BBC pundit delivers bleak Portsmouth relegation verdict as survival fight with Oxford United, West Brom continues
Pompey sit one point above the relegation zone as the race for Championship survival resumes this Friday.
Jobi McAnuff believes Pompey are the team he is currently most concerned about in the race to remain in the Championship.
And the former Reading man has pinpointed the Blues’ ‘massive’ contest against Oxford United on Easter Monday as a ‘six-pointer’ which could have huge ramifications at the bottom of the standings.
Pompey went into the two-week stoppage in disastrous circumstances, falling to a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of mid-table QPR - piling on more pressure ahead of the all-important run-in.
The Blues now sit just one point above the relegation zone with eight games remaining as they bid to avoid a return to League One after two seasons away.
Although Mousinho’s troops face in-form Norwich City at Carrow Road on Good Friday, relegation rivals Oxford United make the trip to Fratton Park just three days later in a huge contest at the bottom of the standings.
Just one point separates the sides at present, with the U’s facing play-off hopefuls Hull City on Friday afternoon.
BBC Sport pundit’s Pompey concerns
Indeed, McAnuff, who enjoyed a successful career with the likes of Reading, Crystal Palace and Cardiff City, has earmarked the Easter Monday clash as a ‘must win’ for either side if they want to claw themselves away from danger.
And the former midfielder has also delivered his verdict on where he views Pompey’s chances of survival at present.
Speaking on BBC Sports 72+ EFL Podcast, he said: ‘We know Easter weekend is absolutely pivotal and that Portsmouth v Oxford game is looming large, though they both have another game first.
‘It could genuinely come down to those matches against the teams in and around you. They are absolutely huge. The term six pointer gets thrown about a lot but they’re absolutely massive.
‘Portsmouth are, at the moment, the team I'd be a little bit concerned about in terms of their current form. A really bad result at QPR. They’re the ones we are looking at (who could be in trouble).
‘You take it game by game, of course, but that is 100% one of the games that everybody in that squad is looking at going 'we need to win that game - if we are going to stay up that is a must win.' It just has to be, because you’re putting them in bigger trouble
‘This two weeks now for Portsmouth is going to be the longest because it's doom and gloom - (losing) 6-1 against a team on their holidays in QPR (in their final game before the break).’
After facing Norwich City and Oxford United over the Easter weekend, Pompey then take on Middlesbrough (A), Ipswich Town (H), Leicester City (H), Coventry City (A), Stoke City (A) and Birmingham City at Fratton as they bid to maintain their Championship survival.