Away Match Day Thread 06/04/2026 - MDT: Portsmouth v Oxford United

[SteMerritt]

 

[Billyox]

Sunderland had absolutely nothing to play for against us, as they were completely secure in their playoff spot (3rd or 4th, I can't remember) but no amount of points in their remaining games was gonna move them from that spot, so they played a 2nd string side against us, and were clearly just going through the motions, as they had much bigger fish to fry.

We did do well to beat Sheffield United though, and we can only hope we pull another rabbit or two out the hat in these remaining fixtures, but I can't see it if I'm honest.

And no, at the start of the season, I absolutely would not have taken us being one point from safety with 5 games to go, I expected us to kick on this season, and aim for a just below mid table finish, I didn't expect us to go backwards like we have.

Millwall might be in the same position come the last game so my point is still valid

 

[londonyellow]

I will support the team for every second on a game day. It doesn’t mean I swallow every abysmal decision we make.

And I gave up in September. The apathy around the club was clear, and the fans are now replicating that too.

So you're apathetic and gave up in September yet you support the team for every second on game day? I call bs.

 

[Byrne Baby Byrne]

And the 3 points they gained seeing it out against Blackburn and 1 point gain by seeing it out with 10 men vs Coventry and the point gained seeing it out away at boro
Thats 5 points back of those 6

There is some logic to that but it’s not really how it works . Because we will inevitably be beaten out of sight some games we need both sets of those points.

 

[Billyox]

I will support the team for every second on a game day. It doesn’t mean I swallow every abysmal decision we make.

And I gave up in September. The apathy around the club was clear, and the fans are now replicating that too.

Gave up in September so the team have so far proven you wrong they have made it to 5 games to go and still not been relegated that must really hurt you im sure you have the post ready to tell us all "I told you so"

 

[JOHN BOY]

Except for the fact we now have two less games to get points from, and have just dropped two points in what was a very important 6 pointer against a relegation rival.

Today's game was THE game of the remaining fixtures where we had the opportunity to leapfrog a relegation rival, and we bottled it.

And 4 out of 5 of the remaining fixtures are gonna be seriously tough, against promotion/playoff chasing sides.

But yes, other than that, nothing's changed

And the 3 points they gained seeing it out against Blackburn and 1 point gain by seeing it out with 10 men vs Coventry and the point gained seeing it out away at boro
Thats 5 points back of those 6

No it's not he's right.

 

[Teddydee1980]

Just to pick up on some of the points being discussed, my two pence
...

MB has made some questionable choices with his selections and I still don't trust him entirely. His enthusiasm and messaging is spot on but is he a tactical genius? No, I suspect not.

That said, you cant really question the HT changes today. I howled with the rest of us when Vaulks came on, but it achieved what we needed, we managed the game better second half and got the goals needed. His 2nd half subbing does feel a bit late for me, and given who he tends to favour (Harris over Prelec, Vaulks over McDonnell etc) often weakens us

On MPH, he is a different somewhat frustrating style of winger. Not lightning, but physical, can protect and hold the ball, but he seems utterly terrified of final product whether that be a cross, through ball or shot. He's being picked solely because hes a GK outball and whilst I understand it...his impact is varied.

Are we as a team playing better football than under Rowett? - absolutely. Its not prime Brazil, but at least its not reductive, low risk, dead football.

And yeah, points dropped is disappointing, but we know...this league is ridiculous. There are no certainties either way, in expected wins or losses. This weekend is a prime example. 5 games to go, and we're still in the fight.

 

[greatunclekip]

Gave up in September so the team have so far proven you wrong they have made it to 5 games to go and still not been relegated that must really hurt you im sure you have the post ready to tell us all "I told you so"

Kip “I think we will be relegated this year thanks to our abysmal summer window and lack of pre season.

Rest “you are so negative, we are good. You find fault in everything”

Table :

 

[Followtheox1]

Kip “I think we will be relegated this year thanks to our abysmal summer window and lack of pre season.

Rest “you are so negative, we are good. You find fault in everything”

Table :

Surely both things can be true?

 

[Village-Yellow]

Pompey fan here. That was a tough watch. What's the view on the red from you guys? A lot of our fans and the commentators claiming it was harsh. I'm 50/50.

I notice a few people saying we're guaranteed for the drop as we have a difficult run of games but truth be told I actually think we tend to perform better against teams closer to the top of the table. We also have a few players due to come back from injury so who knows. Views from the opposition fans tend to flip flop between "worst performance I've ever seen" and "no way will Pompey go down if they play like that for the rest of the season" on a near game by game basis so all bets are off as far as I'm concerned.

See Leicester are losing. Hopefully we can both stay up but it's getting tight.

It was a harsh red imho.

Hard fought game.Two sides battling to stay up.

It’s going to the wire.

 

[holdsteady]

Surely both things can be true?

He has been saying it for twenty years so him trying to claim to be Nostradamus is a bit cheeky.

 

[Chris on a Bike]

W

Seeing as you have given up can I have your ticket i can give it to someone who actually wants to support the team no matter what the situation maybe

I doubt he's actually got a ticket

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

If they hadn't had the red card I think they could have 2 or 3 by HT, it looked awful from one angle so right decision. Lucky Spencer stayed on and thought Helik could have had a red also. But disappointed not to hang on. We never looked comfortable today I suspect the occasion got to us.
Still in it and I guess we feel better today than Pomps and Leicester.

