Portsmouth

Dan George & Andrew Moon
BBC Sport, South

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says that despite two recent wins, the bottom of the Championship table is "still really tight".

Victories over Oxford United and Cardiff City brought a welcome six points for his side, who are now seven clear of the relegation zone with three teams between them and the bottom three.

Pompey's win away at Oxford was their second on the road this season and their first away from home in four months.

"It's still really tight," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"We have put ourselves in a really good position, though, because of the two wins that we picked up last week, but there are plenty of big - and good - clubs still below us.

"The way that I see it is that we have to focus on ourselves and pick up as many points as possible, we'll just keep going until we're actually safe.

"Naturally after games we do have a look at the table but the most important thing is for us to focus on ourselves and let the rest take care of itself."

The Blues host QPR on Saturday as they look win three games on the bounce for the first time this season.

Portsmouth won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier on in the season, and another win could push them as high as 16th in the table if other results also go their way on Saturday afternoon.

Portsmouth are looking to win three games on the bounce for the first time this season in the Championship when they welcome QPR to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone after beating Cardiff and Oxford in their past two games and will hope to pull further away from danger.

The Hoops are 13th but only four points off the top six and still in contention for a play-off spot.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in October last year, Portsmouth will be looking to record a first league double over QPR since the 1961-62 season.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past three visits to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in the league (W1 D2), since a 3-0 defeat in August 1998.

• Following wins over Cardiff and Oxford, Portsmouth are looking for three consecutive three Championship victories for the first time since winning six in a row in February/March 2011.

• QPR have won six of their nine Championship matches in 2025 (L3), with only Leeds (21), Sheffield United (21) and Coventry (19) winning more points so far this year than the Hoops (18).

• Ilias Chair has been directly involved in six goals in his past nine Championship appearances for Queens Park Rangers (2 goals, 4 assists) although he's yet to score an away goal this season.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has praised new signing Hayden Matthews following his move from A-League side Sydney FC.

Matthews, 20, became the most expensive defender in Australian football when he moved to Fratton Park last month for a reported £1.26m and has impressed during his short time in England so far.

"He's got a lot of confidence and I think that's because he's played so well in such a short space of time since turning pro," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"When you earn the right to start every week in the A-League, earn the right to get your first cap for Australia and earn the right to get a decent move over into this country - I think that has just given him a lot of confidence."

The central defender has played in all five Championship games he has been available for Pompey, including 90 minutes in the 2-0 victory over Oxford United last Saturday.

"He's laid-back but we want him to be realistic about all the things he needs to improve upon and set his sights on taking care of centre forwards as best as he can," Mousinho added.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Callum Lang was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing first half of the season.

Pompey are better equipped to cope with his absence now than they would have been before the January window but this is still a massive blow.

He's the top scorer with twice as many league goals as anyone else and his relentless energy has been crucial in Pompey's successful pressing of teams.

Adil Aouchiche is now likely to get an opportunity to start at 10.

In five days Pompey picked up two priceless wins but also lost Conor Shaughnessy and Callum Lang to hamstring injuries.

They are in a good position to avoid relegation but really can't afford to lose any more key players.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Finally, Portsmouth have won a game on the road and - incredibly - that was their first clean sheet away from home all season.

They probably edged a game that wasn't a great spectacle for the neutral. The opening goal, a mad goalmouth scramble, summed it up.

The final 10 minutes were manic, with Oxford missing a couple of glorious chances before Mark O'Mahony signalled his return with a brilliantly taken second.

The loss of Callum Lang to a hamstring injury is a big blow. The hope is the injury isn't too serious, although the squad is better equipped to cope with these losses than before January. Hayden Matthews was outstanding filling in for Conor Shaughnessy.

Portsmouth are seven points clear of the bottom three with a favourable run-in. There's still plenty of work to do to ensure survival but given where they were in October, it's a great position to be in.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho enjoyed a first away success against former club Oxford United as his side came away from the Kassam Stadium with three points after a game delayed in the first half because of a medical emergency in the crowd.

It was the second time in less than a month that Pompey have been affected by a similar situation - although it happened before kick-off against Middlesbrough on 18 January - but Mousinho was delighted to see his team bounce back from last Saturday's loss to Sheffield United with a second successive win.

"To come out of the week with six points – it could have been more, could have been nine – is a brilliant return and we've just got to keep going," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"It [the delay] was difficult for both sides, we dealt with it really well at the Middlesbrough game, but that was at the start – they were different circumstances here because we'd played 12 minutes and after that we dropped off a little bit, we didn't adjust to the stoppage well."

Andre Dozzell scored the opening goal after the ball bounced around in the box pinball-style, and Mark O'Mahony added the second in added time.

"I've been joking with Dozz about his goalscoring record - I think I might have more than him this season - but he is very good technically, he's been excellent for the past couple of weeks and today I thought he was outstanding," said Mousinho, who saw his side draw on their two previous visits to Oxford.

"Coming here now, it's business as usual, you've got to take the emotion out of it. It's an away victory for us, and that's the most important thing regardless of where it is."

