Portsmouth

Portsmouth have lost their past two games and saw their seven-game unbeaten run at Fratton Park ended by Millwall on Tuesday night.

Pompey welcome promotion-chasing Burnley on Saturday afternoon, who are one point off the top two and unbeaten in their past 16 games (W9 D7).

• After remaining unbeaten across their ten league games against Burnley between 1995 and 2010, Portsmouth have since won just one of their past five against the Clarets (D1 L3).

• Burnley have won their past two away league games against Portsmouth and will be looking to win three in succession at Fratton Park for the first time.

• Portsmouth have won each of their past four home league matches and will be looking to win five in a row in the second tier for the first time since February/March 2003 (5).

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past eight away league games (W6 D2), keeping seven clean sheets in the process. The Clarets last enjoyed a longer undefeated run on the road between December 2022 and September 2023 (14 games) during which they were promoted to the Premier League.

• Josh Brownhill has netted nine goals for Burnley in the Championship this season, already his most in a single league campaign in English football. Indeed, his five away goals are also his most in a league season to date.

Image source, Getty Images

Rotherham boss Steve Evans says Millers defender Cohen Bramall's rumoured move to Portsmouth is far from a done deal.

Speaking in a news conference on Thursday, Evans told BBC Radio Sheffield the switch is not as close as some have made out but talks remain ongoing.

"The clubs are in dialogue," Evans said.

"Some people are perhaps running away with themselves, he's been training today. The clubs are talking but nothing has been confirmed."

BBC Radio Solent reported on Thursday morning that Pompey's interest in the former Arsenal, Colchester and Lincoln left-back has been ongoing for a few weeks.

They also said that Portsmouth boss John Mousinho is keen to bring Bramall in to bolster the Blues' ranks before Monday's deadline.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth are keen on adding both Cohen Bramall and Adil Aouchiche to their squad before the transfer deadline, reports BBC Radio Solent.

The Blues are looking to sign Bramall permanently and Sunderland's Aouchiche on a loan deal.

Left-back Bramall currently plays for Rotherham and was signed by Arsenal from non-league side Hednesford Town back in 2017.

Attacking midfielder Aouchiche came through Paris Saint-Germain's academy and has made eight Championship appearances for Sunderland this season.

Dan George and Andrew Moon
BBC Sport, South

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says he is hoping to still bring in "at least two" more signings before Monday's transfer deadline.

The Blues have signed four players this month, two loans and two permanent, as they prepare for the final months of the season in which they will hope to remain a Championship side.

"We feel pretty good about the position we're in (with transfers)," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"There's a lot of positivity but it is one of those where I think you will see a lot of activity and movement over the next few days moving up until the close of the window.

"We don't have an exact number in terms of incomings but there will be I think hopefully at least two if we can get them done then great, we're just keeping it open and flexible."

The Blues are just two points above the relegation zone in 21st place but despite their current precarious position above the bottom three, Mousinho feels there is no need for panic.

"I don't think it is going to be make or break for us with signings," Mousinho added.

"We have shown that we can be competitive and mix it with good sides, we want to strengthen and we want to be better coming out of the window than we went in.

"If we can get the signings that we want then we'll be in a great position, there's still a bit of scope for movement in the squad with ins and outs."

One recent blow for Portsmouth was news of in form full-back Jordan Williams picking up an injury.

The 25-year-old was having a scan on his injured hamstring on Wednesday.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Getty Images

Last night against Millwall was one of those tight games in the Championship where scoring first pretty much wins you the game, and that's exactly what we saw.

Millwall were fashionably well prepared for their night in Fratton, and actually provided Pompey with a bit of a blueprint in terms of conduct away from home.

Take your chance, sit in and be solid, defend your box well and by and large you'll come away with the plus three.

Our profit recently has come from our aggressive work without the ball - yet Millwall set up in such a way that there was simply no Pompey press, because there was nothing for us to press!

The Lions roared back to London with a win which they fully deserved.

The outcome was perhaps more troubling considering this was Pompey's salient game in hand on those around us - and feels like an opportunity passed up.

