FiveThirtyEight’s data model uses key statistics to map out the season.
But despite Pompey making a managerial change last week, with Danny Cowley replacing Kenny Jackett in the Fratton Park hot seat, it forecasts that the Blues will agonisingly miss out on the play-offs and promotion by a single point.
Cowley’s side currently occupy seventh spot in the League One rankings with 55 points from their 35 games played.
The supercomputer predicts that Pompey will pick up a further 18 points from their remaining 11 games in the division – but it won’t be enough to contest the end-of-season play-offs, with the Blues anticipated to come up just short.
Hopefully, the so-called ‘supercomputer’ is proved wrong and Cowley leads the Fratton Park outfit into the top six.
In the meantime, though, below is FiveThirtyEight’s predicted final League One table for the 2020-21 season…
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1. Northampton - 24th
Predicted points: 42, predicted goal difference: -29 Photo: Pete Norton
2. Rochdale - 23rd
Predicted points: 43, predicted goal difference: -29 Photo: Lewis Storey
3. Wigan Athletic - 22nd
Predicted points: 44, predicted goal difference: -31. Photo: Lewis Storey
4. AFC Wimbledon - 21st
Predicted points: 44, predicted goal difference: -29 Photo: James Chance