Portsmouth ended the international break in a better position than they started it after title rivals Derby County dropped three points away at Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon.
In his debut season as a manager, John Mousinho has turned Pompey into the strongest side in League One. The league leaders are sitting five points clear of Derby with a game in hand and are currently on a 12-game unbeaten streak, having last tasted defeat in mid-January after a 3-0 loss at home to Leyton Orient.
Portsmouth have some tricky fixtures before the end of the campaign, including a tough double-header over the next few days. First up is a trip to Adams Park to take on an in-form Wycombe Wanderers followed by a potential season-defending clash at Fratton Park against the Rams.
Picking up six points from these two matches could all but end any chance that Paul Warne’s side have of catching Mousinho’s men, leaving Pompey with an eight-point gap at the top of the table.
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Nevertheless, Portsmouth shouldn’t get too giddy. Wycombe are on a tremendous run of form, having picked up four wins from five games and have also booked their place at Wembley for the final of the EFL Trophy where Peterborough United await.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash in Buckinghamshire, Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield has claimed it is only a matter of time before Pompey are promoted to the Championship, heaping praise on the visitors [quotes via Bucks Free Press]:
“In Colby Bishop, they have one of the best number nines in the league as they can play into him whilst also playing off,” Bloomfield said.
“They’ve got good pace out wide with a lot of dribbling ability in Marlon Pack, so they’re going to bring a lot of quality.
“They’re top of the league and with the gap they’ve got, it’s only a matter of time before Portsmouth secure promotion – John [Mousinho] has also done a brilliant job there,” he continued.
“Portsmouth have got a good squad and they’ve been top of the table for pretty much the whole season for a reason.
“They’re efficient in picking up results and we need to be on it against them.”
Writer’s View
Portsmouth now have a really nice cushion at the top of the table while also boasting a game in hand. If Mousinho’s side win these next two games, they will all but mathematically be crowned as champions of England’s third tier.
It’s been an incredible season for Pompey and the young head coach will certainly be up for the Manager of the Season award. However, he needs to ensure that his players don’t get complacent at Adams Park on Good Friday as anything can still happen in this ever-unpredictable division.
Deputy Head of Writing