Last night could have put some daylight between us and others, instead we remain in a rather dubious league spot with a handful of undeniably tricky Championship assignments ahead of us. Yet, I still find myself citing numerous positives.

Pompey now have plenty of recognisable options at centre-back.

The biggest home crowd cheer of the night was Conor Shaughnessy's return to competitive action, and an eye-catching debut from new boy Hayden Matthews.

He showed impressive pace, demonstrated his height being an attribute of his but not wholly dependent on it, and sprayed a number of picture perfect passes too.

There were also plenty of chances in the game for us too - the execution of those of course was nowhere near where it needed to be, but it's not as if Pompey created nothing meaningful all evening.

Yes it's a blow considering where an alternative outcome from last night could have put us - but I certainly wouldn't be pushing any panic buttons.

It's a critical week in which offensive incomings must be prioritised, particularly to provide Pompey with some more options out wide - and I'd argue another left-back is necessary.

Connor Ogilvie went through the wars and found himself on the deck a few times last night - if, heaven forbid, anything were to happen to him, Callum Lang, or Josh Murphy for that matter then that would leave Pompey incredibly exposed.

Fingers crossed we get ahead of the game and negate that concern altogether.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Pompey's incredible home run was always going to come to an end at some point and they weren't bad on Tuesday night but did not win the key moments.

There was no playing out from the back from Millwall, something Pompey have become experts at taking advantage of.

This was not a team you want to fall behind against - the visitors' defending was outstanding.

Goals have been a problem at times this season and Pompey weren't at their sharpest in front of goal. They need to re-find that clinical edge.

The Championship table looks precarious again, especially with tough matches against Burnley and Sheffield United in the next 10 days.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho says the fixture list has been "absolutely brutal" because of postponed matches and potentially cost Pompey points.

A waterlogged pitch saw Portsmouth's trip to Blackburn on 23 November called off, before a power failure at Fratton Park four days later forced the Millwall game to be postponed.

Both of those matches were rearranged as midweek fixtures for this month with Pompey losing 3-0 at Ewood Park on 15 January and welcoming the Lions tonight (28 January).

"It's just fallen all in one month where it's just been extremely heavy with the travel as well," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"As we spoke about at the weekend, it's probably come at the detriment to some results."

Portsmouth's 5-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday was their seventh game in 25 days and one in which they made five changes to cope with the congestion.

When asked whether it was the last game he will have to make "significant rotations", Mousinho said: "I think it will be.

"We always had in mind last week that if we could get through this period, what we will have going into the two games this week is hopefully some fresh legs off the back of being rested on Saturday.

"It's probably going to be the last one [that we make significant rotations]. Don't hold me to that."

Mousinho also said there was "a bit of activity to be done" in the January transfer window.

"There are some deals to be done," he added.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Rex Features

If the Pompey team performed to the standard set by the travelling fans in away ends up and down the land, we'd be top of the league.

Much to the disappointment of the 2,500+ who made the journey to The Hawthorns, it was embarrassment number five to add to a scarily ever-growing list of annihilations on the road this season.

The expectation for many was that John Mousinho would rotate his players, given the unforgiving schedule afforded to us since the start of January.

I doubt many would say they have any issue with rotation. These are human beings playing in the Championship, not fatigue-immune robots.

Where the issue lies, is when rotation is made - in Saturday's case, five swaps from the team that convincingly beat Stoke - Pompey seem to completely throw the game away within the blink of an eye. Two Nico Schmid errors and it's game, set and match to the Baggies.

It's easy to make a case for Mousinho's actions - survival comes first and foremost. Shuffle the squad and manage the fitness of players accordingly for winnable games is entirely plausible.

Rotation is okay. Rotation that means we have to play a right-back on the wing and offer our centre-forward no support… not okay.

The announcement of the incredibly exciting Hayden Matthews will I'm sure be greeted with an immense sigh of relief.

Defensive reinforcements are a necessity with Pompey conceding an average of three goals per game away from home since mid-December.

There's also bubbling discourse within the fanbase regarding the extent to which Pompey's home form can be relied upon.

Some would stress there's 30 points available to Mousinho's side at Fratton Park between now and the end of the season and another 20 points would probably do it.

