“Three From Eight Will Go” – Portsmouth Boss Makes Bold Championship Relegation Call Ahead of Crucial Derby Clash

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has drawn a clear line in the sand in the race for Championship survival — and he firmly believes three of eight clubs, including his own, are set to scrap it out in a brutal battle to avoid the drop.

With just five games to go, Mousinho insists the survival cut-off has now been drawn beneath Pompey, ruling out the likes of Swansea and QPR while putting his own squad right in the thick of the danger zone.

And with Derby County heading to Fratton Park this weekend in what’s shaping up to be a relegation six-pointer, the Blues boss knows exactly what’s at stake — and who’s left in the fight.

“It’s Us and the Sides Below”

Mousinho wasn’t shy about making his stance clear when speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash, revealing which clubs he believes are still in the relegation mix.

“I wouldn’t want to speak for the sides above us, because they’d probably say you’re talking nonsense and we’re still in it, but it pretty much feels that it’s us and the sides below us that are in it now.

So yes, three from eight — that feels about right.”

He listed Oxford, Hull, Stoke, Cardiff, Luton, Plymouth, and Derby as the other sides alongside Pompey in this late-season dogfight, with each match now carrying huge implications.

Eyes on Derby — But Not on the Table

While fans might be glued to the results of every rival club, Mousinho says he’s ignoring the permutations — for now.

“I’m looking at results of teams, but I’ve genuinely not looked at the run-ins of any of the rivals.

That’s because it only comes around if we win games, so that’s the only thing I’m concerned with.”

And there’s a simple target in mind: beat Derby, and take control of their own destiny.

“If we win the game at the weekend, we’ve got ourselves in a really good position. That’s the most important thing for us — by doing that, we also take care of one of our relegation rivals. So that’s the focus for us.”

The “Magic Number” for Survival

With multiple teams hitting form at the wrong time for Pompey’s comfort — Derby with one loss in six, Luton unbeaten in five, and Cardiff on a four-game streak — there’s a growing belief that the 50-point barrier may now be needed to stay up.

It’s a threshold Mousinho has long insisted would be required, and he feels vindicated:

“I’ve spoken about 50 points — and that seems about right.

Some people thought the total might be lower, but now they’re thinking it may be closer to the 50 mark.”

“No One’s Doing Us Favors”

Ultimately, the message is clear from the Fratton Park boss — forget about what’s happening elsewhere, because Pompey’s fate is in their own hands.

“We can’t rely on any other team and have to make sure we do the business ourselves. That’s the only way we can be.”

With five games to decide their Championship future, the margin for error is razor-thin — and for John Mousinho and his men, it all starts on Saturday.

In other news, Mousinho Doubles Down on ‘Great’ Centre-Back Pairing Ahead of Derby Clash Despite Coventry Heartbreak