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

[SteMerritt]

 

[holdsteady]

I am at the stage where I am now thinking who knows how many points it will take or what will happen? All that matters is the next game, worry about that one then go from there.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

We have to accept that because of a poor summer transfer window and injuries to key players we are where we are. Our recruitment in January has improved us but we are not an Ipswich, Coventry etc

Most of us would have settled for being one point ahead of the relegation places after 46 games and that would be acceptable

That means not being as good as the majority of teams in this league so those who expect us to turn on the tap and play good football against lower ranked opponents are somewhat deluded.
If we could play the way some people on here expect we would be in the top half of the league
We are not very good we lack pace going forward have no decent back up strikers and are prone to making silly mistakes at the back . But we all know this We can’t keep criticising this team they are doing their best, I was very proud of them v Hull and disappointed today but I will be there cheering them on v Watford.
Who knows what will happen with 5 to go

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

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.

Glad to see you back

 

[Chippy]

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.

Hope you’re right.

However they are probably saying and thinking exactly the same about us. Leicester have actually been playing ok but not sticking the ball away and Pompey showed today that they still have plenty of fight.

We deserved to win against Hull and played well, let ourselves down a bit today though should probably have still won given the situation we found ourselves in.

Next Sat is absolutely massive. We simply have to win that one, everyone has to be bang up for it from the first whistle to the last.

COYY

 

[Billyox]

We have to accept that because of a poor summer transfer window and injuries to key players we are where we are. Our recruitment in January has improved us but we are not an Ipswich, Coventry etc

Most of us would have settled for being one point ahead of the relegation places after 46 games and that would be acceptable

That means not being as good as the majority of teams in this league so those who expect us to turn on the tap and play good football against lower ranked opponents are somewhat deluded.
If we could play the way some people on here expect we would be in the top half of the league
We are not very good we lack pace going forward have no decent back up strikers and are prone to making silly mistakes at the back . But we all know this We can’t keep criticising this team they are doing their best, I was very proud of them v Hull and disappointed today but I will be there cheering them on v Watford.
Who knows what will happen with 5 to go

You also have to accept that the owners are trying to juggle 3 things at once

Making us a competitive playing squad
Making sure we are balancing the p&s
Funding the stadium

Until we start building all the stadium money goes on the p&s sheet

The owners also want to improve the woman team
And upgrade the academy

All while being hamstrung by kassam rent and lack of income

 

[Billyox]

Hope you’re right.

However they are probably saying and thinking exactly the same about us. Leicester have actually been playing ok but not sticking the ball away and Pompey showed today that they still have plenty of fight.

We deserved to win against Hull and played well, let ourselves down a bit today though should probably have still won given the situation we found ourselves in.

Next Sat is absolutely massive. We simply have to win that one, everyone has to be bang up for it from the first whistle to the last.

COYY

What if we all draw again

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Just putting it out there again that if Harris (North Leigh in a couple of years) scored from 4 yards on Friday, this would still have been a cracking weekend for us.

We can still get out of this, in spite of our many weak links.

 

[Digby]

Every game now until the end of the season is massive. A win on Saturday would be a huge step in the right direction along with the Sheffield game 47 points if we win both . Everything will depend on teams around us falling at the last hurdle survival in the championship is still in the balance can’t right off anybody apart from Sheffield Wednesday, have the faith !!

 

[nick68]

Just putting it out there again that if Harris (North Leigh in a couple of years) scored from 4 yards on Friday, this would still have been a cracking weekend for us.

We can still get out of this, in spite of our many weak links.

Yes we get you don't like Harris, he got himself there at full stretch and was just not able to poke it home. I wanted him to score as much as anyone but it wasn't the miss of the season some are claiming, had it been Lankshear they would have commended the effort to get there and be in with a chance of scoring.
Maybe get behind players, we have 5 games left and put all personal hatred to the side until May

 

[tatabanya]

Just putting it out there again that if Harris (North Leigh in a couple of years) scored from 4 yards on Friday, this would still have been a cracking weekend for us.

We can still get out of this, in spite of our many weak links.

What’s the point of saying North Leigh in a couple of years? You might think he’s not doing a great job as a player, but how does that make you compare as a supporter? Just no need for it.

 

[uptheus]

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.

I sense the positive bus has had an overhaul

 

[Eaststanding]

Feels like relegation this afternoon to be honest.

Coming back from one down.
Red card for the opposition.
Keeper error.
"Winner" with 10 to go.

...and we still contrive to not win.

That’s the spirit..

 

[90syeIlow]

Just putting it out there again that if Harris (North Leigh in a couple of years) scored from 4 yards on Friday, this would still have been a cracking weekend for us.

We can still get out of this, in spite of our many weak links.

I'm not Mark Harris' biggest fan either, but snide comments about him are uncalled for.

He was our top scorer in league one and helped earn us 3 points against Ipswich and Leicester this season.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Elsewhere …

Rowett: ‘I understand the pressure’

 

[tonyw]

Again eventful, again a pleasure to attend, again a ripping atmosphere.. We’ve got to stay in the Champ. Somehow.

Though the ripping Fratton Park atmosphere will likely be gracing League One if we do manage to stay up!

