Portsmouth

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Portsmouth boss John Mousinho is hoping some extra time to prepare for Saturday's Championship match at home to Coventry City will benefit his side.

Pompey played three games in six days last week, culminating in a 4-0 hammering at Derby County on Friday, but have had the benefit of a full training week to address what went wrong at Pride Park.

That heavy defeat ended a run of four unbeaten to restore some optimism around Fratton Park but Mousinho isn't overreacting to what unfolded.

"After a defeat you are always looking to play a game as quickly as possible but there are benefits in having some time off and time on the training pitch as well," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Maybe one of the things that undid us at the end of last week was we didn't have any time on the training ground - we didn't have a lot of time to prep for the Derby game and that's something we have to address and be better at.

"We don't want to brush anything under the carpet but some of the issues on Friday have not been part of our game over the last six weeks - it was a bit of a surprise. We do have to address it but don't have to do anything drastic."

Pompey are currently third from bottom in the table but only one point from safety.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Take nothing away from the professionalism of Paul Warne's Derby County side but it didn't feel like they had to move out of second or third gear for Pompey to be well beaten on Friday night.

It was bitterly disappointing considering the marginal league standings differential between the teams before a ball was kicked.

I can't remember watching us play any 'football' for the entirety of the evening.

Unfortunately, that was the third away-from-home evening game this season where this has been the case.

Bizarrely and perhaps frustratingly, I don't feel Pompey have a lack of ability.

It's a talented group and albeit light in depth - both in terms of 'flair' players and quality - it's a group that has proven it is capable of winning games with interest against established sides at this level.

But if we don't turn up, it is an absolutely woeful watch.

If Pompey plan to stay in the Championship, we have already seen far too many evenings putting immense pressure on us to achieve survival.

Hot-and-cold Portsmouth will not achieve status in this division next season, nor will playing out of our skins every match to try to stand a chance.

The Pompey eco-system has been dominated in large part this season by a nervousness, a fragility and a naivety.

These were characteristics I felt we'd lifted ourselves out of somewhat in the last week or so.

But we were reminded rather emphatically on Friday night that evidently we haven't.

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Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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No one thought Portsmouth had cracked the Championship based on their impressive recent run but the hope was dreadful evenings like those at Stoke and Cardiff were a thing of the past.

Not so, Derby had too much pace and power for Portsmouth in a calamitous first 30 minutes.

Suffering a heavy defeat on the road would be disappointing anywhere but it is particularly so against a team who started the day only four points above the Blues.

Last night has reminded everyone that if Pompey aren't quite on song at this level, they are in danger of a hammering.

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Got a spare half-hour to fill or need something to listen to in the car up to Pride Park ahead of the Friday night game between Derby and Portsmouth?

The latest instalment of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho? podcast is released today, looking back at four points from two top-half teams and a strong week for Pompey - but can they follow it up against the Rams in a big game in the lower reaches of the Championship table?

Guy Whittingham joins Andrew Moon and Chris Wise to discuss the impact of Colby Bishop, what it means to be out of the bottom three and why a makeshift backline isn't looking so temporary any more.

Click here to listen to the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast on BBC Sounds

Derby County welcome Portsmouth to Pride Park on Friday evening for an important clash in the battle to avoid relegation.

The Rams are without a win in six (D3 L3) and are currently 17th in the Championship, four points above the drop zone, following a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Burnley on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Pompey are in much-improved form with two wins and two draws in their past four matches, which has lifted them out of the bottom three on goal difference.

• Derby County are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Portsmouth (W3 D5), with each of the previous four encounters ending in a draw.

• Portsmouth have failed to win any of their past five away league games against Derby (D3 L2), since a 2-1 victory at Pride Park in November 2002.

• Derby are winless in their past four home league games (D2 L2) and could lose three in a row on home soil for the first time since October 2020 (run of five).

• Portsmouth have already conceded 20 goals in their first nine away league games this season (W1 D4 L4); Pompey last conceded more than 20 goals in their first 10 away league games of a season in 1999-00 in the second tier (24).

