At the end of February, Portsmouth sat at the bottom of the Barclays Championship, a position they’d occupied since game week two, with just two points from fourteen matches. They trailed Sheffield United by four points, though both had played the same number of games. Above them, Blackburn Rovers held a five-point advantage over Pompey, with three games in hand.
Due to Reading’s withdrawal on the eve of the season, the division was left one team short. As a result, only one team (rather than the usual two) would face relegation. So given Pompey’s position and the fact that the club had only scored six goals in their fourteen games things were looking very bleak and that it was a forgone conclusion that they were going to be returning to the FA Women’s National League at the first attempt.
During this time, Pompey’s task was made all the more difficult due to a host of long-term injuries, including to Hannah Haughton, Jazz Younger, Georgie Freeland, Izzy Colling, Grace McEwan, Lily Dent, Annie Hutchings and Emily Pitman.
The last fixture in February was a 5-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic. Charlotte Newsham’s strike put Charlton ahead at halftime, but Pompey Women endured a disappointing second half, with Ellie Brazil scoring twice and Jodie Hutton and Emma Bissell adding to the tally. After the match, first team manager Jay Sadler looked like the season had taken its toll on him, but knowing him, he will have been doing his best to remain upbeat.
March was a new month, a make or break month for Pompey. It started with a six-pointer away to their fellow strugglers, Sheffield United.
Pompey secured a vital first Championship win, reigniting their survival hopes. After the Blades were reduced to ten players following Issy Hobson’s red card, Sophie Barker struck against her former club, and Riva Casley sealed the victory. The result moves the Blues to within a point of Sheffield United at the bottom while also closing the gap on ninth-placed Blackburn.
The turnaround stunned many within women’s football and reignited belief among Pompey supporters. Suddenly, the great escape seemed possible.
Next up was a home fixture against Sunderland, already scheduled to be played at Fratton Park. Backed by 2,461 fans, Pompey recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Goals from Ava Rowbotham and Meg Hornby put them in control, and despite conceding late, they held on to leapfrog Sheffield United and Blackburn into ninth place.
The shift in atmosphere was palpable. In his post-match interview, Sadler was a different man, buoyant, confident, and full of praise for his players and staff. The dark cloud hanging over the club had begun to lift, replaced by hope and momentum.
Ian Chiverton, Chair of Portsmouth Women’s Supporters Club, believes that the team’s recent improvement has come from an unexpected source, an injury crisis. “The injury situation has meant he has had to play a similar line up each game since Xmas. I think having a settled 11 has actually benefited us.
“Sophie Barker moving up to ACM not CDM has been good. She has chipped in with goals and assists. Riva Casley and Hannah Coan look immeasurably more confident than the start of the season and Hannah Poulter has been fantastic in goal since she joined in Jan. Jas Bull has added pace and quality and Sophie Quirk has really found her feet at this level now.”
On whether they can avoid the drop, Chiverton explains, ‘We did start to worry we might go the whole season without winning. We were loosing game heavily with only a couple of attacks per game. The draw at Sunderland changed everything.
I do believe Pompey can stay up. The last three games have been outstanding from players and staff. We have truly found our feet now
Adding, “We have three huge games. We are the in from team out the three at the bottom which is a position we didn’t think we would be in. I think we probably need four points to stay up. Every game is a cup final now.”
End of season run-in…
Portsmouth: Durham (A), Bristol City (H) and Blackburn Rovers (H)
Blackburn Rovers: Southampton (H), Newcastle United (A), Sheffield United (A), Portsmouth (A) and Newcastle United (H)
Sheffield United: Bristol City (A), Blackburn Rovers (H), Southampton (H) and Sunderland (H)
Pompey have seven points from the last six matches and their rivals have both picked up two points in the same time. On form, you would suggest that they have the best chance of saving themselves.
The more observant of you will have noticed that Blackburn Rovers still have to play both Portsmouth and Sheffield United. So they have a huge say in their own destiny. If they can win both of those matches then that should be enough to retain their place in the Championship.
Due to the odd number of teams, Portsmouth finish their season on April 27th against Rovers, while the rest of the division have their final match a week later. That could prove to be an anxious seven days for Pompey while they have to sit and observe and hope for the best.
If I were a betting man, then I would suggest that it will be the Blades who drop down into the National League but as someone who lives ten minutes walk from Fratton Park and has been watching the women’s team for seven years now, maybe that is my heart talking.
One thing is certain—the FA Women’s Championship is unpredictable. It defies logic, form, and expectations. This relegation battle is far from over, and the final weeks promise to be full of twists and turns.
So, keep a close eye on this one. The Great Escape may just be on.