Not sure I like Pompey very much, but I do respect the fact that they almost always make a hell of a racket.

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.

So the TV watchers viewpoint.....I thought it was a yellow in real time, but when you saw the replays, it was a nasty one.

Ogilvy miscontrolled it and was then late and got Mills on the ankle with his lead foot. That would probably be a yellow on its own.
But then he completely unnecessarily scissored into him with his trailing leg.....a classic example of a defender wanting to leave one in on a flying winger he thinks might cause him problems early. Never a red in the 90s.......probably not even a yellow in the 70s/80s.......but I think it is a red today.

 

[Symp59]

We knew it was going to be a tough season after Portsmouth at home ,not long ago I think we all thought that was it ,but we are still in with a fighting chance we know we probably need 3 wins to do the job ,I still think Leicester will have 1 more points deducted every little bit helps our cause ,but at the end of the day it's down to us we have been unlucky against Charlton ,Hull and now Portsmouth but at least we are competive we really do need some lady luck against Watford a good rest ,get the chins up and let's swat those Bees on Saturday.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

I'm not Mark Harris' biggest fan either, but snide comments about him are uncalled for.

He was our top scorer in league one and helped earn us 3 points against Ipswich and Leicester this season.

And he's a big part of why we're on our way back down, as things stand. Not his fault of course, but he's stealing a living off the club.

 

[trickyricky]

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

Apart from they play each other in a couple of weeks...

We will need 49 points to stay up.

 

[Twiggy85]

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.

I hope you are right - I just fear eventually Leicester will find something, keeping think their fixtures look nice but they fail to win…..who knows all we can do is continue to pick up points and put the pressure on.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

And he's a big part of why we're on our way back down, as things stand. Not his fault of course, but he's stealing a living off the club.

In which case he ain't the only one by a country mile - why aim the vitriol solely at him

 

[OX14]

And he's a big part of why we're on our way back down, as things stand. Not his fault of course, but he's stealing a living off the club.

Can't help think that Matty Taylor would be a better option off the bench than Harris. Absolutely bossed the second half today for City and scored a decent goal that Harris would have either put wide or not even got on the end of the cross due to always wanting to fight the defender rather that peel off and find space.

 

[tonyw]

On the general point of 'How is our season going to go'.......a really frustrating weekend for us, because we should have gotten 4 points minimum, maybe 6, and if we had we would be in great shape now.

But Leicester? Oh my lord. You literally could not have handpicked a pair of Easter fixtures that were better than Preston (H) and Wednesday (A), and they've contrived to win neither of them. To state the obvious, you really should not be getting relegated out of the Championship when you've got as much quality talent as they have (their goalscorer is going to be captaining a side against England in the World Cup this summer!)......but the same was true about Luton last year.

Win three out of our last five, and I think we will survive, because on current form, and with the fixtures they have left, I don't think I see Pompey or Leicester doing the same.

Big ask, but doable.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

In which case he ain't the only one by a country mile - why aim the vitriol solely at him

Because he is by far the worst offender, not even close to being good enough. Actually makes the team worse. Utter, utter s**t player who has lost us points, misses sitters and does absolutely nothing whatsoever.

I'd rather we play with 10 men.

 

[TailsWeWin]

That’s the spirit..

He’s simply made a point about how frustrating it was not to win given the circumstances.
How is your “supporter of the year” bid progressing?

 

[Twiggy85]

And he's a big part of why we're on our way back down, as things stand. Not his fault of course, but he's stealing a living off the club.

No footballer is stealing a living and think frankly ridiculous to make such daft statements.

 

[nick68]

Though the ripping Fratton Park atmosphere will likely be gracing League One if we do manage to stay up!

Not sure I like Pompey very much, but I do respect the fact that they almost always make a hell of a racket.



So the TV watchers viewpoint.....I thought it was a yellow in real time, but when you saw the replays, it was a nasty one.

Ogilvy miscontrolled it and was then late and got Mills on the ankle with his lead foot. That would probably be a yellow on its own.
But then he completely unnecessarily scissored into him with his trailing leg.....a classic example of a defender wanting to leave one in on a flying winger he thinks might cause him problems early. Never a red in the 90s.......probably not even a yellow in the 70s/80s.......but I think it is a red today.

Yes have seen it back now and agree it's a red, the scissor action can't be ignored.

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Yes have seen it back now and agree it's a red, the scissor action can't be ignored.

Whatever else it was an incredibly stupid decision whilst his team were cruising and 1 up .... instead of whining abput the ref maybe their supporters should have been thinking wtf is he playing at

 

[OX14]

No footballer is stealing a living and think frankly ridiculous to make such daft statements.

You're right he's not stealing a wage but some imbecile at the club decided to offer him a new improved contract.

When we go down there needs to be a real rebuild of backroom staff as it's still the same lot that set Des up to fail !

 

[ubermeistervonmeat]

Because he is by far the worst offender, not even close to being good enough. Actually makes the team worse. Utter, utter s**t player who has lost us points, misses sitters and does absolutely nothing whatsoever.

I'd rather we play with 10 men.

Bizarre

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

John Milkins interview today on YouTube. Sorry I don't know how to get the link.