Perspective needed but Mousinho has problems to fix

Portsmouth have just one win in their last five games

Just over a month ago Portsmouth hosted struggling Sheffield Wednesday knowing a win would take them into the Championship play-offs.

Instead Pompey put in a really poor showing and have now won only once in eight matches, taking just six points from that run. So what has gone wrong?

It is worth noting a bit of perspective.

A year ago Pompey were rooted to the bottom of the Championship table having struggled to make the jump up to the second tier.

They went on to stay up easily, their current predicament is nowhere near as serious.

Staying up remains the key objective, a comfortable mid-table existence would be a very good season, anything beyond that is exceptional.

It feels like there are questions over a number of areas of the team at the moment, perhaps most notably up front.

Colby Bishop is currently on his longest goal drought at the club and has not even had an opportunity in the past few games.

Who should play behind Bishop? Clearly that is Conor Chaplin's preferred position, he has been used on the right in recent weeks but has not found his top form even when playing centrally.

Right-wing is a problem position, Adrian Segecic had some bright moments there but no one has stepped up to will the void left by Matt Ritchie's departure, there is not an obvious solution.

Defensively, Conor Shaughnessy's absence is a blow and Josh Knight deputised well for a few games before being left out for Hayden Matthews at the weekend.

Unfortunately for Matthews he scored the games only goal in the wrong net.

It's not all been bad though, Regan Poole and Connor Ogilvie continue to be solid in defence and there are three decent options at right-back.

Marlon Pack and Andre Dozzell are performing well in midfield, Joe Bursik has done an excellent job filling in for Nico Schmid in goal and it is no certainty that the Austrian regains his place when he's fit again.

It certainly hasn't helped missing Josh Murphy for a month with an ankle injury. He is Pompey's best player, one of the Championship's standout wingers and his return will make a difference.

John Mousinho is approaching three years in charge at Portsmouth and he has overcome much bigger challenges than this one.

You would be surprised if he does not find a way around his current conundrum.