Giant killings, away day batterings, injury setbacks and passionate crowds all summed up Pompey’s return to the Championship after 12 years.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for the Blues which left them in 16th place and five points from relegation.
Michael Eisner boldly claimed Portsmouth wouldn’t be relegated despite being at the foot of the table at the time. This was eventually proven right with a few games to spare, but it was far from straightforward.
John Mousinho had to contend with losing his talisman Colby Bishop for the first 3 months of the season, undergoing major heart surgery, with many suspecting he wouldn’t return for the season.
Further injuries to Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Josh Murphy all increased the difficulty of Pompey’s early fixture list.
The Blues summer recruitment drive brought a mixed bag of talent. There were the ultimate failures of Elias Sorensen, Sammy Silvera, Mark O’Mahony, Harvey Blair, and Aboulaye Kamara – all failing to make the immediate impact required.
This was matched with a number of players finding their feet in the Championship. It took the Blues 10 games to record their first win, and 15 to gain three points at home..
The feeling after the humiliating 6-1 loss to Stoke City, 2-0 slump to Cardiff City, and the 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, was that the Blues were hopeless, hapless, and going down with a whimper. You could be forgiven for saying Mousinho, Rich Hughes, and the powers at be, had made a complete debacle of Pompey’s Championship return.
The gaffer, drenched in beer, lauded his team as a ‘truly special group’ after their League One title triumph.’ This statement was emphatically vindicated, in the sheer spirit and character shown by his team. Following a 3-1 home win against Preston North End, Pompey went on to win 37 points at Fratton Park out of a possible 51. Formidable Fratton was a place all teams feared, with this form effectively keeping Pompey up.
Even as the team’s performances and results improved, their injury fortunes worsened. Further long term injuries to Shaughnessy and Farrell, were met with lengthy spells on the sidelines for Regan Poole, Rob Atkinson, Hayden Matthews, Paddy Lane, and worst of all, top scorer Callum Lang. The attacking midfielder epitomised everything great about Pompey’s new style. His constant engine, grit, aggression, and quality, was crucial in the blues uptake in form.
These setbacks culminated in the expectation of Pompey’s demise. Nonetheless Mousinho’s men continued to battle, and there was no better representation of this ‘special group’, than when eventual champions Leeds United visited Fratton Park.
Pompey were the talk of the country with Sky and ITV coverage. The Blues put in another intense performance where they ground out a 1-0 win, in which Fortress Fratton stole the headlines and carried the hosts to a famous win.
This was one of many statements across the season. Pompey weren’t just in the Championship to ‘make up numbers’, but on Portsea Island, they were a side to be revered. Across the campaign the Blues took wins from Leeds, play-off finishers Bristol City and Coventry City, as well as big spenders Norwich City , Middlesbrough, Swansea City, QPR, Watford, and Blackburn Rovers.
After seven years of anguish, Mousinho’s League 1 title win was remarkable and will go down in history. This achievement of retaining Pompey’s Championship status despite all the obstacles is even more impressive. It’s no surprise the manager has been linked with several other Championship jobs. Mousinho continues to silence his doubters, and will no doubt keep Pompey pushing next season.
Photo: Martyn White Sports Images
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