John Mousinho: Portsmouth boss encouraging side to use excitement as motivation

John Mousinho's Portsmouth have amassed 80 points so far this season - Pompey's highest total since the 2018-19 season

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has encouraged his players to be excited about what they could achieve in the closing weeks of the season.

Pompey are five points clear at the top of League One with eight games to play.

"Sometimes getting caught up in the excitement of what could be achieved is healthy," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"We don't want to get carried away but it does help to motivate and inspire some of the players. The end goal is definitely in sight."

Mousinho added: "That's a really good motivator for the lads to be on top of their game every week."

The League One leaders have set the standard in the division this season with 80 points from their 38 games, their highest points total since the 2018-19 season when they finished fourth with 88 points.

In the past five League One campaigns - excluding 2019-20 when the season was curtailed early because of the Covid-19 pandemic - on average, the division's winners have ended with 95 points, with the highest tally being Plymouth Argyle's 101 last season and the lowest being Hull City's 89 in 2020-21.

"There's no point in hiding away from where we've put ourselves in terms of league position," Mousinho said.

"We have just got to make sure we step on ourselves for the last eight games and try to achieve something."

Portsmouth travel to fellow promotion-chasers Peterborough on Saturday, while they will also face Barnsley, Derby and Bolton before the end of the season.