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

[SteMerritt]

 

[Oxford84]

I have been called a c**t before but I’m not sure it’s ever been because I support Portsmouth! What’s with the hate of our fans?

As per usual its not all supporters but chucking bottles at Mills?

 

[Scotchegg]

Bloomfield has better players- and a stronger squad- to work with imo. MPH is also Championship standard, and the presence of Massoko has made Helik up his game hugely. Donley was poor today, but has also made a big difference. But we'll have to agree to disagree.

Maybe the presence of better coaches (Bloomfield and Dodds) has helped Helik improve more than Massoko's handful of appearances?

In the same way that Mills looks much better and our defence has become much tighter in general (not a great day today).

So many are quick to put the blame on the manager when things go wrong but come up with completely random reasons to praise everyone but them when things go well.

Rowett has shown at Leicester that his days of managing at this level are numbered and I'm sure that he would have taken us down, as I'm sure that he'll take Leicester down.

Bloomfield still has plenty to do, but we at least look like a proper team under him that is giving survival a real go.

 

[Northernyellow]

Maybe the presence of better coaches (Bloomfield and Dodds) has helped Helik improve more than Massoko's handful of appearances?

In the same way that Mills looks much better and our defence has become much tighter in general (not a great day today).

So many are quick to put the blame on the manager when things go wrong but come up with completely random reasons to praise everyone but them when things go well.

Rowett has shown at Leicester that his days of managing at this level are numbered and I'm sure that he would have taken us down, as I'm sure that he'll take Leicester down.

Bloomfield still has plenty to do, but we at least look like a proper team under him that is giving survival a real go.

You do understand how a squad works? McDonnell is decent, so puts pressure on Konak. Ditto Massoko on Helik. And so on. You can't be 'sure' that Rowett would have taken us down with better players. Anyway, I know you don't like being challenged so let's leave it there.

 

[OxfordBoy]

As of today wasn’t bad enough…

 

[OohJonnyLager]

Booing Mills for the entire game, just because your player tried to take him out and had to face repercussions for it.

General arrogance - singing you were getting promoted because you edged a shockingly poor quality game at the Kassam on the first day of the season and generally being derogatory to some of the smaller clubs.

And for incessantly ringing that bloody bell!

 

[Oxford84]

Those defending MPH, just look at the other wing, we have Mills who consistently gets past his man down the outside and delivers a dangerous cross into the box, and when he’s not doing that, he’s cutting inside and having a go on his left.

I would drop MPH and play anyone else, Placheta, Woo, even Harris, anyone willing to put a shift in.

No pile on here, he isn’t the reason we couldn’t convert our lead into a win, but he’s been poor for a while now. His long throws are also abysmal.

I think hes better when hes up against a smaller full back who he can beat in the air and also hold the ball up, lets us get up the pitch that way.
As with all attacking players though, if they dont score or assist then you dont miss them when they leave.

 

[Nadi-]

Red for me
made no attempt for the ball, went for Mills only.
From the rear and side view,

 

[DanC]

Dan and Matt reflect on Oxford United's agonising days out against #pompey and Hull City #tigers. Dan has a right moan about moaners. Theo works out our survival stats. Matt reminisces about playing with the Milk Cup heroes of 1986. And we recall that wonderful promotion of 2016. #oufc

 

[Sam_Brown]

As per usual its not all supporters but chucking bottles at Mills?

I didn’t catch that but if true I can only apologise. That’s pretty shitty behaviour from any club.

For the guy that mentioned the arrogance of singing “we’re gonna win the league” at the start of the season, I can categorically confirm that’s 100% tongue in cheek. This is the same fans that sing “how s**t are you... we’re drawing away” we know we’re s**t lol. It’s just a question are we s**t enough to get relegated.

 

[90syeIlow]

I didn’t catch that but if true I can only apologise. That’s pretty shitty behaviour from any club.

For the guy that mentioned the arrogance of singing “we’re gonna win the league” at the start of the season, I can categorically confirm that’s 100% tongue in cheek. This is the same fans that sing “how s**t are you... we’re drawing away” we know we’re s**t lol. It’s just a question are we s**t enough to get relegated.