Portsmouth now have seven days to recover before a home game against QPR.

Plenty at stake as Oxford United welcome Portsmouth to the Kassam on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Pompey go into the game with a four-point cushion over the relegation zone with the Us just two places, but a further five points, ahead of them in 16th.

John Mousinho's side haven't picked up a point on the road since a draw at Swansea in November while their only away win came six weeks earlier at QPR.

Gary Rowett's United side have suffered just one defeat since Boxing Day - a run of 11 games - which was a 1-0 reverse at Burnley last week, though they are winless in four, scoring just once across those games.

• Oxford United have won just one of their past 10 league games against Portsmouth (D6 L3) and are winless in their last six games (D4 L2).

• Portsmouth have only won one of their past seven EFL visits to Oxford (D3 L3); a 1-0 victory in February 2021.

• After one win in eight home league games between September and December (D4 L3), Oxford have won four of their past five games (D1).

• Portsmouth have lost each of their past seven away league games; their longest run since March 2006 in the Premier League (9 games).

• Portsmouth's Callum Lang has more league goals against Oxford (6 in 7 games) than any other side, netting in each of his last four league games against them.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

The last time Pompey scored a goal of any kind on a Tuesday night before this week was when Conor Shaughnessy rose the highest to win the league at Fratton Park back in April last year.

So it seems apt that he won us the game against Cardiff with an almost identical header at the other end of the ground.

My word, are Pompey fans pleased to see his aerial threat back, causing mayhem, with Colby's goal drought coming to an audacious end too.

It was a game Portsmouth had to win, and a game we did win. But blimey, it wasn't an easy watch at times!

Some of the seemingly 100mph football felt unsolicited and frankly, struck me as quite naive, particularly as the game came to a close.

It was quite refreshing to see Pompey protect the ball by the corner flag for the final couple of moments, considering before that we'd had a frightening spell of frenetic football.

But take nothing away from the size of the result and the positive implications it has to encourage the team as we begin this crucial six-game run.

Connor Ogilvie was at his imperial best; Josh Murphy's deadly box entries and undeniable pace were demonstrable throughout, and Andre Dozzell caught the eye, registering one of his strongest displays in blue to date.

Critics will perhaps divide the 20-minute start from the rest of the game and cite the stark contrast in performance level, while others will note that a hard-fought win is perfectly acceptable to take points at the bottom end of this division.

What really matters now is that we are in result-over-performance territory, and that applies to every game from now until the season's end, by which point Pompey will have hopefully done enough to be deserving of a spot in the second tier.

It's going to be a close one. But as Colby said after the game, there's plenty to be confident about in terms of our chances of finishing the right side of the dotted line.

An away win at long last this coming weekend would revolutionise the Pompey narrative once again.

One thing is for sure, we are due one…

Image source, Rex Features

Boss John Mousinho admits losing Conor Shaughnessy for an extended period would be a big blow to Pompey.

After starting Portsmouth's first two games after promotion, the Irish centre-back missed 26 games because of a calf injury, making his comeback off the bench in the defeat to Millwall on 28 January.

The 28-year-old has started the past three games but limped off with a hamstring problem after an hour against Cardiff on Tuesday, having scored what turned out to be the winner at Fratton Park.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "We're going to send him for a scan, we don't know the extent of the injury. He didn't look great - we're hopeful it's minimum damage but you never know.

"With hamstring injuries it could be two weeks, two months or anything in between, we've had both, they are tricky ones to handle unfortunately.

"It's a big blow because he's come into the side and done excellently. He played for 60 minutes, scored the winner, and has had had a huge impact on us defensively, and popping up with goals that we desperately need him to pop up with.

"He's going to be a big miss and we're going to need players in the squad to step up."

Regan Poole and Kusini Yengi have returned to full training and will be assessed on Friday while Mousinho also said Freddie Potts was 50-50 for Saturday's trip to Oxford United (12:30 GMT).

A vital win for Portsmouth over Cardiff but another injury blow to Conor Shaughnessy.

Chris Wise and Andy Moon look at where it leaves Pompey and also discuss Andy's interview with chief executive Andy Cullen.

There is also the chat with Colby Bishop after he said he wants to spend the rest of his career at the club.

Search "Portsmouth" on the BBC Sounds app or click the link above to listen.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent reporter

Image source, Rex Features

At last a win on a Tuesday night! Pompey's first all season on what was their final scheduled Tuesday match.

Portsmouth were more impressive at Sheffield United than they were against Cardiff, but got the job done.

They really could have put the game to bed in the opening 15 minutes, such was their momentum, but some poor defending by Zak Swanson let Cardiff back in the game.

Seeing Conor Shaughnessy go off with a hamstring injury was very concerning given how good he's been since he returned.

How much is left in the tank? Pompey haven't been able to put three performances together in a week all season. Can they finally manage it against Oxford?

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Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has said Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Cardiff City left him "frazzled".

