Are Pompey the worst side in the league right now?

Saturday's opening 25 minutes was the worst I've seen from Pompey this season so far.

Until a pause for treatment for Nico Schmid and the opportunity for John Mousinho to rally his troops, we looked lost, slow and completely second best, albeit against a strong and talented Bristol City side.

Those in blue looked almost too determined not to be the one to make the costly error, and the Fratton End was beginning to turn nasty.

Whatever was said did at least improved Pompey in places - which in turn the crowd responded to, but only via a couple of half chances.

There was nothing that happened after those 25 minutes that suggested there was any chance that Mousinho's side would pull off an impressive comeback.

We were well beaten at Bramall Lane in midweek, and both Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich have travelled to Fratton Park and taken all three points. With that in mind, many would find it hard to argue that Pompey are the worst side in the Championship right now.

And what's perhaps most concerning is it doesn't look like this is going to change any time soon.

Without big January investment, Pompey probably won't get out of this.

With a fully fit squad, we probably just about have enough. Sadly, it seems we always have at least one big name player in the treatment room unavailable for selection.

The league is stronger this year, and therefore the method of relying on a Mousinho miracle is riskier than it was last season.

If you were to pick out a period in which Pompey's season would be defined, games against Charlton, Swansea and Blackburn would probably be it.

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