Fair enough about the tongue in cheek comment, but generally your fans could do with showing more humility.

 

[CarParkUltra]

Hugely frustrating result that. I know a few people are questioning Bloomfield, but I thought his changes at half time made a big difference. Some of the longer range passing from Vaulkes was impressive.

It's going to go right down to the wire isn't it. Just such fine margins recently with the points dropped yesterday, Charlton and Hull.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

I have been called a c**t before but I’m not sure it’s ever been because I support Portsmouth! What’s with the hate of our fans?

It's a love hate thing because you're the team we've played the most. We miss you when you're not there, but want a domestic when you are.

 

[Osleroad]

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.

Yes and look at how many pelters he got at the end of his career with us (and service in the box). He is a good player and by rights should be doing it at rhat level at his age and fitness

 

[Village-Yellow]

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

5 games ago we looked gone.

Now, we have given ourselves some hope.

This happy clapper reference is just infantile.

Are you suggesting we shouldn’t clap the players on match day ?

 

[werthersoriginal]

You do understand how a squad works? McDonnell is decent, so puts pressure on Konak. Ditto Massoko on Helik. And so on. You can't be 'sure' that Rowett would have taken us down with better players. Anyway, I know you don't like being challenged so let's leave it there.

Gary Rowett kept us up last season without making us a good team, and this season his performance was lazy and cynical. I’m not sure about Bloomfield yet but he’s certainly motivated the players and made them a spirited team in contrast to the limp outfit turned out by Rowett.

 

[yellowbow]

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.

Anyone else think the EFL have bottled it with Leicester and are waiting until a further point deduction won’t matter either way. Either they will be safe or already relegated?

 

[Billyox]

Anyone else think the EFL have bottled it with Leicester and are waiting until a further point deduction won’t matter either way. Either they will be safe or already relegated?

My guess is if they get relegated they will deduct another 3/4 points as it doesn't matter if they stay up they will deduct enough that doesn't affect the table or just give it to start the following season

 

[uptheus]

Hugely frustrating result that. I know a few people are questioning Bloomfield, but I thought his changes at half time made a big difference. Some of the longer range passing from Vaulkes was impressive.

It's going to go right down to the wire isn't it. Just such fine margins recently with the points dropped yesterday, Charlton and Hull.

I was initially concerned when I saw Vaulks come on for the start of the 2nd half, but I actually felt he was better than Konak from an offensive perspective e.g. good spraying of the ball, plus he passed and moved quicker.

Not overly sure ter Avest offered anymore than Long. Just felt he needed to change MPH and Donley for Placheta and Prelec and really pin Pompey back as we would have had two pacy wingers in Mills and Placheta for them to worry about, plus Lankshear and Prelec.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

Ter Avest really coped well with the occasion. Wonder if he'll play Friday but could be really handy when we need to win at Wall.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Ter Avest really coped well with the occasion. Wonder if he'll play Friday but could be really handy when we need to win at Wall.

He will be our best player if does but then I’m not sure he would play again on Saturday when the rest of the team do.

 

[Yemi-God]

As disappointing as yesterday was, I am even more convinced now that we will have enough to stay up. I was more confident about the Watford game than about the Portsmouth game. With the way teams are playing around us and the fixtures they have left, I think two wins and a couple of draws will be enough. Portsmouth and Blackburn - not sure they will win another game. On top of that, Leicester just look awful, and I don't think they have the fight in them; we do. This time next week, we could be 1-2 points outside of the relegation zone.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Ter Avest really coped well with the occasion. Wonder if he'll play Friday but could be really handy when we need to win at Wall.

I've always rated HTA. Thought he came in to a difficult game state and handled it very well. Would have liked to have seen much more of him during his time with us.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Gary Rowett significantly underachieved with us this season. In my opinion, to the tune of 8-10 points from his 22 games in charge.

Matt Bloomfield has, on balance thus far, also performed below par, maybe to 4 or 5 points - he took over a club with 21 games remaining needing 8 wins to guarantee survival (and maybe only 7). He's managed 4 from 16.