• Derby have won each of their past four home league games played on Fridays, while Portsmouth are unbeaten in their past eight away Friday league games (W3 D5).

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Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho says Regan Poole will have a fitness test before their Championship match at Derby County on Friday.

The defender was substituted at half-time of Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Norwich because of a hamstring issue.

"Regan was out training today but did nothing more than the other lads as it was just a walk-through session and we're going to see how he is tomorrow," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"He's touch and go for the weekend but will have a fitness test and we'll see how we go.

"The big reason around bringing him off was so we didn't have any further damage because if we go into the second half and he ends up doing something that makes it worse, we'd really kick ourselves."

Mousinho has also said left-back Jacob Farrell is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from a knee injury before joining in with training.

The Australian has managed just one appearance since arriving from Australian side Central Coast Mariners in July.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Getty Images

Last night was a welcome return to enjoyable nights under the lights at Fratton, a staple of our League One winning season last year.

All of a sudden, a side that looked like they couldn't buy a win at the bottom of the division have become one of the in-form teams in the lower half of the Championship, and pulled themselves out of the relegation zone, albeit by a point before Wednesday night's games.

That is a reflection, not just of the two games in four days at home, but the general direction of travel since Sheffield Wednesday beat Pompey on home turf at the back end of October.

No side has beaten John Mousinho's team at Fratton since then.

Norwich are usually a goalfest, and Pompey have found the back of the net more in recent weeks - so the result comes as somewhat of a surprise.

It was certainly one of the more engaging goalless draws we'll see this season, a game that demanded an awful lot of Pompey defensively, albeit through conceding minimal opportunities from Norwich.

Terry Devlin kept the league's salient top goalscorer under wraps, Tom McIntyre's 45 minutes left him bloodied and bruised, and we saw one of Connor Ogilvie's best displays in a Pompey shirt this season - all three providing noteworthy contributions to a welcome clean sheet.

I'd never usually be the sort to cite a referee for a decision as the onus is always on Pompey to do better - Josh Murphy has somewhat of a case for a penalty in the first half, but the call to disallow Ogilvie's effort for a foul on the keeper is a baffling one.

There wasn't an awful lot of protest from the pitch which is usually pretty telling, but watching it back I still can't see an awful lot in the way of infringement on Angus Gunn - a man who of course got the rudimentary Fratton End welcome for appearing 30 times for a certain side.

More than 1,600 Pompey fans will trek up to Derbyshire on Friday night, and without wanting to diminish the importance of the game, the travelling cohort won't be making the journey with the weight of the Championship world on their shoulders as much as previous away days have often felt like this campaign.

There is a genuine belief among the fanbase that Pompey are one of the few teams in the bottom half moving in the right direction.

When the herd moves in the City of Portsmouth, it moves. There is a long way to go and a lot still to do and work on, but the signs are extremely encouraging.

Find out more from Tom and Fournilwrittenalloverit by clicking here, external

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Portsmouth midfielder Owen Moxon believes they should have taken all three points from their Championship match with Norwich City on Tuesday night.

The game at Fratton Park finished goalless but moves Pompey out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

"It's a good point in the grand scheme of things but I would have liked to have taken all three and I think on the pitch we deserved that," Moxon told BBC Radio Solent.

"It was a bit of a scrappy game at times with some of the wind still left over from the weekend - we're pleased with the point but we deserved three."

Moxon came in for his first start of the season having made seven appearances from the bench so far.

"I was told on Monday I was starting and it was a long wait after training and through the day until the game but I enjoyed it and hopefully it's the start of many," he said.

"It's been a frustrating start to the season for me - I was involved then I came out of it and had an injury for a few weeks which set me back so it's been getting back fit, working hard each day and waiting for my opportunity."

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Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho says he will be back on the touchline for their meeting with Norwich on Tuesday after watching their win over Bristol City from the TV gantry.

The Pompey boss was forced to take a different view of Saturday's 3-0 victory because of a one match touchline suspension, after being cautioned three times this season.