Given we've taken 19 from an available 21 of late, what's the worry?

Others would then say, what happens if the home form dries up? Where does this side turn to then? Nothing is a given in football and we can all agree the home form of late has been nothing short of remarkable, yet has probably taken many by surprise.

Tomorrow night feels like a real knife-edge game for Mousinho. Beat Millwall, and the weekend will soon be behind us and Pompey move five points clear of the drop zone. We'd then probably only be needing another five wins to consider ourselves all but safe.

Lose, and Saturday's rotation is in vain, having passed up our game in hand on all those around us and remain in a very precarious league position.

It's a dangerous game and one with a magnitude of importance in the context of this season.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Portsmouth tried to sign Hayden Matthews last summer but couldn't reach agreement with Sydney FC. Now they have got their target.

Like Thomas Waddingham this is the capture of a very promising young player however Matthews is considered much closer to being ready to play in the Championship than the striker.

Marlon Pack has played the past three months as a makeshift centre-back so it was clearly a position Portsmouth needed strengthening.

With the arrival of Rob Atkinson on loan and Conor Shaughnessy now close to fitness John Mousinho will finally have the options in defence. It's been a position cursed by injury this season.

Obviously there is a big gap in standard between the A-League and the Championship but Portsmouth believe it's a country and a league where there is good value for money in the transfer market.

Portsmouth welcome Millwall on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT) to play out a game in hand after the fixture was called off because of a power failure on 27 November.

Pompey were thrashed 5-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday but have won four on the bounce at Fratton Park and are unbeaten in their past seven on home soil (W6 D1).

Millwall ended a six-game winless run with a 1-0 victory at Luton at the weekend to move up to 16th, while Portsmouth are 21st, two points above the drop zone.

• Portsmouth have lost just two of their past 19 home league games against Millwall (W10 D7), conceding more than one goal in just three of those matches.

• Millwall have won both of their past two league games against Portsmouth, and will be looking to win three in succession against Pompey for just the second time in the EFL, having previously done so from 1923 to 1966.

• Portsmouth have won six of their past seven home league games (D1), including each of their last four in a row, all while scoring 2+ goals.

• Millwall have only won one of their past nine away league games played on a Tuesday (D4 L4), beating Plymouth 2-0 in October.

• Millwall have only won two of their past 11 Championship away games at newly promoted opposition (D2 L7), wins over Plymouth (2-0) and Sheffield Wednesday (4-0) last term.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Another brutal day on the road for Pompey with once again the big talking point the team selection.

John Mousinho's decision to rest five key players will have frustrated some of the travelling fans who are investing time and money to follow the club.

However, he must do what he think is best for the squad and in many ways the performance today highlighted why he must wrap his key players up in cotton wool.

There is a shortage of Championship quality and once again one West Brom goal was enough to spark a collapse.

Seven away defeats on the bounce and Mousinho must find a solution to these issues away from Fratton Park or staying up will be very challenging.

One or two more quality additions would also be very useful.

"I don't see how the first two years could have gone much better for John Mousinho."

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon discuss Portsmouth settling into Championship life, raiding the Australian A-League and glance ahead at the upcoming trip to West Bromwich Albion.

You can keep up to date with Portsmouth news and views by listening to the Who Needs Mourinho podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth head coach John Moushino is pleased his side have lost their "soft side" in the Championship.

It comes after Stoke boss Mark Robins accused Pompey of using the "dark arts" in their 3-1 win on Wednesday night.

"I thought it was a really good compliment; I was really pleased to hear that," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"The opposite of that is a soft side who doesn't know how to manage a game, which we could be accused of at times this year."

Portsmouth have won their past four home games in the league but heads to West Brom on Saturday on a five-match losing streak on the road.

"We've spoken internally about being a bit smarter, a bit street smart. Sometimes we've been naive in games against clever Championship players.

"It's not something we're deliberately setting out to do to gain a competitive advantage, but we want to make sure we do things properly. I don't think there's anything wrong with that - we need to do things properly to win football games," he added.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City boss Mark Robins was critical of his team for allowing Portsmouth to "bully" them in their 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park on Wednesday, but also accused Pompey of using the "dark arts".

