2009–10 Portsmouth F.C. season
The 2009–10 season was Portsmouth's 111th in existence, their seventh season in the Premier League and their seventh consecutive season in the top division of English football. It was a season in which the club struggled with financial problems and entered administration.
| 2009–10 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Portsmouth fans at Wembley Stadium during the 2010 FA Cup Final | ||||
| Owner | Portpin (90%) Al Fahim Asia Associates Limited (10%) | |||
| Manager | Avram Grant | |||
| Stadium | Fratton Park | |||
| Premier League | 20th (relegated) | |||
| League Cup | Quarter-finals | |||
| FA Cup | Runners-up | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Aruna Dindane (8) All: Frédéric Piquionne (11) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 20,821 vs. Tottenham Hotspur (17 October 2009) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 14,323 vs. Wigan Athletic (14 April 2010) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 17,572 | |||
| ||||
The club finished at 20th place in the league, a place they had occupied since the second matchday, which meant relegation to the Championship. Portsmouth managed to only receive points in 14 of the 38 games, including only seven wins. In March they were docked nine points for entering administration.
Portsmouth's biggest success in the season came in the FA Cup, advancing to the final after beating Coventry City, Sunderland, Southampton, Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur. They played at Wembley Stadium in the final against Chelsea, a game that Chelsea won by 1–0. Portsmouth also participated in the League Cup and reached the quarter-finals.
Manager Paul Hart was sacked in November and replaced by Avram Grant, who stayed until the end of the season. French striker Frédéric Piquionne scored eleven goals throughout the season and was the club's top goalscorer.