Portsmouth

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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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.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho hailed his side's superb performance after they toppled Championship leaders Leeds to go 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Colby Bishop's clinical angled finish over Illan Meslier proved the difference, just after the hour, though Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid had to make a string of vital saves in both halves to keep the visitors at bay.

"We were superb, for the goal, the performance, it was all excellent," the Blues boss told BBC Radio Solent.

"I can't pick anyone out that was below standard, it was really deserved as well I thought.

"I'm thrilled we got the three points because that will give us so much confidence going forward.

"We defended really well and limited Leeds to very few chances, I'm really pleased for Colby [Bishop], it was a really good finish."

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John Mousinho says it would be a "massive achievement" if Portsmouth could avoid defeat at home to Championship leaders Leeds on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

Pompey played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road in their first game following promotion from League One in August, but the Blues boss says they have "moved on significantly" since then.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "It felt like we could have won the game but we could have lost it too considering the number of chances they had.

"It was an absolute whirlwind introduction for everybody at the club to the Championship. We could have been four down in about 10 minutes.

"It was a rollercoaster of a game but we have moved on significantly from then as a squad and a side."

Pompey go into the weekend with an eight-point cushion over the relegation zone with 11 games to play, but Mousinho knows his side will have his work cut out against Daniel Farke's title-chasers.

"They're the best team in the league," Mousinho added.

"They have got a huge amount of talent in the squad and coming off the bench. We saw that on the opening day of the season and we've seen it consistently throughout the season.

"They've been right at the top of their game for large parts of the season. We expect a really tough test.

"The positive for us is that we're playing at home and it's very difficult for any side to come to Fratton Park – we have to make sure it's difficult for Leeds and we don't give them an easy ride.

"It's really important we get a good base in the game and are solid to start off with. We'll make it as difficult as possible for Leeds to get their game going. It would be a massive achievement if we can get something."

Mousinho also revealed Australian striker Thomas Waddingham is '50-50' to return to the squad after a groin problem which has seen him miss Portsmouth's past five games.

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John Mousinho has praised Pompey wide-man Josh Murphy who he says is striving to live up to his potential.

Murphy, who turned 30 last month, was nominated for February's Championship player of the month award after scoring one goal and assisting four more in a month which saw the Blues take 10 points from five tough Championship fixtures.

A former England under-20 international, Murphy came through the ranks at Norwich City and played in the Premier League for the Canaries and later Cardiff, but after a loan spell at Preston, dropped down to League One for the first time in his career to join Oxford United in 2022.

Pompey boss Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent the recognition was: "Down to Josh himself and how well he's turned around that period of his career where he didn't have as much success as he'd have liked.

"He really knuckled down, by the time Oxford signed him it was later in pre-season, he was on a free, there was nobody that really fancied him, so it was completely down to what Josh did in that two-years to put himself in the shop window and have a fantastic back end of last season."

Murphy moved to Fratton Park on a free transfer after the U's joined Pompey in earning promotion last season. He ranks joint-third overall in the Championship for assists with nine, along with his six goals in 31 appearances.

"The most pleasing thing for me is that Josh didn't just produce what he did from February onwards for Oxford and then get a contract here and rest up," Mousinho added.

"It's really fuelled him to go again and to make sure he hits the heights he can hit.

"Fair play to him, he's physically in probably the best shape of his career and it's all paying off for him at the moment, so I'm really pleased for him."

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John Mousinho says he has an 'unhealthy' habit of fixating on defeats and can vividly recall all 25 he has endured as Portsmouth boss.

The 38-year-old was appointed at Fratton Park in January 2023 and suffered four losses in his first 23 matches in charge as Pompey finished eighth in League One.

Portsmouth lost only five of 46 matches last season as they finished as champions, though Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Luton was their 16th in 35 games following promotion to the Championship.

In 104 league games under Mousinho, Portsmouth have won 48 and lost 25 and after, being in the relegation zone in mid-January, a run of five wins, one draw and four defeats in the last 10 games have given the club an excellent chance of avoiding an immediate return to the third tier.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent when it comes to defeats, the trick is to get the right balance between reflecting on them and moving on.

"The key is to get over it as quick as possible, but what you don't want to do is just brush it under the carpet and not learn from some of the mistakes we made," Mousinho said.

"We made sure we got everything out of our system [after Luton]. There's still some important things to be aware of going into future games."

With the visit of Championship leaders Leeds on Sunday [12:00 GMT], Mousinho said he finds it harder not to dwell on bad results.

"I can still remember every single loss from last season and the season before, and this season as well.

"You never properly get over them because there's always something to take from them.

"The wins go out of your mind. It's probably not a particularly healthy habit in football – the losses are always amplified and it feels like the end of the world, after you win a game you want to try and keep your feet on the ground and play it down."

The final game of the Championship weekend sees leaders Leeds United travel to Portsmouth on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

Daniel Farke's side are unbeaten in 17 league games but could be level on points at the summit when they head to the south coast, if Sheffield United win on Saturday.

