Portsmouth

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?

Image source, Getty Images

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

Image source, BBC Sport

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.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent he was 'gutted' with the result but pleased with the performance in the defeat at Sheffield United.

"It's really difficult to take considering the performance and how well the boys played, how many chances we created, and how frustrated we made Sheffield United throughout the 90 minutes," he said.

"The only criticism I have of the boys is that we didn't put the ball in the back of the net more, that we weren't clinical enough in some of those moments.

"You could tell from some of the moans and groans from the Bramall Lane faithful that they were frustrated, but that was down to how well the lads were doing out there so I was really pleased with that.

"We created plenty by doing things really simply, defended the box really well when we had to, so there's loads of positives to take.

"I feel very positive about the performance now.

"We've been standing here after plenty of away games where the performance hasn't been good enough, the result's been dreadful and we've got what we deserved. Today we didn't get what we deserved.

"If we play like we did last week (a goalless draw with Burnley) and today we'll be absolutely fine, but that's the challenge, to be consistent in those moments and we have to try and find that."

Sheffield United will be hoping to keep their quest for automatic promotion on track when they welcome Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT).

The Blades bounced back from a surprise 3-0 defeat at home to Hull City with a 1-0 win at Derby last time out and will move back into the top two with victory.

Pompey are without a win in three (D1 L2) but are three points above the drop zone in 20th position.

• Sheffield United have won just one of their past four league games against Portsmouth (D1 L2), scoring just one goal in total across those matches.

• Portsmouth have failed to win any of their past 23 away league games against Sheffield United (D4 L19), since a 3-1 win in the top-flight in November 1955.

• After a run of nine consecutive home wins between September and December in which they didn't concede a single goal, Sheffield United have won just one of their past four at Bramall Lane (D1 L2), conceding six goals in the process.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their past six away league games, last having a longer run between November 2005 and March 2006 in the Premier League (9).

• In no 15-minute period (1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90) have Sheffield United scored more league goals this season than in the opening 15 minutes (10). Meanwhile, in no period have Portsmouth conceded more than in this timeframe (12).

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

It felt like a crucial transfer window for Portsmouth with the signings this month potentially deciding whether they remain a second-tier side next season, so how are the Blues shaping up?

Is the first XI stronger? Yes, but by how much is unclear until we've seen a few more performances, particularly how Adil Aouchiche performs.

Is the squad stronger? Definitely. John Mousinho hasn't had the options on the bench to change matches. He still doesn't have multiple £1m+ players amongst his substitutes like many Championship clubs but he has more individuals who might be able to come on and change a game.

How does the squad look in the long term? The key assets are tied down beyond the summer so there's no danger of losing them cheaply. This feels like the least important issue for this window though.

The eight arrivals can be split into three categories. Four new loan additions, two coming in on short-term deals, and two Australians arriving on longer contracts.

I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of signing players who could make an immediate impact. There's no question Rob Atkinson has done that. The level he's performed at after not playing for nearly two years has been very impressive and he looks a high-class Championship centre-back.

Isaac Hayden has done OK so far and he certainly strengthens the central midfield position. Aouchiche is an exciting forward and Kaide Gordon provides another option on the wing, although only five of the six loan players can be included in the matchday squad so someone will have to sit out each week.

Signing a back-up left-back was a sensible move, and Cohen Bramall offers something different to Connor Ogilvie. Allowing goalkeeper Will Norris to leave and bringing in Ben Killip, who has played a lot of games this season, is a big financial saving for the club.

As for the two Australians, Hayden Matthews acquitted himself fairly well when being thrown in against Millwall. Although with Conor Shaughnessy fit he's down to third-choice centre-back and could potentially drop further down the pecking order when Regan Poole is back.

Thomas Waddingham provides another option up front but likewise will drop the down the pecking order when Mark O'Mahony and Kusini Yengi return. Hopefully, Matthews and Waddingham will go on and have excellent Pompey careers but this window will be remembered for whether Pompey stay up, rather than whether these two turn out to be bargains.

