Portsmouth

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Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has been speaking to the media ahead of the trip to Millwall on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key takeaways from his press conference:

• Kusini Yengi is "fine" and has been back in full training this week after missing the 1-0 win over Blackburn with a hamstring injury he picked up on international duty in training with Australia.

• Defenders Rob Atkinson and Conor Shaughnessy are both "very close to returning to full training" but neither will be fit to play this weekend.

• Alex Milosevic is "very hungry" to make his debut and "doing everything he can to get up to speed" after signing in March until the end of the season.

• Millwall have been a "very solid team this season" and Alex Neil has done a "good job".

• "I thought they were excellent [at Sunderland] and unlucky to lose 1-0," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent. "They're a very physical, dangerous side that can also play. It would be a bit of an error to think it's just going to be a physical game. They play some good football as well."

• On how big an achievement it would be if Pompey finished in mid-table: "Honestly, we're not thinking about that at the moment. The only thing we have to worry about is where we are in relation to the bottom three. That's the most important thing at this stage of the season."

• Mousinho added: "If we manage to do it, the next part of progression through the summer will be looking at how we turn ourselves into a more comfortable mid-table team next year."

Listen to Portsmouth boss John Mousinho discussing the latest team news on BBC Sounds.

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Portsmouth defender Connor Ogilvie says he has adapted to life in the Championship in his first season playing at this level.

The 29-year-old impressed again last weekend during Pompey's 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park.

"I always try to believe in my ability, I knew I could do it," Ogilvie told BBC Radio Solent ahead of the trip to Millwall on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"It was just a case of adapting to the Championship and I feel like I've done that now."

Ogilvie, who switched from left-back to centre-back in the past two games and has also chipped in with four league goals this season, says he's worked on being "more aggressive" and "subtle details" in training to improve.

"That is why I joined Portsmouth, to be in the Championship," said Ogilvie, who spent three years in League One with the club before winning promotion last season.

"Obviously it took a little while longer than we hoped for but we got there and we just need to maintain that Championship status now."

Pompey are seven points clear of the drop zone in 17th with seven games remaining and Ogilvie says "results are the main thing now".

"It's in our hands, we've put ourselves in a good place but now it's just about us, what we do on the pitch to get the results needed to stay up," he added.

"Performances could be here nor there, so we just need to get the results and hopefully the performances to match them."

Listen to Connor Ogilvie's full interview on BBC Sounds

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"Scrappy, not sensational, but much-needed success for Pompey at the weekend."

Chris Wise and Andy Moon reflect on Portsmouth's "horrible" but important 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

The victory leaves John Mousinho's side 17th in the Championship and seven points clear of the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

They discuss a "match for the defence", Connor Ogilvie's impressive run of form, all-time favourite Greeks to have played for the club, and much more.

Listen to the latest episode of the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast on BBC Sounds.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Rex Features

If it hadn't been already, Saturday confirmed it is very much results over performance territory at this stage of the season for Pompey.

It was almost as if everything a seething John Mousinho called out on the touchline a fortnight ago at Deepdale had an answer provided for it at Fratton.

A well-executed press, numerous industrious challenges (which fitted the 'foul early' mould called for by Mousinho) and an immeasurably better managed closing stage to the game - Terry Devlin's run to the corner flag was a pleasing watch.

'Winning ugly' has been far from a cornerstone of Pompey's season.

It doesn't fit the adage of either turning up slightly undercooked and being blown away by opposition as a consequence, or absolutely everything going our way on the day and being just about the better side.

This was a newfound form of victory for Pompey, a welcome sight with just a handful of games to go.

In the moment, the game felt tense - in large part perhaps due to the slim 1-0 lead afforded to us against a Blackburn side with an abundance of quality and speed on the break.

It's worth pointing out that Pompey's defending in transition has left little to the imagination at times this season, so that was always a concern.

Everyone knew the importance of a return to winning ways pre-game, the Fratton atmosphere remained on suitably good form throughout, another example of the players getting a continuous 'Blue Army' to see them over the line from all four stands.

