).

• Derby manager John Eustace is unbeaten in his three Championship meetings with Portsmouth (W1 D2), last losing against them as player or manager in February 2012 when he was a sub in a 2-0 defeat for Watford.

• Portsmouth's Conor Chaplin has been involved in four goals in seven league games against Derby (2 goals, 2 assists), although his two goals were scored at Pride Park.

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John Mousinho says Portsmouth players must focus on their own results in the Championship relegation battle, but concedes the pressure is ramping up heading into the final 10 games of the season.

Pompey host Derby on Monday looking to get back to winning ways having picked up just one point from four games – a run which has left them two points clear of a resurgent Oxford United in the final relegation spot.

Portsmouth were also involved in a tense battle at the bottom last season as they looked to stave off relegation but Mousinho says the only lesson his players can learn from that campaign is that they must ignore the noise around them and focus on themselves.

"I think the situation this season is unique because of the nature of the squad that we have at the moment, it is different to what it was last year and the league is different as well," he said.

"the only thing that matters is how many points we accumulate and everything else around us is irrelevant.

"I know everyone watches other results and everyone has a keen eye on what is going on with the teams around us but it doesn't actually matter, we need to pick up the points.

"If we pick up enough points, we'll be fine and it doesn't matter what the other sides do if we don't pick up enough points, so I think the most important lesson is just to focus on ourselves.

"The pressure should always be on and it is to a certain extent. When it comes down to the last 10 games of the season there are only a certain number of points to play for then and it does feel a bit different, particularly when we are going into this period where we have two games before the break then two games after the break in quick succession as well.

"In a lot of ways that can be season defining."

Mousinho, who expects to have Regan Poole and Conor Shaughnessy available to face Derby, admits he has been impressed with the Rams this season.

"They have been good this year, really good, pushing for the play-offs," he said.

"They have had some very impactful signings over the summer but they have built since that League One campaign where we were neck and neck.

"They have bought very well and kicked on this year and are deservedly pushing for the play-offs."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth know all about premature feelings of Championship safety.

It was 12 months ago when they enjoyed a stunning win against Leeds United to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Seven days and two defeats later, including one to rock bottom Plymouth, the gap was four points and a nervy finale ensued.

No-one was getting carried away when Pompey were six points above the drop zone a few weeks ago but they were playing well and seemingly in a healthy position.

Tuesday night's first-half horror show against Swansea was concerning but came after 11 fairly decent performances in a row.

Only the very best teams do not have a poor game occasionally.

But as John Mousinho pointed out after the match, Pompey are paying the price for failing to cash in when playing well.

They were the better side against Sheffield United and Hull. Both should have been draws at the very least but were defeats.

They should have seen out the match against Blackburn Rovers.

An extra four points would be very useful right now but then every football fan and manager looks at the table thinking "if only".

If you had told a Pompey fan at the start of the season that Josh Murphy and Conor Shaughnessy would miss most of the season injured, Callum Lang would hardly play and be sold and Colby Bishop would be a shadow of the striker he was last season, I am fairly sure they would have bitten your hand off to be sitting in 19th with 10 matches to play.

Pompey's budget is understood to be small, potentially 23rd, above only Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Staying up would again be a brilliant achievement, especially with all the injuries.

But they had put themselves in an excellent position and will forever be kicking themselves if they can't see the job out from here.

If Swansea is just a one-off they should be OK. But after three home defeats in a row Monday night's visit of Derby County feels like a huge game.

Mousinho has said he believes his team perform better under pressure.

The pressure is now certainly on.

"The worst performance since New Year's Day and by some distance."

"They made Swansea look like Brazil."

"Three losses at home in a row, that's the first time since 2018 and they really need to avoid making that four."

"It feels like a pretty important couple of games coming up for Pompey."

Just how damaging was that 2-1 defeat by Swansea for Portsmouth's fight to stay in the Championship? How bad was the first half?

Chris Wise and Andy Moon reflect on Pompey's worrying loss to the Swans and look ahead to Monday's clash against Derby County.

