Portsmouth

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Whenever you interview a player after a loss they always tell you they cannot wait to get back out there and put it right. If there is a game coming up three days later they view that as a positive.

However, a two-week break might be exactly what Portsmouth needed after the loss to Preston. Of course, there is frustration that the consecutive defeats in winnable games have seen their cushion over the relegation zone down to just four points. It is not a bad time to take stock though.

Back in November, Pompey would have given anything to be in this position. Even though Derby and Luton are making a recovery at the bottom, one point a game in the Blues final eight matches would almost certainly be enough to stay up.

Coventry away looks challenging but the rest are fairly kind with no matches remaining against sides in the top four.

Portsmouth are not playing badly. They lost to Plymouth because they struggled to break down a side who parked the bus and it is unlikely any other opponent will do that. They did not deserve to lose at Preston based on the balance of play.

Blackburn at home now feels like a huge match. Boss John Mousinho is right there is still plenty of work to do to secure survival but most of the bottom eight would gladly swap positions with Portsmouth right now

"At Fratton Park, it's never XI v XI. When you have the Fratton End, they've got this ability to suck the ball into the goal.

"It's an underdog city, an underdog club. But this situation suits them, it's a fighting city and I have no doubt they are going to find what it needs to stay on the right side of that line."

Aaron Paul and former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff are joined by Colchester boss Danny Cowley to discuss how Fratton Park could make all the difference in Portsmouth's fight against relegation.

Listen to the latest episode of 72+ on the Football Daily podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

'There's a lot to unpick from it...'

Chris Wise and Andy Moon discuss Portsmouth following their defeat by Plymouth Argyle with another frustrating 2-1 reverse at Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.

In the latest instalment of BBC Radio Solent's 'Who Needs Mourinho?' podcast, the pair ask why was John Mousinho so angry afterwards, take a detailed look at the bottom of the table and of course answer your questions in Moon's Musings.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Who Needs Mourinho podcast.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

John Mousinho was the angriest I've ever seen him after the 2-1 defeat to Preston.

This was a match that got away. Portsmouth were the better team in the first half but squandered their decent attacking positions.

The second half was different after four changes by Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom but Pompey seemed to have done the hard bit by equalising with just seven minutes left.

Mousinho was particularly angry with the way Preston won the game.

In truth, though, this was an average spectacle between two fairly limited teams.

A week is a very long time in football. Six days after a stunning win over Leeds United that left Pompey 10 points clear of the relegation places, two damaging defeats have made the bottom of the table look very different.

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Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said he was "absolutely furious" with his side following the 2-1 defeat at Preston North End.

"I can't believe what we did after getting the equaliser," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Unacceptable on so many levels. I think I've been far too nice, far too kind for this team for far too long.

"That was absolutely awful what we did after working so hard to get back in the game.

"If you look at the build-up to the goal, they should have scored before that. We keep getting the press wrong, leaving our man, doing some of the world's silliest things.

"I constantly, constantly, constantly go on about fouling early, giving ourselves a chance to get back in it, but no we decide we think we can do better, we think we can do something else and the ball ends up in the back of the net.

"Same old message and it's not good enough. Once again we shot ourselves in the foot. Good reaction to going behind, awful reaction to getting the equaliser."

Listen to John Mousinho's post-match interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth still have things to learn to become a mid-table Championship side, says head coach John Mousinho.

Mousinho's side visit Preston on Saturday, having lost 2-1 at home to bottom-of-the-table Plymouth on Wednesday evening.

"We are where we are - the league table at this stage of the season is a perfect reflection of where you are as a side," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"If you look at that sort of game last season, if you stay in it until the 92nd or 93rd minute, you give yourself a chance to pop up with a set-piece or a mistake, score a late goal and that's what we need to do better if we're going to progress as a side."

Portsmouth have won four of their past six games to move seven points clear of the relegation zone as they head to Deepdale but Mousinho believes they still have work to do.

"I've been banging on about it for ages - in a week you can pick up nine points and things change very quickly," he said.

"There are teams we've played who I thought would be up into mid-table obscurity or challenging for the play-offs but are suddenly below us, or vice versa, and we have to be really, really careful about what we do now."

Portsmouth make the trip to Preston North End on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as they look to climb further away from the threat of relegation.

Pompey claimed a huge win over Leeds United on the weekend, but then lost out to bottom side Plymouth Argyle in the midweek.