No surprise really then that the points tally is up to 22 now at Fratton in the calendar year of 2025.

Man of the match Connor Ogilvie on fist pump duty was another one of the afternoon's highlights, ably complimented by a big-game Zak Swanson performance.

And without having countless memorable opportunities in front of goal, in the moment it mattered, Colby Bishop and Josh Murphy combined superbly to win the game.

The competition is strong given that's goal number seven, but that was probably one of Murphy's better finishes in a Pompey shirt.

So, 45 points with seven games to go is not a bad position to be in at all in a campaign that was always going to be all about survival.

A win and a draw will probably do it. Given where we've been at times this season, that will do nicely.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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Portsmouth match-winner Josh Murphy described it as a "horrible" game of football and it's hard to disagree, but I doubt anyone connected with Pompey will care.

The only goal in the match against Blackburn was a moment of rare quality and the only clear-cut chance in the game. Rovers looked short of confidence and very limited going forward.

Pompey's decision to tighten things up rather than go for a second after the break was fully vindicated.

It was a much-needed win after two disappointing defeats before the international break.

Now, a couple more victories should be enough from here to secure Championship status.

This fixture was first played as an FA Cup tie in January 1900 with the first league meeting played in 1927 so there is plenty of history between these two sides.

Pompey have moved four points clear of the Championship relegation zone while Blackburn have taken just one point from boss Valerien Ismael's first four games in charge.

• Portsmouth have lost five of their past six league games against Blackburn Rovers (D1), failing to score in four matches during that time.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just two of their past 11 away league games against Portsmouth (W5 D4), winning this exact fixture 2-1 the last time it was played in February 2018.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their past two league games 2-1, and will be looking to avoid losing three in succession for the first time since September last year.

• Blackburn have lost six of their past seven away league games (W1), scoring multiple goals in just one of those matches during that time.

• Portsmouth's Josh Murphy has provided 10 assists in the league this season, with only Ricky Holmes ever providing more in a season for the club on Opta record (11 in League Two in 2013-14).

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In the latest instalment of BBC Radio Solent's 'Who Needs Mourinho?' podcast, Portsmouth forward Callum Lang joins Chris Wise and Andy Moon to discuss Pompey's dip in form.

Also was he spotted in the away end at Preston? Where does his goal celebration come from? Who inspired him to join Pompey? He reveals all...

There's also your questions answered in Moon's Musings.

Listen to the full episode and more on the 'Who Needs Mourinho?' podcast.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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Whenever you interview a player after a loss they always tell you they cannot wait to get back out there and put it right. If there is a game coming up three days later they view that as a positive.

However, a two-week break might be exactly what Portsmouth needed after the loss to Preston. Of course, there is frustration that the consecutive defeats in winnable games have seen their cushion over the relegation zone down to just four points. It is not a bad time to take stock though.

Back in November, Pompey would have given anything to be in this position. Even though Derby and Luton are making a recovery at the bottom, one point a game in the Blues final eight matches would almost certainly be enough to stay up.

Coventry away looks challenging but the rest are fairly kind with no matches remaining against sides in the top four.

Portsmouth are not playing badly. They lost to Plymouth because they struggled to break down a side who parked the bus and it is unlikely any other opponent will do that. They did not deserve to lose at Preston based on the balance of play.

Blackburn at home now feels like a huge match. Boss John Mousinho is right there is still plenty of work to do to secure survival but most of the bottom eight would gladly swap positions with Portsmouth right now

"At Fratton Park, it's never XI v XI. When you have the Fratton End, they've got this ability to suck the ball into the goal.

"It's an underdog city, an underdog club. But this situation suits them, it's a fighting city and I have no doubt they are going to find what it needs to stay on the right side of that line."

Aaron Paul and former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff are joined by Colchester boss Danny Cowley to discuss how Fratton Park could make all the difference in Portsmouth's fight against relegation.

Listen to the latest episode of 72+ on the Football Daily podcast.

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'There's a lot to unpick from it...'