"It was a different experience and aided by the fact we won the game it became a more pleasant experience than some games can be, and it was a different perspective," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"Head coaches and managers probably get the best view if they're sat up in the directors box or up in the gantry but unfortunately there are drawbacks to it in terms of not actually being close to the pitch, not being involved."

Assistant head coach Jon Harley took charge from the technical area at Fratton Park and Mousinho had every confidence they would get the job done.

"I didn't feel any nervousness about not being on the touchline as the lads knew their jobs and knew what we were going to do based on what we'd been working on in the week," he added.

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Portsmouth's 3-0 win over Bristol City on Saturday was their biggest victory of the season and has them unbeaten in their past three Championship matches.

Even a point at Fratton Park on Tuesday night could be enough to lift Pompey out of the relegation zone.

Norwich's 3-0 reverse at QPR on Saturday ended a two-game winning streak and they are now six points short of the play-off places.

The Canaries have also failed to win any of their past six away games in the Championship.

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past five league games against Norwich City (W2 D2), though did lose their last such match against the Canaries in May 2011 (1-0).

• After their 1-0 win in May 2011, Norwich are looking for successive league away wins at Portsmouth for the first time since October 1970.

• Norwich have only lost one of their past seven league meetings with newly promoted sides (W4 D2), although that was this season away at Oxford United (0-2).

• Portsmouth have lost all three of their midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games this season; not since February 2013 have they lost more in a row (7). However, Pompey are unbeaten in 17 such matches at home (W12 D5) since a 4-0 defeat by Ipswich in October 2021.

• Norwich are winless in 12 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league outings (D5 L7) since a 2-1 win at Birmingham City in August 2022.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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Portsmouth's best performance and most convincing win of the season.

They were fortunate to catch Bristol City on an off day but were ruthless, solid at the back and posing a real threat all game.

It's astonishing that Colby Bishop has been able to come in and play at this level.

He already looks the accomplished Championship striker Pompey have been crying out for.

Keep playing like this at Fratton Park and they'll have no problems staying in the division.

Image source, PressBox Graphics

Despite seeing successive games postponed at the end of last month, Portsmouth have an opportunity to climb off the foot of the Championship table if they can overcome Bristol City at Fratton Park.

Pompey, who fought out a 2-2 draw at Swansea last weekend - their first game in three weeks - trail both QPR and Hull by two points going into their home meeting with the Robins.

Liam Manning's side, who are 11th in the league, have found consistency elusive but have succeeded in winning three of their last five away games at Middlesbrough, Preston and Norwich.

● Portsmouth have won just one of their last 12 league games against Bristol City (D7 L4), a 3-1 victory in September 2011.

● Bristol City have lost just one of their last six away league games against Portsmouth (W2 D3), keeping four clean sheets across those fixtures.

● Since a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United, Portsmouth haven't kept a clean sheet in their last nine league games (W2 D3 L4), conceding 17 goals in that run.

● Bristol City are looking to win successive league games for the first time since April last season following their 4-0 win over Plymouth last time out.

● Only Norwich (15) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Championship this season than Portsmouth (14), while only Sheffield Wednesday (10) have earned more points from losing positions in the competition this term than Bristol City (9).

Image source, BBC Sport

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth's fixture list away from home has been very tough so far.

They've picked up just one win but have collected a number of creditable draws and once again last week at Swansea showed they are very much up for the fight.

The key to surviving in the Championship though will be improving their home form. Only QPR have taken fewer points at home so far. Pompey simply must start winning there or staying up will be beyond them.

You can hide behind there being "no easy games" in the second tier but the next four teams to visit Fratton Park - Bristol City, Norwich City, Coventry and Swansea- are unlikely to be automatic promotion contenders.

Draws are all well and good but two wins from those four should be the minimum target.

There are currently four teams on 18 points. That pack looks tantalisingly reachable but Pompey haven't ever been able to get within one win of that bunch.

Psychologically being within three points of safety would be a big help.

