Portsmouth

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.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The main action taking place at Liverpool on deadline day is concerning their younger players and the club weighing up whether to keep them at Anfield or send them out on loan for experience.

It seems likely that Reds forward Jayden Danns, 19, will be allowed to go out on loan to Sunderland, while winger Kaide Gordon, 20, will join Portsmouth until the end of the season.

Liverpool's 20-year-old midfielder James McConnell, who impressed manager Arne Slot in a Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven last week, will be staying put.

Follow live transfer updates on deadline day

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Portsmouth have shown they can compete with anyone at Fratton Park and they certainly matched promotion chasing Burnley.

Both sides will come away thinking they could have stolen it 1-0.

Atkinson and Shaughnessy looked a very solid centre-back pairing, keeping them fit will be important.

Portsmouth created a few opportunities but as with the past few games were not at their best in the opposition box.

Colby Bishop should have at least hit the target with his late chance.

Burnley are a curious side. Extremely solid at the back but nothing more than an average mid-table side going forwards.

It's odd that a side with the huge financial advantage of parachute payments can't offer more going forwards.

It could be a quiet transfer deadline day for Portsmouth. It's possible they don't add to the six they've brought in already

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho felt his side deserved more than just a point from an impressive display in the 0-0 draw against high-flying Burnley at Fratton Park.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "I'm probably slightly disappointed with just taking a point given the chances we created.

"They have one of the best defensive records in the country and you can see why. If you get chances, the goalkeeper bails them them - he's absolutely superb.

"But I'm really happy with the performance against a top side in the league. Building on that is the most important thing.

"We need to take the positives from performances like that and start believing in ourselves a bit more."

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth's new centre-back Hayden Matthews impressed on his debut against Millwall on Tuesday night despite the 1-0 defeat, according to former Pompey defender Lee Brown.

The Australia defender's move to Fratton Park from Sydney FC was only confirmed the day before the Championship game with the Lions but he went straight into the starting line-up.

"For a 20-year-old to go in after just getting off a plane, I think he did exceptionally well," Brown told BBC Radio Solent's "Who Needs Mourinho?" podcast.

"He won the majority of his headers, on the ball he looked composed. He was firing the ball out to the full-backs. I thought he defended well. You can look at the goal, but was he isolated by people around him?

"You shouldn't really be in that position from a defender's point of view. You should have some bodies around you.

"I certainly think you've got a player there. You can tell, little movements and little things that he does on the ball, you can just tell he's got a little bit."

Brown, who made 131 appearances for Pompey between 2018 and 2022, said it was "incredible" how Matthews has handled arriving in a new country and playing in front of 20,000 fans within a week of joining.

"I remember being 20, I was at QPR making my debut and I was a nervous wreck - I thought 'I'm out of my depth here' and it was daunting," Brown said.

"It's incredible how he's handled it really. People don't realise how young 20 is, moving country, so the mentality from him is incredible.

"He must have a really good head on his shoulders because he didn't look nervous, he didn't look out of place."

Listen to the "Who Needs Mourinho?" podcast on BBC Sounds.