Norwich, England – Colby Bishop‘s stunning hat-trick led Portsmouth to a thrilling 5-3 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday. This victory marks Portsmouth’s second win in 17 Championship away games and creates a six-point cushion above the relegation zone while effectively shattering Norwich’s playoff aspirations.
Portsmouth started the match confidently, with Bishop finding the back of the net three times to cement his status as a standout performer. He opened the scoring early, much to the delight of the traveling fans. ‘We knew we had to start strong, and we did just that,’ Bishop said after the match. ‘This win is massive for our confidence and we need to keep pushing forward.’
Matt Ritchie and Regan Poole also contributed to Portsmouth’s rout, both scoring to add to the impressive tally. Norwich’s consolation came from Josh Sargent, Jack Stacey, and Emiliano Marcondes, but their efforts weren’t enough to stave off defeat. The Canaries are now left languishing 13 points behind the final playoff spot.
The match pivoted on key moments, including Norwich losing focus after going two goals down. Manager Johannes Thorup expressed disappointment in his team’s performance, acknowledging that the defensive lapses were costly. ‘We must learn from this and improve quickly,’ he stated. ‘We were outplayed for much of the game.’
As the Championship season draws to a close, Portsmouth fans will be hoping their team maintains its strong form. With three games remaining, every point matters, especially in a league as competitive as this. Portsmouth now looks forward to their next fixture, as they strive to secure their place in the Championship for another season.