We all know how busy the Christmas fixture list is.

Two rearranged matches in January make it a relentless two months coming up for Pompey which ends with four home matches in 15 days.

Fratton Park needs to be a horrible place to visit by the end of that period.

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Portsmouth are currently bottom of the Championship table, two points below 23rd-placed QPR and Hull City in 22nd. However, midfielder Andre Dozzell is feeling positive about the team's direction.

"Honestly, I feel like we are in a good place but it's all good saying that. The main thing is getting three points and I feel that in the last month or so, we have took a stride in performances," Dozzell told BBC Radio Solent.

"Maybe sometimes the results haven't reflected that but I feel like we are on an upward trajectory."

In November, Pompey registered their first home win of the season against Preston North End and ended the month with a 2-2 draw at Swansea.

They next face Bristol City at Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT) but while Dozzell is feeling good about where the team are, he still feels that they have some work to do.

"We want to be solid, we've got to protect the middle of the pitch, we've got to try and dominate games and I think that's all what we have to try and do a bit better," Dozzell added.

"Now we've got to combine it all together. I think you've seen it in patches but now it's just finding that consistency and dominating games."

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth need to improve their ability to see out games after going ahead, according to BBC Sport reporter Andy Moon.

Pompey have given up the lead in six of their 16 Championship matches so far this season, including in the 2-2 draw at Swansea on Saturday having been 2-0 up.

It means John Mousinho's side have already lost 14 points from winning positions - only Norwich have lost more (15).

"First of all, I think the real key moment is the own goal from [Connor] Ogilvie at the end of the first half," Moon told BBC's Who Needs Mourinho? podcast.

"I think if Pompey go in at 2-0, it's a completely different feeling. Swansea may still come back.

"Swansea are a strong side and the way Pompey are playing, they are sitting deeper away from home. And when you do get that lead, there is going to be a lot of pressure.

"Ogilvie, unfortunately it's just an error at the back. The cross is a good one to the far post. Peter Harris is coming in behind him but he gets there first.

"I don't think the second half starts the way it did for Swansea if they don't get that goal."

Moon said that you can "accept" it if the opposition score from a "moment of brilliance" but believes Portsmouth need to reduce the number of mistakes leading to goals.

"You think back to Middlesbrough away, in the 2-1 lead there, and again the goal comes from a penalty because of an error from [Owen] Moxen," Moon added.

"Burnley, Matt Ritchie gives the ball away. It's the same self-inflicted wounds that Pompey have got to cut out because that again is ultimately what cost them possibly three points on Saturday."

Portsmouth are bottom of the table, four points from safety, but have two games in hand following postponements in recent weeks and host Bristol City at the weekend.

You can listen to the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast on BBC Sounds.

Former Bristol City midfielder Marlon Pack says he can see similarities between his time at Ashton Gate and with his current club, Portsmouth.

The 33-year-old is set to line up for Pompey against the Robins in their Championship match at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Pack was a key member of the Bristol City side which won the League One title and EFL Trophy in 2015.

"A lot of things we did with that Bristol City side, not so much on the pitch because that takes care of itself, but the small details in terms of the off-field curriculum like meeting up for coffee, I've tried to integrate into our group there (at Portsmouth)," Pack told BBC Radio Bristol's 'Sounds of the City'.

"We probably haven't got to the level we want to now, and at Bristol City we struggled to find our feet but we eventually got accustomed to life in the Championship and found our way."

Pack left Bristol City for Cardiff in 2019 before, three years later, re-joining hometown and boyhood club Portsmouth, where he is club captain and led them to promotion last season.

"Portsmouth have been through struggles and stabilised themselves - this club deserves to be higher but has to earn the right for that and I'm delighted to be part of the revival," he added.

"It's a club on an upward trend and I can see similarities between ourselves and my time at Bristol City - we can learn a lot from them and how they've gone about it."

City go into Saturday's game with three wins and three defeats from their past six games while Portsmouth are bottom of the table but have taken four points from their past two matches.