Pompey raced into a two-goal advantage after 17 minutes thanks to early strikes from Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy, but were forced to hang on to a one-goal lead for more than an hour after conceding to Callum O'Dowda's header.

"My brain is a bit frazzled by some of the things we did, but we've come away with three points which is the most important thing," the 38-year-old told BBC Radio Solent.

"I thought we were the dominant side. We didn't allow Cardiff to have much possession, didn't allow them to have too many chances.

"My overall feeling is that I'm absolutely delighted we've taken the three points.

"There's some frustration in parts of the performance but the most important thing at any stage of the season is to pick up the points - but particularly now."

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says he isn't worried about striker Colby Bishop's form in front of goal.

Pompey missed a number of chances during their 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday, including Bishop being denied by Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper when clean through.

The 28-year-old has netted four goals in 17 Championship appearances since returning from open heart surgery in November but has now gone four games without scoring.

"There's always going to be question marks over centre-forwards," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think Colby just gets on with it. I don't need to say much to him. I want him to keep doing the same things and obviously put the ball in the back of the net as well.

"But I know he's good at that and I've got absolutely no doubt that he's going to do it."

Mousinho said Bishop only experiences "perceived" goalscoring droughts but doesn't believe that's what he's going through now.

"Colby has been a regular goalscorer for us and because he scores on such frequent occasions, whenever he doesn't score for two or three games, it does seem like it's one of those droughts," he added.

"But it just isn't and it happens. It was probably frustrating at the weekend because we missed so many chances and not just Colby - we missed chances across the board.

"But I genuinely don't think it's a problem. Of course we want to put the ball in the back of the net and I'm sure Colby is as aware of that as much as anyone else is."

Listen to John Mousinho discussing Colby Bishop on BBC Sounds.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Saturday was probably the only occasion this season when Pompey have gone away from home and deserved to win the game, yet ended up losing it.

There were two almost identical sitters for Connor Ogilvie and Callum Lang respectively in the first half.

Colby Bishop was called marginally offside in the second and that left 2,500 of our fans completely stunned as to how we didn't come away with a point at the very, very least.

But the answer is actually quite a straightforward one - Pompey didn't put it in the back of the net and therein lies the difference.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United did to Pompey what Pompey did to a number of League One sides last season en route to promotion.

That is, finding a way to win the game even when you haven't played particularly well.

A win on Saturday wouldn't perhaps have relieved any pressure on Tuesday night - which remains a colossally important game at Fratton Park - but it would have been one almighty confidence boost heading into it.

These next six matches will now define Pompey's season. It is seriously make or break.

At the time of writing, 20th-placed Pompey play 24th, 23rd and tomorrow night, 19th-placed Cardiff all within this next fixture cluster.

We've got to win at least four of those six games - and after a brief glance at the fixture list of now 15 to go, Pompey have 14 winnable matches.

That has to be the attitude.

It's bizarre to think that, given how tame in front of goal we have appeared of late, Pompey remain the top scorers of any other side in and around them by quite some distance and have outscored every other side in the bottom half.

John Mousinho's side can't afford to go five without a win by 10pm tomorrow night.

Three points would be the most welcome start to such a crucial period in Pompey's hunt for survival.

Click here to find out more from Tom and Fournilwrittenalloverit, external

Portsmouth are looking to recover from four games without a win (D1 L3) when they welcome fellow Championship relegation battlers Cardiff City on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Pompey suffered a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday and are two points above the drop zone in 20th, while Cardiff are 19th and three points clear of the bottom three.

• Portsmouth have won just one of their past 13 league games against Cardiff City (D6 L6), failing to score in eight of those matches.

• Cardiff City are unbeaten across their past six away league games against Portsmouth (W1 D5) since a 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park in January 1974.

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past nine home league games (W6 D2), although they've failed to score in their past two, last going three without a goal at Fratton Park in March 2014 against Cheltenham, Burton and York in League Two.

• Cardiff lost their past Championship match 7-0 at Leeds United, their heaviest league defeat since losing 9-0 to Preston North End in May 1966. The last Championship side to lose by seven goals before Cardiff were Luton against Fulham in May 2022 (0-7), who followed that up with a 1-0 win over Reading.

• Cardiff's Callum Robinson has scored in all three of his Championship appearances against newly promoted sides this season, while he has eight goals and eight assists in his past 21 Championship games against promoted teams.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent reporter

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Image source, PA Media

The later you are in the season the harder it is to be excited by good performances that don't yield any points.

That being said, given Portsmouth's recent showings on the road the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United was a huge improvement.

It simply wasn't Pompey's day in front of goal: Callum Lang, Colby Bishop and Connor Ogilvie will all be wondering how they didn't score. Bishop finishing well when he was just offside summed up his luck at the moment.

Bishop isn't his clinical self but his build-up play remains excellent. Josh Murphy put in another outstanding performance - he must be one of the division's form wingers.

"Keep playing like that and they'll have no problem staying up" feels an easy thing to say. Consistency has been an issue for Portsmouth this season though so the question is can they repeat efforts like that.

A similar performance against Cardiff on Tuesday would be very handy.