From the despair of QPR to preserving their Championship status just six games later, it has been another emotionally exhausting season for Pompey.
Certainly few among the Fratton faithful wouldn’t have anticipated staying up with two games to spare after that 6-1 hammering at Loftus Road.
Still, John Mousinho has once again overseen survival, steering the Blues into 18th position and collecting one more point than last term.
And here are Neil Allen’s Pompey player ratings for the season…
5. Jordan Williams - 7
(31 games, 1 goal) A curious season for the defender, who started it and ended it in Mousinho’s starting XI, yet in between there were lengthy spells on the bench. Definitely a victim of Devlin and Swanson enjoying their best seasons in a Pompey shirt, Williams couldn’t get in at either right or left-back. At one point, he was an unused substitute in eight successive matches. However, with Ogilvie, Swanson and then Devlin picking up injuries in the final five weeks of the season, Williams started the last six games to remind us all what a reliable performer he is, assisting Segecic’s goal against Birmingham. | Graham Hunt/ProSportsImages
6. Zak Swanson - 8.5
(35 games, 2 goals) Ogilvie’s knee injury in November opened the door for Swanson to serve as an emergency left-back - and he flourished. Indeed, this was his best season in a Blues shirt. Largely free from injury, the former Arsenal man elevated his performances, while maintaining that attacking thrust and love for a tackle which have long impressed the Fratton faithful. Out of contract - and Pompey must keep him. | Simon Roe/ProSportsImages
7. Connor Ogilvie - 8
(33 games, 1 goal) Remains Mousinho’s first-choice left-back, but also reminded us of his versatility by impressively filling in at centre-half during another injury crisis at the turn of the year. At one point, he stood in at centre-back for 11 out of 12 matches, usually alongside Poole, including two big away wins at Charlton and Millwall. Missed 10 matches with a knee ligament injury sustained against Wrexham in November, while also had a controversial red card against Oxford United, | Toyin Oshodi/ProSportsImages
8. Jacob Farrell - 5
(2 games, 0 goals) It’s difficult to see a Pompey future for the Australian left-back after another injury-devastated season, culminating with a loan move to Western Sydney Wanderers, where he also got injured. It continues to be difficult to judge his ability due to his lack of first-team availability. A start in the Carabao Cup against Reading and substitute outing at Watford were Farrell’s only involvements this term. In fact, Swanson was preferred at left-back in the absence of Ogilvie. That’s now three games in two years for Pompey since his July 2024 arrival. | Simon Roe