The six departures were all sensible moves which have helped reduce a bloated squad. Making a profit on Owen Moxon and getting the fee paid back for Elias Sorensen is smart business although not season defining. There is now one space in the 25-man squad if an appropriate free agent appears, although there are no imminent plans to sign one.

Will it be enough to survive? It might be. Although Portsmouth really cannot afford any notable injuries to key players.

The spending by some of the sides around Portsmouth has been eye-watering but Pompey are right to be confident that they can still compete with them.

The outcome of the season is binary. Either survival or failure. It's probably going to be fairly close either way.

Image source, Rex Features

On Tuesday we asked what you made of Portsmouth's business in the transfer window. Pompey brought eight players in, with eight heading out of Fratton Park.

In have come Adil Aouchiche, Kaide Gordon, Ben Killip, Cohen Bramall, Hayden Matthews, Thomas Waddingham, Isaac Hayden and Rob Atkinson.

Departing Portsmouth were Owen Moxon, Tom McIntyre, Will Norris, Ben Stevenson, Elias Sorensen, Tom Lowery and Anthony Scully while Sammy Silvera returned to Middlesbrough.

Here are some of your responses:

Phillip: Avoid relegation? Late - and, admittedly, surprising - run for play-offs is on the cards. Play up Pompey!

Jack: Not a surprise that most of the players who were let go have gone. It would have been more reassuring to have seen us bring in some experienced Championship players as opposed to League One players on short-term deals, but in Mousinho and Hughes we trust.

Iain: Success this season is fourth from bottom. The key, in my opinion, is to maintain strong performances at home and halt the losses and, more importantly, the number of goals we concede away from Fratton Park. Goal difference may well be a key factor at the end of the season. Let's hope Lang and Bishop keep scoring.

Tony: The signings may or may not play well, we'll wait and see what performances they deliver. The elephant on the table is the team's inability to perform during away matches to the same level as home matches, or Mousinho's poor tactics!

Kelvin: Portsmouth have strengthened the squad in those positions where reinforcements were most needed. With these additions, and players coming back from injury, I am confident that we will avoid relegation. I think we will finish 15th to 17th in the table. As long as we keep our coach, next season we will do better.

Dave: It smacks of cut-price and buying young future players with potential rather than proven Championship quality. We needed a couple of old heads to save our season and now we have untried youngsters throughout the team. Buying for the future as a form of investment isn't the solution to the problem.

Malc: It will all come down to the final home game against Hull. Perhaps the signings will be just enough to save us.

Alex: Incomings were unquestionably required, the quality from the bench just didn't have enough impact, especially when we were struggling with injuries. I feel Pompey are without a doubt stronger coming out the window. Getting players out who were unhappy or not even registered was huge - very happy with the window and hoping it's enough to keep us up.

Keith: More pleased about the squad players who have left as they were clearly not going to get any game time.

Alun: Survival is Pompey's priority and they need to find some consistency as a matter of urgency. It's very positive to see depth added to the squad. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating; will the new players gel sufficiently well, and sufficiently quickly, to provide the strength required?

John: An improvement on the skill base for sure. Now we will see if the new faces have the desire, pace and intensity needed to succeed in the Championship.

Colin: Think we have done well. Would have liked more experienced players that have played in the Championship, however we have bought for the future and have players on loan that hopefully will hit the ground running. Have a few coming back from injury too so that should strengthen us.

Image source, Rex Features

Have Portsmouth dealt well in the January transfer window?

Pompey brought eight players in with eight heading out of Fratton Park.

In have come Adil Aouchiche, Kaide Gordon, Ben Killip, Cohen Bramall, Hayden Matthews, Thomas Waddingham, Isaac Hayden and Rob Atkinson.

Departing Portsmouth are Owen Moxon, Tom McIntyre, Will Norris, Ben Stevenson, Elias Sorensen, Tom Lowery and Anthony Scully while Sammy Silvera returned to Middlesbrough.

Will that be enough to avoid relegation?

You can give us your thoughts here.