We asked you for your views on Robins' post-match comments and here is a selection of your responses:

Peter: Rubbish, I was at the game. It was a good physical game of football from both sides. No dark arts, just one team wanting it much more than the other.

Ronan: He's not wrong and it has been a weak point of Stoke's game all season, but it was a total failure by the referee to control the game in my opinion.

The standard of refereeing in this season's Championship has been diabolical - I dread to count the number of points we have lost to objectively incorrect refereeing decisions.

I confess I watch the Prem with envy every time the referee runs over to that monitor…

Darren: Robins need to worry about his own team being pretty poor, and how he is going to stop their slide down the table, rather than making excuses for the defeat. Pompey had 9 fouls against them, Stoke 12... Hmmm.

Adrian: Sounds like sour grapes to me. I never saw anything other than a normal game of modern football from both sides.

Expect better from Robins. Maybe the pressure of the position he finds himself in now is dawning on him.

Image source, Rex Features

Martin: There's nothing dark arts or bullying about it. It's full blooded commitment and hard work. Sour grapes. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Julian: Robins has got it so wrong. Pompey just ran and won most 50-50s. Stoke were outfought rather than outplayed!

Nick: Robins' comments are pretty laughable really. Pompey "comprehensively outplayed a poor Stoke side for the vast majority of the game".

I'm a Pompey fan, but the quote is from a couple of disappointed Stoke fans I met in the pub after!

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Rex Features

My feeling before the game was that this would be Pompey's biggest game of the season so far - and it proved not only to be a dazzling win, but a proper performance from John Mousinho's side.

Whether it be Colby Bishop's emphatic spot-kick, Callum Lang's audacious header and emotional celebration or Jordan Williams' colossal defensive display, there was something to like everywhere you looked at Fratton Park on Wednesday night.

I've written previously about my frustrations with the lack of decisions from officials seeming to fall Pompey's way - the penalty early doors validates this entirely.

It's a decision that referee Josh Smith should make and correctly does, yet you don't often see those given. It's not something we've seen too much of go in our favour this season to date.

Colby dispatches expertly, and Pompey have their desired start. The visionary Nicolas Schmid then fires one in Lang's direction, which Pompey's goal-scoring boy nods beyond Viktor Johansson's reach.

A fitting celebration followed as the 10-goal man wheeled in the direction of Alec Lumb's seat. A class player and an even better person.

Stoke get back in it with a goal that is disappointingly poor for all those of a Pompey persuasion - but, for me, it was our conduct coming back out after half-time that won us the night.

What can only be described as pedal to the floor, Pompey gave no respite or breathing room for an opposition's right to reply - Connor Ogilvie tucks it away nicely at the back stick and the evening becomes ever so comfortable.

There wasn't a moment where I felt from then on that the scoreline - and more broadly, the result - was in any danger. Mousinho's characterisation of that being up there with one of the best 45s of the season is wholly accurate.

As the Championship table stands, Pompey can name six teams inferior to them. The challenge now is to ensure that remains the case for as long as possible.

Resurgent Portsmouth head to The Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT) to face Tony Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion.

Pompey have climbed up to 18th, three points clear of the drop-zone, while the Baggies sit seventh, a point outside the play-off places.

• West Brom have lost just two of their past 11 league games against Portsmouth (W7 D2), and after winning the reverse 3-0 in September, will be looking to record a first league double over Pompey since the 2001-02 season.

• Portsmouth have failed to win any of their past seven away league games against West Brom (D2 L5) since a 3-0 victory at the Hawthorns in February 1998.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their last nine home league games (W3 D6), their longest run since April 2023 (a run of 12).

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last five away league games and could lose six in a row for the first time since March 2006 when they lost nine in succession in the Premier League.

• Mikey Johnston has been directly involved in four goals (2 goals, 2 assists) in his last three home league games for West Brom, twice as many as in his first 18 such matches for the club (2).

Notts County striker Alassana Jatta is attracting attention with Plymouth said to have seen a £750k bid turned down, while Portsmouth and Bolton are also interested. (The Guardian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip page.