But who is to blame and where do they go from here?

Listen to the full episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds

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Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

I have written numerous times in recent weeks that if Portsmouth maintain their performance level they will avoid relegation. If they were to consistently play like they did in the first half against Swansea they will be in League One next season.

When they get going, as they did for a period in the first 45 minutes on Tuesday night, Swansea are an impressive footballing side - but also, Pompey did so many things badly. Failing to keep the deficit at one when struggling really cost them. A number of individuals put in uncharacteristically poor showings, a few look tired and will benefit from a six-day break.

Madiodio Dia was a surprise debutant with Regan Poole injured and Conor Shaughnessy not risked. The Senegalese player was picked over Ibane Bowat and Hayden Matthews, who both started at points earlier in the season. Dia had a mixed display. He will certainly be relieved that Ethan Galbraith missed a golden chance to make it 3-0 after an error.

Boss John Mousinho hit the nail on the head in his post-match interview. Playing like Pompey did and losing at home to Swansea would be far easier to tolerate if Pompey had not squandered points at home to Hull City and Sheffield United and away to Blackburn.

There is still significant work to do to ensure Championship survival. Pompey cannot afford too many more nights like Tuesday.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said he was frustrated after his side left it too late to get anything from their 2-1 defeat by Swansea at Fratton Park.

Pompey were 2-0 down at the break with Jacob Brown getting a goal back in the second half, but it was the Swans who held on for the three points to inflict a third defeat in four on Mousinho's side.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "Really, really poor in the first half. Much improved in the second half and nearly got ourselves back into it but we gave ourselves too much to do, so very disappointing.

"When there's such a contrast in halves, you think 'where was that intent in the first half? Where was that aggression, that front-footedness' that we just didn't have?

"We were a couple of yards off everything [in the first half]. Then in possession we didn't play. Very frustrating overall."

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The Championship fixture between Portsmouth and Ipswich Town has been rearranged for a second time following two postponements at Fratton Park.

The Tractor Boys will head down to the south coast on Tuesday 14 April with kick-off set for 19:45 BST that evening.

The initial match was postponed in early January due to a frozen pitch and then again in February because of heavy rain.

Ipswich have now had five games postponed or abandoned this season, with a match against Blackburn called off for a waterlogged pitch, the two at Portsmouth postponed and then fixtures against Southampton and Hull City because of FA Cup progression.

The second Portsmouth postponement left fans frustrated as well as Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna who questioned the reasons behind the cancellation.

"The FA Cup one is what it is," McKenna told The East Anglian Daily Times., external

"However there's something that could be done differently for the Championship clubs who progress in that cup because it is a big challenge now for Southampton, but also for the teams who are playing against them, including us who already have a game to rearrange.

"The only rearrangement that still annoys me is the [first] Portsmouth one.

"We're going to have a lot of games, we're going to have tough games, but there are some brilliant games in there to look forward to. It should be a really exciting end to the season."

John Mousinho hopes the next three games will put Pompey in good stead for Championship survival.

Portsmouth host Swansea on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) before welcoming Derby to Fratton Park on Monday and then head to QPR for their final game before the international break on 21 March.

Mousinho's side are 19th, three places and five points above the drop zone after being stung by an injury-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at Blackburn on Saturday.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "I don't think we need to respond to what was a good performance on the whole, it's just making sure we deal with certain moments a lot better and next time we're in that position, making sure we take control of games a lot better.

"To work so hard and play so well for 85 minutes and to go away from what's made us good is where the frustration stems from. There's basics we need to do better."

The draw made it seven points from four away games, but Mousinho added: "It should have been at least nine points, we deserved something at Wrexham too.

"We have to make sure we're very strong in the remaining five away games and try and reignite our home form as well.

"Every home game is massively important. We want to put as many points on the board as we can as quickly as we can.

"We have got three games and hopefully they will put is in good stead going into the international break, so we can have a good rest and come back really well."