John Mousinho's Blues go into the weekend in 17th, with an eight-point cushion over the relegation zone.

• Portsmouth are winless across their past five league games against Leeds United (D4 L1), after the pair drew 3-3 at Elland Road in August.

• Leeds United have failed to win any of their past six away league games against Portsmouth (D4 L2), since a 3-2 victory at Fratton Park in April 1986.

• Portsmouth have won eight of their past 11 home Championship matches (D2 L1), having failed to win any of their first six home games this season (D3 L3).

• Leeds United are unbeaten in their past 17 Championship games (W12 D5), their best unbeaten run in the league since going 30 games without defeat between May 1973 and February 1974 under Don Revie.

• This game will kick off at 12pm with Leeds picking up just 1.22 points per game in league fixtures this season that have kicked off earlier than 3pm (P9 W2 D5 L2), compared to 2.50 points per game in games that have kicked off at 3pm or later (P26 W20 D5 L1).

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Terry Devlin wants to repay Portsmouth's faith in him after being handed a new deal at Fratton Park.

The versatile 21-year-old midfielder was limited to four appearances off the Blues bench in their opening 11 Championship games.

But the Northern Ireland Under-21 international - who arrived from Glentoran in 2023 - has featured in 20 of Pompey's next 24 league games, starting nine of them at right back, and has been rewarded with a new three-year contract at Fratton Park.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "I'm buzzing to sign a new deal. I have loved it every since I came over – it's been tough but it's been unbelievable. I can't wait to continue the journey.

"Obviously the club think something about me and offered me a new deal, which I am really pleased about. I just can't wait to repay them and keep working as hard as I can."

Devlin helped Pompey earn promotion from League One last season and admitted: "It's been a huge step up. At the start of the season it was really tough, finding myself in and out of squads, but I have worked as hard as I could to get myself back in there and kept myself in there ever since.

"It's been a really good turnaround from us. At the start of the season we were finding our feet, I think we were all a bit taken aback by the standard and intensity of the league.

"We have got our feet on the ground now and know what to expect, we know how to get results and play a bit better."

Leeds United earned a battling 3-3 draw at Elland Road in their opening game of the season in August and renew acquaintances at Fratton Park on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

"We got a really good point away from home," Devlin added. "It was a really crazy game, they hit the bar three times in the first six minutes. Thankfully we stuck in there and got a point.

"They are top of the league for a reason. They're going to be playing Premier League football next season. At home it suits us a bit more, we've had a good run of form at home and when the crowd gets behind us it can be really tough for opposition teams. We're going to give them a good game.

"There's a lot of points to play for, the job's (survival) not done yet, we have got to go and finish it off."

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Plymouth forward Ryan Hardie, Leeds United winger Dan James, Portsmouth wide man Josh Murphy and Norwich City striker Josh Sargent are the four nominees for February's Championship player of the month award.

Hardie only played 101 minutes across three league games for Argyle last month but still netted four goals, scoring twice from the bench late on in the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion and another double in the 5-1 thrashing of Millwall.

James was in scintillating form for the Whites, scoring three goals and providing four assists in five games in February.

The 27-year-old netted one, set-up two and won a penalty in the 7-0 hammering of Cardiff, scored twice in the 4-0 win at Watford and laid on both goals in the vital 2-1 victory at title rivals Sheffield United.

Murphy provided four assists and scored one goal in five games for Portsmouth as they pulled further clear of the relegation zone in February with a draw and three wins, including a 2-1 victory against QPR in which the winger curled in a wonderful effort.

Sargent was prolific throughout February, scoring five goals in five games for Norwich City to take his overall tally for the league season to 11 in 21 appearances.

Portsmouth's three-match winning run came to an end with their 1-0 defeat by Luton in the Championship on Saturday.

Pompey are eight points clear of the relegation zone but now have injuries to central defenders Rob Atkinson and Hayden Matthews.

Atkinson will be sidelined for at least six weeks while ankle surgery means Hayden Matthews will miss the remainder of the season.

"The confidence in the side has improved - they hadn't played many games together but when you have that instinct as a left and right centre-half it falls into place better," former Portsmouth striker Guy Whittingham told BBC Radio Solent

Chris Wise, Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham discuss the loss at Luton and the current injury situation on the latest edition of the 'Who needs Mourinho?' podcast.

You can listen to this and past editions of 'Who needs Mourinho?' on BBC Sounds.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

There are some games considered "a great advert for the Championship", this was not one of them.

It was physical and scrappy played out on a poor pitch, there was barely a shot on target. It wasn't helped by Sam Allison's refereeing.

John Mousinho described the first half showing as "dreadful" and it's hard to disagree. Nothing went right for Pompey and their deliveries into the box were especially poor.

They fought back in the second half and Connor Ogilvie will be rueing his late miss.

It's an opportunity squandered for Pompey as a win would have made it extremely tough for Luton to have caught them. That being said their survival bid remains in good shape.

