Southampton see off Blackburn and close gap to Ipswich, Portsmouth boost survival hopes

Southampton see off Blackburn with a 3-0 win and close the gap to Ipswich, who lost 2-0 to Portsmouth, a boost to their own survival hopes.

Goals from Conor Shaughnessy and Colby Bishop sees Portsmouth claim a massive three points against second-placed Ipswich.

It means Pompey are now four points above the drop zone, while the Tractor Boys are two points ahead of 3rd place Millwall and three in front of Southampton who beat Blackburn 3-0, and Middlesbrough.

Ipswich remain 2nd, in the automatic promotion places, 10 points behind leaders Coventry City, but now two points ahead of Millwall and three in front of both Southampton, who beat Blackburn 3-0, and 5th place Middlesbrough.

Kieran McKenna’s side still have a game in hand but play both Middlesbrough and Southampton before the end of the season.

Cyle Larin, Ryan Manning and Cameron Archer helped Southampton to a comfortable 3-0 win, making it 18 games unbeaten, a sixth straight league win, up to fourth in the table, within three points of Ipswich while Rovers remain in relegation trouble, four points above the drop zone, but sides around them have games in hand.

Ipswich’s remaining league fixtures:
Sun 19 Apr (H) Middlesbrough – 12pm
Wed 22 Apr (A) Charlton Athletic – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (A) West Bromwich Albion – 12.30pm
Tue 28 Apr (A) Southampton – 7.45pm
Sat 2 May (H) Queens Park Rangers – 12.30pm

Millwall’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (H) Queens Park Rangers – 12.30pm
Tue 21 Apr (A) Stoke City – 7.45pm
Fri 24 Apr (A) Leicester City – 8pm
Sat 2 May (H) Oxford United – 12.30pm

Southampton’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (A) Swansea City – 3pm
Tue 21 Apr (H) Bristol City – 7.45pm
Tue 28 Apr (H) Ipswich Town – 7.45pm
Sat 2 May (A) Preston North End – 12.30pm

Middlesbrough’s remaining league fixtures:
Sun 19 Apr (A) Ipswich Town – 12pm
Wed 22 Apr (H) Sheffield Wednesday – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (H) Watford – 12.30pm
Sat 2 May (A) Wrexham – 12.30pm

Hull’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (H) Birmingham City – 3pm
Tue 21 Apr (A) Leicester City – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (A) Charlton Athletic – 12.30pm
Sat 2 May (H) Norwich City – 12.30pm

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Charlton’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (A) Sheffield Wednesday – 3pm
Wed 22 Apr (H) Ipswich Town – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (H) Hull City – 12.30pm
Sat 2 May (A) Swansea City – 12.30pm

Portsmouth’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (H) Leicester City – 12.30pm
Tue 21 Apr (A) Coventry City – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (A) Stoke City – 3pm
Sat 2 May (H) Birmingham City – 12.30pm

Blackburn’s remaining league fixtures:
Fri 17 Apr (H) Coventry City – 8pm
Wed 22 Apr (A) Sheffield United – 7.45pm
Sat 2 May (H) Leicester City – 12.30pm

West Brom’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (A) Preston North End – 3pm
Tue 21 Apr (H) Watford – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (H) Ipswich Town – 12.30pm
Sat 2 May (A) Sheffield Wednesday – 12.30pm

Oxford’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (A) Derby County – 12.30pm
Tue 21 Apr (H) Wrexham – 7.45pm
Sat 25 Apr (H) Sheffield Wednesday – 3pm
Sat 2 May (A) Millwall – 12.30pm

Leicester’s remaining league fixtures:
Sat 18 Apr (A) Portsmouth – 12.30pm
Tue 21 Apr (H) Hull City – 7.45pm
Fri 24 Apr (H) Millwall – 8pm
Sat 2 May (A) Blackburn Rovers – 12.30pm

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho speaking to BBC Radio Solent:

“In the moment it feels like the best performance since I’ve been here.

“There’s been some good ones and that is definitely the best performance of the season, with everything taken into account over the last few weeks I think that is justified.

“The mentality off the back of the win on Saturday (at Middlesbrough) was something we haven’t had all season. After winning games we wouldn’t follow it up – we’ve only done it once from Charlton to Millwall.

“There’s been a lot of false dawns where we’ve won a game and then looked to turn a corner but it’s not quite been there. The other pleasing thing was the work rate which was just superb against such a top side tonight.

“It’s still incredibly tight and tough down the bottom and the margins in the game are incredibly tight, we have to do everything we can to pick up as many points as we can.”

Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna said, per BBC Sport:

“We spoke after the Norwich game that that wasn’t the pinnacle, especially when we’re playing teams with massive motivations of their own.

“Every game is going to be harder and it’s gong to take a monumental effort to get the three points – we didn’t quite hit the levels tonight but we have games ahead to look forward to, to do it.

“Any game you lose you’re disappointed and at this stage of the season you’re disappointed, so it’s too easy to link it to Saturday because whatever happened on Saturday this was going to be a tough game.”

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent:

“We did them (Portsmouth) a favour as well. It’s a strong south coast today.

“It sounds boring because I keep repeating myself, but we need to keep our heads down and keep working. It’s the only way.

“This squad is in a moment and a place where you can put on whoever you want to put on and they’re ready and well able to perform. That’s a big plus for us at this part of the season.

“That’s all it comes down to at this stage of the season. When you step on the grass you need to be ready to perform.”

Blackburn boss Michael O’Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“Listen, the game’s gone – we just move on to Friday.

“We’re getting through the games and the squad is very challenged in terms of numbers, with a lot of players who aren’t with us at this minute in time.

“We could do with them being back for us. But the players we are putting out there are doing everything. Their attitude is first class, their commitment is first class, and that’s all we can ask.

“We met a very good side in the best form. We knew it would be a tough game and it proved to be the case.

“In the second half we played well but the second goal just before half-time was a real killer.”

Here’s the social media reaction as Southampton see off Blackburn and close gap to Ipswich, and Portsmouth boost their survival hopes…

@road_lowfields: Championship is the best league of all. Anyone can beat anyone.

@jaywhite_1: Southampton 🤝 Portsmouth. Both south coast sides doing themselves – and each other – massive favours tonight, in the hunt for promotion and survival, respectively!

@bjacobs14: Crazy what Southampton have done. Because they were battling relegation at one point in the season. Now they are 3 points off automatic promotion. The championship is always giving twists and turns.

@leesfc: Cheers #pompey 👍🏻😇 always knew you liked us #saintsfc

@jamesawarren: What a mad fixture evening!! #Pompey wanting Southampton to win and #SaintsFC wanting Pompey to win? That’s NEVER happened! 😇😂

@FlynnJonas2: Always liked Southsea to be fair … #SaintsFC #pompey

@OllieHarrison94: Feels wrong to say this, but we kinda need #pompey to do us a favour tonight #saintsfc 😇😇😇

@SaintMark31: I CANNOT believe I’m going to say this, but, come on #Pompey #saintsfc

Scum and pompey both helping each other pic.twitter.com/myidtDqQyq

— dave (@lifechallengesy) April 14, 2026

Battle for 2nd #Millwall pic.twitter.com/bjbLyzebPR

— Venom (@Venom_MFC) April 14, 2026

Pompey and Scum fans tonight after helping each other #saintsfc #pompey pic.twitter.com/GIIwdMmCGu

— Forgotten Pompey Goals (@Pompey_Goals) April 14, 2026