On Swansea, he added: "They have a lot of talent, on the pitch and the bench, and have invested heavily over the last 18 months and it's starting to bear fruit.

"They are building pretty nicely and have had some good results - particularly at home, though a couple away. They're certainly a side that plays some good football."

Regan Poole is 50/50 for the game and will have a fitness test after an ankle injury, but Ebou Adams, John Swift and Connor Shaughnessy are all fit and available.

Portsmouth will hope to end a three-game winless run when travel-sick Swansea City arrive at Fratton Park on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT).

Only Sheffield Wednesday (7) and West Bromwich Albion (12) have taken fewer points on the road than the Swans' 14 in the Championship this season.

Pompey's draw at Blackburn on Saturday leaves them five points clear of the relegation zone with 11 games remaining.

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past 14 league games against Swansea (W5 D8), although it was a 1-0 loss in this season's reverse fixture.

• Following their 1-0 win in December, Swansea are looking to complete the league double over Portsmouth for just the second time, following the 1922-23 Third Division South campaign.

• Portsmouth have lost their past two home league games, both by a 1-0 scoreline. They last lost three in a row in March 2018, while they last did so without scoring in August 2008.

• Swansea have lost nine of their past 11 away league games, winning the others at Oxford United and Watford.

• Only West Brom and already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday have lost more away games in the Championship than Swansea this season (11).

Tom Chappell
Portsmouth fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Shutterstock

The 500-plus mile round trip for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off in Lancashire was looking like it would all be worth it when Connor Ogilvie's deflected strike found the net in the 84th minute.

It was a very low quality match with only a handful of key moments to recall. As the game looked to dwindle into a 0-0 bore-fest, it would have been a sensational away win with just a point and a place separating Pompey and Blackburn before kick-off.

Albeit that is still the case now, John Mousinho's side's seeming inability to see a game out when in the lead meant two points were thrown away in devastating fashion.

It is unfortunately the sort of characteristic that means Pompey are where we are in the Championship this season, and the number of times it has been suggested that this is something to do with the players' mentality by Mousinho is alarming.

The month of March will prove to be season defining for Pompey - displacing the agony of last minute points dropped with some crucial home wins would be a good place to start this week.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent commentator

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That was the angriest I have seen John Mousinho for a long time and, in some ways, it was understandable.

His Portsmouth team had done the hard bit by taking the lead and made a mess of seeing it out.

It was a strange and very poor spectacle. Blackburn came to sit back and try and hit Pompey on the break. Not many home teams play like that.

Both sides were determined not to make a mistake and efforts on goal were very limited.

Losing Regan Poole to injury would be a big blow even with Conor Shaughnessy returning, while Ebou Adams took a physical battering in the game - Pompey desperately need to keep him fit, he's a difference maker.

The bottom of the Championship is getting tighter. Two more points would have been handy but Pompey remain in a decent position.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho felt Pompey threw away two precious points by letting relegation rivals Blackburn score a 93rd-minute equaliser.

Pompey looked set to win when Connor Ogilvie netted six minutes from time at Ewood Park and Mousinho was not happy with his players' game management.

They are five points clear of the drop zone in 19th - and Mousinho feels it should be seven.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "Blackburn had a really good chance early on but, apart from that, pretty cagey. We've given ourselves the opportunity to win the game and after we scored the goal, I thought we just completely threw it away.

"Stopped winning headers, stopped winning challenges, stopped winning second balls, let them back inside for the goal, dropped too deep, committed too many bodies forward at times. We didn't do any of the things we'd done so well for 85 minutes.

"There's that mentality switch when you go a goal ahead. I can accept us sitting deep, but then we have to dominate underneath the ball, win our challenges, you've got to come out and win second balls.

"We managed the game horrifically. We managed it so, so poorly and ultimately we got what we deserved."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

In the second half of last season, Colby Bishop was one of the best strikers in the Championship.

His nine goals from 1 January onwards put him near the top of the scoring charts for that period whilst playing for a side battling against relegation.