Regan Poole and Marlon Pack did okay as centre-backs but Hayden Matthews and Rob Atkinson will be missed.

Image source, PA Media

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho said his side were "far from good enough" in their 1-0 defeat by Luton.

The loss means his side stay 17th in the Championship and managed only one shot on target throughout the game.

"It is difficult to sum up really. There was very little in the game. We killed ourselves in the first-half, I thought we were dreadful," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"I didn't think we did the basics right. The thing that sums up the first half is after about five minutes one of our central midfielders is on a booking for a ridiculous challenge and we are giving away free-kick after free-kick, it is a 180 [degree turn] of the gameplan.

"The attitude wasn't right. We were much better in the second half but it was too late. It was far from good enough.

"I don't think we were getting torn apart by a side that did anything extraordinary, we just made horrendous decisions. The goal came from our free-kick.

"Today was a massive opportunity to put a bit of daylight between us and the bottom three and we decided not to take it."

Basement-boys Luton host resurgent Portsmouth on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in a game with big implications at the foot of the Championship.

The Hatters have picked up just three points from eight league games under new boss Matt Bloomfield and have scored only one goal across five home games since Christmas.

Town's poor goal difference means they are effectively six points from safety while John Mousinho's men have climbed nine points clear of the relegation zone off the back of three straight victories.

• Luton Town have won just one of their past 10 league games against Portsmouth (D3 L6), though that sole victory did come in their last meeting at Kenilworth Road, a 3-2 win in January 2019.

• Portsmouth have won two of their past three away league games against Luton Town (L1), as many as across their prior 21 visits combined (D5 L14).

• Luton have failed to win any of their past 12 league games (D3 L9), their longest winless run in the Football League since a 13-match stint between January and March 2008.

• Portsmouth have won their past three league games in succession and will be looking to win four in a row for the first time in England's second tier since March 2011 (six wins).

• Portsmouth's 2-0 win at Oxford United in their last away game ended a run of 11 games without a win and seven straight defeats on the road. They last won consecutive away league games in the Championship in February 2011.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says there has to be a wariness around the demands placed on players.

It comes as the Pompey head coach chose not to disclose details of his injury list at his weekly news conference ahead of their Championship match at Luton on Saturday.

The expectation was that Mousinho would outline the timelines for when defenders Rob Atkinson and Hayden Matthews would return but instead the Pompey boss will reserve that information until after Saturday's game.

"The best thing is I'll give you the full rundown after the game," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"You'll have a good idea of where we're at with the starting line-up on Saturday and I'll speak to you about it afterwards."

Portsmouth have suffered a number of injuries throughout the season with long-term absentees including defender Conor Shaughnessy while they were also without Jordan Williams, Freddie Potts and Callum Lang for last weekend's win over QPR.

"I've been at the club for two years now and we've never had a clean bill of health," he added. "We were watching Championship games on Tuesday night and players were getting injured for various reasons.

"It's one of those seasons where it's only going to get worse with the state of the pitches and the weather and the demands on players so it's something we need to be wary of in the future."

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Portsmouth's brilliantly-timed run of form is both delighting their fans and starting to convince many observers that Championship survival is theirs for the taking.

For Matt Ritchie it was never seriously in doubt.

Saturday's 2-1 win against Queens Park Rangers was Pompey's third in a row and took John Mousinho's side nine points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games to go.

Just over a month ago, Portsmouth were next to bottom after suffering a fourth defeat in five at Blackburn.

That came after a start to the season that saw Mousinho's team win only one of their first 14 games and among the favourites to make an immediate return to League One.

"We certainly didn't feel that internally," Ritchie told BBC Radio Solent. "We felt like we had enough.

"There were obviously some lessons we had to learn quickly and, certainly for me personally, there wasn't one moment when I thought 'I'm not sure we've got enough here'.

"I think we can play different ways and adapt."

Ritchie's third goal of the season put Pompey 2-0 up against the Hoops and although Jimmy Dunne halved the deficit with 15 minute to go, Portsmouth held on for another vital victory.

"It's a big win and three more points in trying to achieve Championship status for next season - that's the objective," Ritchie said, before adding he "hadn't scored enough tap-ins" in his career.

With a trip to bottom-club Luton up next on Saturday, before the unenviable task of trying to upset leaders Leeds a week later, Pompey have a decent chance to extend that winning run to four.

But Ritchie underscored the value in staying grounded, despite their winning form.

"We have to stay with our feet on the floor," he said. "We had a nice run but the margins in those games have been so small. We have to make sure we continue to take care of the small moments."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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Colby Bishop has been key to Portsmouth's recent progress.

He scored 20 league goals in consecutive seasons in League One but his efforts this campaign are arguably more impressive.

His recovery from open heart surgery was far quicker than anyone expected and his return to the side has coincided with Pompey's significant improvement.

The new deal is just rewards for a player who's had to fight his way through non-league football and didn't play in the second tier until he was 28.