The Hampshire team got the better of North End in the reverse fixture back in November, though that was at Fratton Park where Pompey have picked up most of their Championship wins this season - only two of their 11 have come on the road.

• Preston are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Portsmouth at Deepdale (W6 D4), with this their first meeting since March 2013 in League One, a 1-1 draw.

• Portsmouth are looking to complete a league double over Preston North End for the first time since the 1969-70 season.

• Eight of Preston's last 11 league games at Deepdale have been draws (W3), including each of their last three. They've only lost one out of 17 on home soil under Paul Heckingbottom (W6 D10).

• Portsmouth have lost 12 of their last 16 away league games (W2 D2), including eight of their last nine (W1).

• Portsmouth's Josh Murphy has scored in each of his last two Championship games against Preston, while he's also scored in his most recent appearance at Deepdale in April 2017 for Norwich.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says he was surprised by Plymouth Argyle's tactics to defend in a low block during their 2-1 defeat but has called on his side to adapt to different challenges.

Pompey lost for only the second time in their past 13 matches at Fratton Park as the Pilgrims claimed their first away win of the season to boost their survival hopes.

Mousinho's side had to try and break through an well-organised Plymouth defensive unit, which took up residence just outside their penalty area with the hosts enjoying almost exclusive ownership of the ball.

Pompey have averaged 44.4% possession all season (49% when at home) but recorded 80.5% in the loss on Wednesday night, which means they are far from clear of their own relegation concerns.

"We reviewed the game and were realistic about what we think we can do better," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent ahead of the trip to Preston North End on Saturday.

"I watched us keep the ball for 80% of the time and make two mistakes that made it really difficult for us.

"The most annoying thing was having made the mistake just before half-time, we came out in the second half, we started really well and then gave them another goal.

"There were loads of passages of play where we could've shown us creating a load of pressure, maybe not the right amount of chances, although we did towards the end a bit more.

"But unfortunately at that point, it was just too much of a mountain to climb for us."

Mousinho said "never in a million years" did he think Pompey would have 80% possession in the game.

"If you look at the way the game panned out, Plymouth were much less aggressive than we thought they'd be," he added. "I thought we would dominate possession but I didn't think it would be 80%.

"I didn't think they would play as little as they did, they've not done that in the past few games and that's something we have to adapt to and take on board as coaching staff."

"It was a sweeping statement for John Mousinho to say [Portsmouth] aren't good enough for follow ups from their performance at Plymouth.

"It's quite alarming for Portsmouth fans to hear the manager say 'we aren't good enough' or whatever the comment was. They are good enough, quite obviously, that's why they are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"But are they good enough to have a performance like Sunday, having made two or three changes legs wise? I just don't think he feels Portsmouth are in that position at the moment."

Where did it all go wrong for Portsmouth on Wednesday night as they lost 2-1 to Plymouth?

Chris Wise and Andy Moon are joined by former Pompey midfielder Gareth Evans to discuss going from a jubilant victory over Leeds United to a disappointing loss to Plymouth Argyle in the space of four days.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Who Needs Mourinho podcast.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

A bump back down to earth for Portsmouth after the incredible high of Sunday's win against Leeds United.

Plymouth defended incredibly well and extremely deep, but Pompey played into their hands with misplaced passes - and poor defending allowed two goals on the counter-attack.

Last season in League One, team after team came and parked the bus at Fratton Park but that's not been the case this season and it was as if Pompey had forgotten how to play against teams who did.

Boss John Mousinho was correct to say if the team want to get to the next level they must be able to adapt and win games like that.

Wednesday night highlighted the relative limitations of his side.

Pompey remain in a strong position but the bottom of the table does not quite look as favourable as it did just a few days ago.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent following their 2-1 home defeat by bottom side Plymouth.

"I am feeling incredibly disappointed, angry with the performance, and disappointed with the opportunity that we've spurned, and how the game has panned out," he said.

"Plymouth came and set up really deep, made it difficult for us, those are the games where you have to concentrate, not give anything up.

"It's very difficult to do what Plymouth did for 90 minutes but as soon as you give them a goal and then a second goal after half-time, it becomes a lot easier, you get the energy, you can defend the box a bit better.

"We were fine for the first half an hour, we didn't really break them down a lot and then we started to get sloppy. The goal was absolutely abysmal, the second was as well.

"Those are the sort of games that if you can't break sides down, it's difficult to play against and it's a 0-0 you move on.

