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…
9. Conor Shaughnessy - 8
(20 games, 2 goals) If only Pompey could keep him on the pitch more often. Another injury-wrecked season, with that hamstring snap against Sheffield Wednesday the most agonising to witness. When available, he’s a class act and forms the Blues’ strongest centre-half partnership with Poole. While nobody in the squad is as effective as Shaughnessy in either penalty areas. However, a total of 29 appearances over the last two seasons remains a huge concern. | Graham Hunt/ProSportsImages
10. Terry Devlin - 9
(40 games, 5 goals) At the start of November, Devlin had made just one start in all competitions this season - on the right wing against Reading in the Carabao Cup. However, in the reshuffle following the 4-0 hammering at Birmingham, he lined up against Wrexham at right-back and a new star was born. Having dallied with the right-back role previously, his subsequent displays demonstrated that is now absolutely his preferred and most effective position. Defensively hugely improved, while that natural attacking instinct, coupled with ridiculous energy levels and work-rate made his Pompey’s stand-out performer. Won all 17 end-of-season awards and, having turned down a £2m bid from Wrexham in January, Pompey now face a battle to now keep him. | Graham Hunt/ProSportsImages
11. Regan Poole - 9
(43 games, 0 goals_ Finally put to bed those doubts over his injury record by becoming the joint-leading appearance maker for Pompey this season alongside Bishop. In fact, nobody started more Championship games. It was back to the Poole of old before that ACL injury in November 2023, thundering into tackles, throwing himself to block the ball, brave, lion-hearted and, perhaps most crucial of all, consistent. What’s more, he was paired with a lot of centre-half partners. Runner-up in The News/Sports Mail Pompey Player of the Season. | Simon Roe/ProSportsImages
12. Madiodio Dia - 7
(7 games, 0 goals) Arrived from the Norwegian league as something of an unknown at a time when Pompey were blighted by injuries to centre-halves. Although clearly raw and a little erratic, to Dia’s credit he performed admirably at Norwich and Middlesbrough to help the Blues to some important points in their relegation battle. Stoke was another solid display, although Coventry was a struggle. Mousinho clearly likes the Senegalese centre-back, who ended the season as third-choice in the position. It will be interesting to watch him develop and add consistency to his promising game | Getty Images