 

[Billyox]

Kip “I think we will be relegated this year thanks to our abysmal summer window and lack of pre season.

Rest “you are so negative, we are good. You find fault in everything”

Table :

I look at the final table not the one with 5 games to go you gave up in September nothing is ever decided in September

 

[Village-Yellow]

Thank goodness for a voice of reason. The leeway this club gets from our fans is incredible.

This season has been abysmal decision after abysmal decision, but you just know when relegation is confirmed it will be polite clapping.

Today was a must win against a team in shocking form and with several key players missing. We fucked it. Yet now we are winning 3 home games.

And without doubt you would have been one of those Hammers leaving early yesterday at 2-0 down, only to be rushing back in at 2-1.

Very sad and very embarrassing.

It is not over till it’s over and anything can happen.

Grow a f*****g pair and support us till the dying end ffs.

You’re pathetic,

 

[Jakeyboy13]

Great bring it on
Same as last year then against Sheffield United and Sunderland remind me how did we get on again

Embrace it
i expect had i said to you or anyone back in August we will be 1 point from safety with 5 to go you would of taken it

Only we're 9 points from safety not 1

 

[greatunclekip]

I doubt he's actually got a ticket

Wrong. Live in the peaks but that season ticket to give funds to our glorious club gets renewed every year.

 

[greatunclekip]

And without doubt you would have been one of those Hammers leaving early yesterday at 2-0 down, only to be rushing back in at 2-1.

Very sad and very embarrassing.

It is not over till it’s over and anything can happen.

Grow a f*****g pair and support us till the dying end ffs.

You’re pathetic,

Oh I will. At games . But this is a forum.

 

[londonyellow]

Only we're 9 points from safety not 1

Someone give the lad an abacus

 

[holdsteady]

I look at the final table not the one with 5 games to go you gave up in September nothing is ever decided in September

He gave up twenty years ago.

 

[nick68]

Not sure the result is as bad as some are making out.

Obviously not seeing out the win against 10 men was disappointing but they did constantly cause us problems at the back with their directness, the defence never looked comfortable at any point in the game.

I thought Ter Avest had a positive impact and really showed what he can do.

Red didn't look a red at the time so will be interested to see it back, thought the ref was poor and let a lot go that would normally be penalised for both teams.

Their support was shocking, so many leaving at 1-2, worse than West Ham fans.

Win against Watford and things will look more positive

 

[Billyox]

Wrong. Live in the peaks but that season ticket to give funds to our glorious club gets renewed every year.

So can I have the ticket then and give it to someone who want to urge the club forward instead of trying to beat it with a stick at every opportunity

 

[Bretch Hill]

Well that’s Pompey away ticked off my list. Enjoyed our fans constant support for the team and some decent bk an forth between us and them. The first half was s**t the second better in parts. So we now leave behind a game we needed to win and replace it with the next game we need to win. Left Banbury at 8 this morning and just got bk. see some of you Saturday no doubt. Now’s not the time to throw in the towel

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Someone give the lad an abacus

No he is right
If we get one more point we require Pompey and Leicester to lose all their games even then Leicester have a superior goal diffence
That’s not going to happen
He is saying 50 points is what we need

 

[OX14]

So can I have the ticket then and give it to someone who want to urge the club forward instead of trying to beat it with a stick at every opportunity

Fans are allowed to question the club and how it is run though , not every fan has to be a happy clapper.

 

[Brahma]

I'm glad footballers, in the face of some pretty absurd abuse from their own supporters, have more spine than some posting on here.

I like lots of the posters on here, I get the frustration but clearly, very clearly, despite the other results today, today's result was not must win.

The team continue to fight, alongside a section, a large section, of our fanbase.

Three home games, an unexpected point or two on the road and we really are in with a chance in a very unpredictable league.

 

[Gregortheox]

Someone give the lad an abacus

I don’t think 9 points will be necessary.

I think it’s now time to fight to the bitter end.

I’m really frustrated and angry about today, but we have to really turn up the volume now as a fan base, because when we do it’s invariably epic.

It’s the 3 home games I’m looking at. I think 2 wins from 3 is possible.

 

[Billyox]

No he is right
If we get one more point we require Pompey and Leicester to lose all their games even then Leicester have a superior goal diffence
That’s not going to happen
He is saying 50 points is what we need

But Leicester could lose 5 games pompey lose 6 games we lose 4 and win 1

 

[Billyox]

Fans are allowed to question the club and how it is run though , not every fan has to be a happy clapper.

Im talking on the pitch the actual game i see absolutely no point in being negative you can have the debrief after the final game until then we still have a big chance of staying up back the team still all to play for

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

Come on lets just park any differences until summer and give it 100 until it's done one way or other.
COYY

 

[Scotchegg]

This weekend has shown me that neither Portsmouth (3pts from last 8 games) or Leicester (9pts from last 11 games) will get anywhere near 50 points. In fact, the only game either will be confident of winning will be against each other.

Beat Watford, Sheff Wed and a point or two from the others and I reckon we'll be fine.