The senior management - that f*cked the summer, held on to Rowett too long, took an age to replace, and did so with someone who needed multiple weeks to get into a reasonable stride - have performed horrifically.

The players, or at least the core spine of them - Cumming, Brown, Currie, Spencer, Brannagan, Mills, Lankshear - have performed admirably and deserved better from all of the above.

I still believe we can do it. But it should never have been this hard.

 

[Foley]

Gary Rowett significantly underachieved with us this season. In my opinion, to the tune of 8-10 points from his 22 games in charge.

Matt Bloomfield has, on balance thus far, also performed below par, maybe to 4 or 5 points - he took over a club with 21 games remaining needing 8 wins to guarantee survival (and maybe only 7). He's managed 4 from 16.

The senior management - that f*cked the summer, held on to Rowett too long, took an age to replace, and did so with someone who needed multiple weeks to get into a reasonable stride - have performed horrifically.

The players, or at least the core spine of them - Cumming, Brown, Currie, Spencer, Brannagan, Mills, Lankshear - have performed admirably and deserved better from all of the above.

I still believe we can do it. But it should never have been this hard.

Not sure that I agree re Bloomfield.
We were firm odds on to go down when he came in. To be within a point of being out of the bottom 3 at this stage is better than most would have reasonably expected ( in a really tough league).
IF we do it, I think that Bloomfield will rightly be seen to have done a teriffic job.

 

[WE Yellow]

I was initially concerned when I saw Vaulks come in for the start of the 2nd half, but I actually felt he was better than Konak from an offensive perspective e.g. good spraying of the ball, plus he passed and moved quicker.

Not overly sure ter Avest offered anymore than Long. Just felt he needed to change MPH and Donley for Placheta and Prelec and really pin Pompey back as we would have had two pacy wingers in Mills and Placheta for them to worry about, plus Lankshear and Prelec.

Long overhit at least 4 channel balls in the first half, Ter Avest's first action was to bring the ball down, feed it infield to Vaulks and then receive back and spread it wide to Spencer - he's levels above, when fit.

 

[Oxymoron]

My guess is if they get relegated they will deduct another 3/4 points as it doesn't matter if they stay up they will deduct enough that doesn't affect the table or just give it to start the following season

Isn't there a rule that a points deduction given after a certain date in the season will be applied to that season if it affects the final placing for relegation (or promotion I guess) but if the outcome is the same regardless of the deduction, then it is carried over to the next season.

 

[Rach]

IF we're relegated (and I don't think we will be) alongside Leicester, would that make Gary Rowett the only man to have ever relegated two teams from the same league in the same season?

 

[Peterdev]

IF we're relegated (and I don't think we will be) alongside Leicester, would that make Gary Rowett the only man to have ever relegated two teams from the same league in the same season?

Quite possibly. Might happen to Nino at West Ham too I think

 

[Topper Haines]

Isn't there a rule that a points deduction given after a certain date in the season will be applied to that season if it affects the final placing for relegation (or promotion I guess) but if the outcome is the same regardless of the deduction, then it is carried over to the next season.

I thought that, was it Leeds who tried to go into administration at half time on the last game of the season a while back as they were down and wanted the points applied that season as it made no difference? But they got the deduction applied the following season.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Gary Rowett significantly underachieved with us this season. In my opinion, to the tune of 8-10 points from his 22 games in charge.

Matt Bloomfield has, on balance thus far, also performed below par, maybe to 4 or 5 points - he took over a club with 21 games remaining needing 8 wins to guarantee survival (and maybe only 7). He's managed 4 from 16.

The senior management - that f*cked the summer, held on to Rowett too long, took an age to replace, and did so with someone who needed multiple weeks to get into a reasonable stride - have performed horrifically.

The players, or at least the core spine of them - Cumming, Brown, Currie, Spencer, Brannagan, Mills, Lankshear - have performed admirably and deserved better from all of the above.

I still believe we can do it. But it should never have been this hard.

What you don’t say is that we may have only won 4 but actually have only lost 5, which is reasonable. It won’t be good enough in the end but at least they have hung on. The bottom line is we haven’t been good enough and i expect we will spend all summer talking about where it all went wrong.