Chris Wise and Andy Moon discuss Portsmouth following their defeat by Plymouth Argyle with another frustrating 2-1 reverse at Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.

In the latest instalment of BBC Radio Solent's 'Who Needs Mourinho?' podcast, the pair ask why was John Mousinho so angry afterwards, take a detailed look at the bottom of the table and of course answer your questions in Moon's Musings.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Who Needs Mourinho podcast.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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John Mousinho was the angriest I've ever seen him after the 2-1 defeat to Preston.

This was a match that got away. Portsmouth were the better team in the first half but squandered their decent attacking positions.

The second half was different after four changes by Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom but Pompey seemed to have done the hard bit by equalising with just seven minutes left.

Mousinho was particularly angry with the way Preston won the game.

In truth, though, this was an average spectacle between two fairly limited teams.

A week is a very long time in football. Six days after a stunning win over Leeds United that left Pompey 10 points clear of the relegation places, two damaging defeats have made the bottom of the table look very different.

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Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said he was "absolutely furious" with his side following the 2-1 defeat at Preston North End.

"I can't believe what we did after getting the equaliser," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Unacceptable on so many levels. I think I've been far too nice, far too kind for this team for far too long.

"That was absolutely awful what we did after working so hard to get back in the game.

"If you look at the build-up to the goal, they should have scored before that. We keep getting the press wrong, leaving our man, doing some of the world's silliest things.

"I constantly, constantly, constantly go on about fouling early, giving ourselves a chance to get back in it, but no we decide we think we can do better, we think we can do something else and the ball ends up in the back of the net.

"Same old message and it's not good enough. Once again we shot ourselves in the foot. Good reaction to going behind, awful reaction to getting the equaliser."

Listen to John Mousinho's post-match interview on BBC Sounds.

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Portsmouth still have things to learn to become a mid-table Championship side, says head coach John Mousinho.

Mousinho's side visit Preston on Saturday, having lost 2-1 at home to bottom-of-the-table Plymouth on Wednesday evening.

"We are where we are - the league table at this stage of the season is a perfect reflection of where you are as a side," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"If you look at that sort of game last season, if you stay in it until the 92nd or 93rd minute, you give yourself a chance to pop up with a set-piece or a mistake, score a late goal and that's what we need to do better if we're going to progress as a side."

Portsmouth have won four of their past six games to move seven points clear of the relegation zone as they head to Deepdale but Mousinho believes they still have work to do.

"I've been banging on about it for ages - in a week you can pick up nine points and things change very quickly," he said.

"There are teams we've played who I thought would be up into mid-table obscurity or challenging for the play-offs but are suddenly below us, or vice versa, and we have to be really, really careful about what we do now."

Portsmouth make the trip to Preston North End on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as they look to climb further away from the threat of relegation.

Pompey claimed a huge win over Leeds United on the weekend, but then lost out to bottom side Plymouth Argyle in the midweek.

The Hampshire team got the better of North End in the reverse fixture back in November, though that was at Fratton Park where Pompey have picked up most of their Championship wins this season - only two of their 11 have come on the road.

• Preston are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Portsmouth at Deepdale (W6 D4), with this their first meeting since March 2013 in League One, a 1-1 draw.

• Portsmouth are looking to complete a league double over Preston North End for the first time since the 1969-70 season.

• Eight of Preston's last 11 league games at Deepdale have been draws (W3), including each of their last three. They've only lost one out of 17 on home soil under Paul Heckingbottom (W6 D10).

• Portsmouth have lost 12 of their last 16 away league games (W2 D2), including eight of their last nine (W1).

• Portsmouth's Josh Murphy has scored in each of his last two Championship games against Preston, while he's also scored in his most recent appearance at Deepdale in April 2017 for Norwich.

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Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says he was surprised by Plymouth Argyle's tactics to defend in a low block during their 2-1 defeat but has called on his side to adapt to different challenges.

Pompey lost for only the second time in their past 13 matches at Fratton Park as the Pilgrims claimed their first away win of the season to boost their survival hopes.