This after consecutive seasons of reaching 20 goals in League One and a remarkable comeback from heart surgery which could easily have ended his career.

In some ways a drop-off this season isn't out of the ordinary. It's rare for a forward to have four seasons in a row playing at a high level, but it has been an issue for Pompey.

Just two league goals in total is a disappointing return. He still provides a focal point for Pompey's attack and works selflessly putting centre-backs under pressure. He also takes a physical battering for his efforts, the lone striker role can be a thankless one.

He has missed Josh Murphy as much as anyone. His only Championship goal from open play was a brilliant header from an outstanding Murphy cross. Any centre forward would love to have Murphy on the flank.

It's not as if Bishop keeps missing chances. Pompey are not a free-scoring team and Bishop is usually marked by two or three defenders. But ideally you'd have more threat on goal from your main marksman.

It was a gamble not to bring in a senior striker last summer. Given Bishop's form and fitness record it was an understandable one. Makenzie Kirk is one for the future.

What about January? Well Portsmouth made a bid of around £1.5million for an EFL striker, which they believed would be accepted, only for the price to then be significantly increased.

They did sign Jacob Brown, but he's a different profile of forward to Bishop and can also play on the wing.

Striker wasn't the only position Pompey had to worry about. They also desperately needed a central midfielder and new wingers. Those positions were significantly strengthened with Ebou Adams and Millie Alli both making an impact.

Should they have sacrificed one of those additions for another forward? Adams and Alli are both significant reasons behind Pompey's improvement.

Last summer in the Championship West Brom bought Aune Heggebo and Watford (via sister club Udinese) signed Luca Kjerrumgaard. Reported fees are not always precise but both were suggested to be around £4.5million. They have scored nine goals each. A new striker is likely to be sought in the summer but they won't come cheaply.

Don't write off Colby Bishop. You don't reach the Championship from Leamington in the National League North, let alone recover from serious heart surgery, without having some serious determination and mental strength.

Pompey need more from their number nine role than they are currently getting, and he's had a disappointing season, but he's only 29... the Bishop of previous seasons could yet return.

Image source, Opta

There's a big game in the battle near the bottom of the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT) as Portsmouth head to Ewood Park to play Blackburn.

Rovers are 20th, two places and four points clear of the relegation zone, but a place and a point below Pompey, who also have a game in hand.

After back-to-back wins, Blackburn have lost their past two games, at home to Bristol City and at Derby last Saturday, having led in both games.

Blues have also followed two wins with two defeats, going down at Wrexham before being edged-out at home to Hull City on Saturday.

• Blackburn have won eight of their past 10 home league games against Portsmouth (L2), winning the past four in a row since a 1-0 defeat in the Premier League in September 2007.

• Portsmouth are looking to complete their first league double over Blackburn Rovers since the 1969-70 campaign.

• Blackburn Rovers haven't won any of their past 10 league games in the month of March (D4 L6) since a 2-1 win over Reading back in March 2023.

• This game will be John Mousinho's 150th league game in charge of Portsmouth – he's the 11th manager to reach that landmark, with only two of the previous 10 winning their 150th game in charge: Bob Jackson in December 1950 and Jim Smith in October 1994.

• No side has dropped more points from winning positions in the Championship this season than Blackburn Rovers (22, level with Wrexham), losing 3-1 from 1-0 up last time out against Derby.

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Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

It was announced this morning that EFL clubs have voted in favour of expanding the Championship play-offs from four to six teams from next season.

When asked by the Portsmouth News recently, John Mousinho said he wasn't in favour of this change.

In theory it increases Pompey's chances of promotion but eighth place feels a long way off, given their current Championship journey.

My intrigue is the motivation behind the move. Will more games at the business end of the season increase TV money for the EFL? Or are clubs thinking this increases the chance of promotion?

The gap between the Championship and Premier League feels massive. An eighth-placed side being able to survive, let alone compete in the top flight, feels unlikely.