"We were up for Sunday and we are not good enough to back it up at the moment. In 10 days we have lost to the bottom two sides in the league and beaten the top team."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Regan Poole this week became the third Portsmouth player to be tied down to a new contract.

The defender has only made 33 appearances in his near two seasons at Pompey but despite the injuries he's been an impressive figure.

Poole was outstanding before suffering a serious knee injury last season and while follow-up injuries have affected him in this campaign, he's shown he's still the same player.

Colby Bishop and Terry Devlin have also signed new deals to extend their stays at Fratton Park.

While boss John Mousinho is correct to say there is still notable work to do in order to secure their place in the Championship next season, realistically Portsmouth can plan for another year in the second tier.

These two clubs have had differing fortunes as they prepare for the second Dockyard Derby of the season on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Portsmouth's win over Leeds at the weekend has taken them 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Plymouth have dropped to the bottom of the Championship and are six points adrift of safety.

• Portsmouth have failed to win any of their past eight league games against Plymouth Argyle (D5 L3), since a 3-0 victory at Fratton Park in September 2018.

• Plymouth Argyle have won each of their past two league games against Portsmouth and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time since 1981.

• Portsmouth have lost only one of their previous 22 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games at Fratton Park (W15 D6), winning three of their five such games this season (D1 L1).

• Plymouth have failed to win any of their past 20 away league games (D5 L15); it's the first time they've failed to win 20+ successive away league matches since November 1984 (24).

• Ryan Hardie has scored four goals in his past four league appearances against Portsmouth for Plymouth, scoring a brace at Fratton Park in September 2021.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

In my two-and-a-bit decades of supporting Pompey, there are very few moments or memories that top an afternoon like that.

Not necessarily the glamour or indeed magnitude of a night under the lights against AC Milan, a Pedro Mendes Manchester City moment or even winning both Leagues One and Two in recent years - but a moment spent alongside friends and family witnessing Pompey beat a Leeds United side destined for top-flight football next season and in turn taking an almighty step towards survival ourselves. Magical.

It felt like an occasion befitting of the division and the calibre of clubs competing against each other with juxtaposing seasonal ambitions and objectives.

Both sets of supporters with relatively fresh memories of serious administrative trouble, two also extremely well renowned fanbases - hailing from two 'proper' football cities.

The game for me changed in the second half upon the introduction on the imperially-dynamic Terry Devlin. Play him anywhere but in goal, he'll do a job for Pompey.

His latest assignment, execute the number 10 role against the best side in the league for the best part of 40 minutes and my word did he do that.

Pompey forged a handful of opportunities which, in turn, lifted an already vociferous home crowd.

A picture perfect route-one ball on the hour mark from Connor Ogilvie left Illan Meslier in two minds - and if there's anyone you'd back in that moment to finish with aplomb, it would be the man with the magic hat to net his sixth since his late November return - all six of them at Fratton Park.

The elephant in the room is of course the wondrous Nicolas Schmid, a man who has bailed out his team-mates on many an occasion since coming into the side, no more so than yesterday.

We've come to almost anticipate at least one Schmid match-defining prevention per game - there were at least three of those against Leeds. Those stops may prove to be rather impactful once all is said and done come early May.

Schmid's heroics were ably backed up by big defensive performances elsewhere too.

Zak Swanson is always one for the big occasion in a blue shirt, Regan Poole almost looks as if he's never been gone, Ogilvie continues his supreme left-back reign - and a final word on the Pompey skipper.

For me, John Mousinho's continued inclusive judgement defensively on Marlon Pack is wholly backable at Fratton Park.

Two more wins, and Pompey will be all but a Championship club next season.

Days like Sunday, with Fratton as crackling as it was, will certainly go a long way in delivering that.

Find more from Tom Chappell at FourNilWrittenAllOverIt., external

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

An incredible day at Fratton Park. Yes Pompey have been excellent at home since November but this felt like another level. They've beaten the best team in the division and they deserved to.

They got a bit of fortune with two bad misses from Joel Piroe and the benefit of the doubt on an early penalty but this wasn't a smash and grab victory - for large portions of the game Portsmouth were the better team.

The performance couldn't have been more different to last week at Luton. I've felt for the last couple of weeks that had all the centre-backs been fit, Pompey could dream of a top-half finish. The way Regan Poole and Marlon Pack played, the injured defensive trio weren't missed.

Before any lofty goals are set Pompey need to see off Plymouth on Wednesday. Do that and another year in the Championship is all but assured.