Mousinho's side had to try and break through an well-organised Plymouth defensive unit, which took up residence just outside their penalty area with the hosts enjoying almost exclusive ownership of the ball.

Pompey have averaged 44.4% possession all season (49% when at home) but recorded 80.5% in the loss on Wednesday night, which means they are far from clear of their own relegation concerns.

"We reviewed the game and were realistic about what we think we can do better," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent ahead of the trip to Preston North End on Saturday.

"I watched us keep the ball for 80% of the time and make two mistakes that made it really difficult for us.

"The most annoying thing was having made the mistake just before half-time, we came out in the second half, we started really well and then gave them another goal.

"There were loads of passages of play where we could've shown us creating a load of pressure, maybe not the right amount of chances, although we did towards the end a bit more.

"But unfortunately at that point, it was just too much of a mountain to climb for us."

Mousinho said "never in a million years" did he think Pompey would have 80% possession in the game.

"If you look at the way the game panned out, Plymouth were much less aggressive than we thought they'd be," he added. "I thought we would dominate possession but I didn't think it would be 80%.

"I didn't think they would play as little as they did, they've not done that in the past few games and that's something we have to adapt to and take on board as coaching staff."

"It was a sweeping statement for John Mousinho to say [Portsmouth] aren't good enough for follow ups from their performance at Plymouth.

"It's quite alarming for Portsmouth fans to hear the manager say 'we aren't good enough' or whatever the comment was. They are good enough, quite obviously, that's why they are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"But are they good enough to have a performance like Sunday, having made two or three changes legs wise? I just don't think he feels Portsmouth are in that position at the moment."

Where did it all go wrong for Portsmouth on Wednesday night as they lost 2-1 to Plymouth?

Chris Wise and Andy Moon are joined by former Pompey midfielder Gareth Evans to discuss going from a jubilant victory over Leeds United to a disappointing loss to Plymouth Argyle in the space of four days.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Who Needs Mourinho podcast.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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A bump back down to earth for Portsmouth after the incredible high of Sunday's win against Leeds United.

Plymouth defended incredibly well and extremely deep, but Pompey played into their hands with misplaced passes - and poor defending allowed two goals on the counter-attack.

Last season in League One, team after team came and parked the bus at Fratton Park but that's not been the case this season and it was as if Pompey had forgotten how to play against teams who did.

Boss John Mousinho was correct to say if the team want to get to the next level they must be able to adapt and win games like that.

Wednesday night highlighted the relative limitations of his side.

Pompey remain in a strong position but the bottom of the table does not quite look as favourable as it did just a few days ago.

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Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent following their 2-1 home defeat by bottom side Plymouth.

"I am feeling incredibly disappointed, angry with the performance, and disappointed with the opportunity that we've spurned, and how the game has panned out," he said.

"Plymouth came and set up really deep, made it difficult for us, those are the games where you have to concentrate, not give anything up.

"It's very difficult to do what Plymouth did for 90 minutes but as soon as you give them a goal and then a second goal after half-time, it becomes a lot easier, you get the energy, you can defend the box a bit better.

"We were fine for the first half an hour, we didn't really break them down a lot and then we started to get sloppy. The goal was absolutely abysmal, the second was as well.

"Those are the sort of games that if you can't break sides down, it's difficult to play against and it's a 0-0 you move on.

"We were up for Sunday and we are not good enough to back it up at the moment. In 10 days we have lost to the bottom two sides in the league and beaten the top team."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

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Regan Poole this week became the third Portsmouth player to be tied down to a new contract.

The defender has only made 33 appearances in his near two seasons at Pompey but despite the injuries he's been an impressive figure.

Poole was outstanding before suffering a serious knee injury last season and while follow-up injuries have affected him in this campaign, he's shown he's still the same player.

Colby Bishop and Terry Devlin have also signed new deals to extend their stays at Fratton Park.

While boss John Mousinho is correct to say there is still notable work to do in order to secure their place in the Championship next season, realistically Portsmouth can plan for another year in the second tier.