Exclusive: How Don Goodman would be "shocked" by Portsmouth FC in 2025/26 | OneFootball

Pompey will be aiming to progress up the Championship table this season

Don Goodman believes he would be left "shocked" if Portsmouth were able to mount a play-off charge under John Mousinho during the upcoming Championship campaign.

Pompey's key aim under the former Oxford United and Burton Albion centre-back last season was to simply reconsolidate in the second tier as they featured at the level for the first time since 2012, and they were able to overcome an extremely challenging start en route to finishing with their heads above water.

For the second successive Championship term, all three sides newly-promoted from League One achieved the initial remit of survival. However, it was the Blues who finished best in comparison to Oxford United and Derby County, accumulating 54 points and finishing 16th - five points clear of Luton Town, who were relegated on goal difference.

Many are intrigued to see how the South Coast side will fare in 2025/26, especially with Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Birmingham City, Wrexham and Charlton Athletic joining Portsmouth's bitter rivals, Southampton, as newcomers to what will be an extremely competitive division.

Don Goodman issues Portsmouth FC prediction with play-off calls in mind

Across various social media platforms, there have been some predictions from supporters and EFL onlookers which have tipped Pompey to make significant progress this term, and in some cases, challenge for a play-off berth for the first time at this level since their relegation as a financially crippled club back in 2010.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman believes there is scope for progress to be made at Fratton Park between now and the end of the season, but admits it would take a monumental effort from Mousinho and his chargers to put themselves among a cluster of sides vying for a spot in the top six.

"The first thing to notice with Portsmouth is a much gentler start to the season this season compared to last season, which was absolutely brutal for them, and they found it tough as everybody would have expected," the Sky Sports pundit explained.

"In terms of a play-off push, I would be pretty shocked if I'm honest if Portsmouth could muster that," he continued.

"It's a little bit like Derby County. I think any position in and around that middle, if they could find their way into the top half of the table, that would be viewed as a massively successful season I would think, and a season which they could build on the following year.

"The biggest thing for them is sorting their away form out," Goodman stated. "Clearly, their survival was based on home form - 40 points - whereas they only won three away games, and only Plymouth got less points away from home in the Championship last season.

"That's clearly an area they're going to have to address, along with being more resilient defensively. But, I'd be shocked if they were up there, chasing a play-off spot with respect."

Portsmouth FC will hope for steady progression under John Mousinho

As Goodman alluded to, the fixture release has been far kinder to Mousinho and his side this time around, as within the first seven games last season, Pompey faced six of the eventual top ten as well as a newly-relegated Luton outfit, taking just four points from a possible 21.

Whilst there are no easy encounters in the Championship, supporters and Mousinho will be earmarking early home fixtures against Norwich City and Preston North End as opportunities to generate a strong points return, as well as the opening day fixture away to Oxford, where they picked up three of their 14 away points last season.

Many will be pinning their hopes on Josh Murphy to continue his fine form, whilst Colby Bishop is available from the get-go this season after undergoing heart surgery in the early weeks of last season, which saw him miss the first 14 games.

His availability will be a huge plus for Mousinho this time around, as well as any potential incomings who join the club, with a return for previous fan favourite, Alex Robertson, recently mooted.

A play-off push can never be ruled out given the unpredictable nature of the division, although slow and steady progress would also represent success in this part of the world.