Millwall Vs Portsmouth: Pompey win 3-1 as promotion bid suffers
In a match that swung decisively after the interval, millwall vs portsmouth finished 1-3 as Portsmouth scored three goals in a brief second-half flurry at The Den, a result that moves them well away from the relegation zone and deals a blow to Millwall's automatic-promotion hopes.
Millwall Vs Portsmouth: Match turning points
The game was level at half-time before a sudden burst after the break. Portsmouth opened the scoring seconds into the second half when Gustavo Caballero followed up after his initial shot was saved and tucked the rebound into the net. That strike began a run in which Pompey scored three goals in roughly 22 second-half minutes, a sequence that proved decisive.
Portsmouth's decisive second-half burst
John Swift doubled the visitors' lead after good work down the left by Millenic Alli, finishing from the edge of the box. Millwall pulled one back when Casper de Norre curled a fine strike into the corner, but Marlon Pack restored a two-goal cushion with an instinctive finish from close range. Portsmouth’s tempo and chance conversion after the interval carried them to a valuable win and their second success in London in five days.
Implications for promotion and relegation
Portsmouth moved six points clear of the Championship relegation zone with the victory. For Millwall, the defeat is a setback for their automatic-promotion hopes; they remain six points behind the second-placed side in the table after other teams around them dropped points. The result also means Portsmouth completed a seasonal double over Millwall and followed another recent away win in the capital earlier this week.
Early moments showed the match could be tight: Millwall's goalkeeper on debut was called into action with a strong save from Caballero, while the visitors’ keeper also produced notable stops during the first half. Both teams had chances in a scrappy opening period before the second half opened the scoring.
Post-match reaction highlighted defensive frustration from the home side. One manager said, "I don't think we deserved anything from the game, " and Alex Neil added that the opposition "did the basics better than we did, " pointing to collective defensive lapses rather than failures in any single area.
Looking ahead, the immediate indicators are clear: Portsmouth’s recent run of away wins has materially improved their cushion above the relegation zone, while Millwall must respond if they are to protect automatic-promotion hopes as the season progresses. If the hosts fail to tighten their basic defensive work and match-day duels, similar setbacks could follow; conversely, restoring the form that produced a long unbeaten run would keep their promotion challenge alive.
