Portsmouth

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said he was frustrated after his side left it too late to get anything from their 2-1 defeat by Swansea at Fratton Park.

Pompey were 2-0 down at the break with Jacob Brown getting a goal back in the second half, but it was the Swans who held on for the three points to inflict a third defeat in four on Mousinho's side.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "Really, really poor in the first half. Much improved in the second half and nearly got ourselves back into it but we gave ourselves too much to do, so very disappointing.

"When there's such a contrast in halves, you think 'where was that intent in the first half? Where was that aggression, that front-footedness' that we just didn't have?

"We were a couple of yards off everything [in the first half]. Then in possession we didn't play. Very frustrating overall."

Image source, Getty Images

The Championship fixture between Portsmouth and Ipswich Town has been rearranged for a second time following two postponements at Fratton Park.

The Tractor Boys will head down to the south coast on Tuesday 14 April with kick-off set for 19:45 BST that evening.

The initial match was postponed in early January due to a frozen pitch and then again in February because of heavy rain.

Ipswich have now had five games postponed or abandoned this season, with a match against Blackburn called off for a waterlogged pitch, the two at Portsmouth postponed and then fixtures against Southampton and Hull City because of FA Cup progression.

The second Portsmouth postponement left fans frustrated as well as Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna who questioned the reasons behind the cancellation.

"The FA Cup one is what it is," McKenna told The East Anglian Daily Times., external

"However there's something that could be done differently for the Championship clubs who progress in that cup because it is a big challenge now for Southampton, but also for the teams who are playing against them, including us who already have a game to rearrange.

"The only rearrangement that still annoys me is the [first] Portsmouth one.

"We're going to have a lot of games, we're going to have tough games, but there are some brilliant games in there to look forward to. It should be a really exciting end to the season."

John Mousinho hopes the next three games will put Pompey in good stead for Championship survival.

Portsmouth host Swansea on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) before welcoming Derby to Fratton Park on Monday and then head to QPR for their final game before the international break on 21 March.

Mousinho's side are 19th, three places and five points above the drop zone after being stung by an injury-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at Blackburn on Saturday.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "I don't think we need to respond to what was a good performance on the whole, it's just making sure we deal with certain moments a lot better and next time we're in that position, making sure we take control of games a lot better.

"To work so hard and play so well for 85 minutes and to go away from what's made us good is where the frustration stems from. There's basics we need to do better."

The draw made it seven points from four away games, but Mousinho added: "It should have been at least nine points, we deserved something at Wrexham too.

"We have to make sure we're very strong in the remaining five away games and try and reignite our home form as well.

"Every home game is massively important. We want to put as many points on the board as we can as quickly as we can.

"We have got three games and hopefully they will put is in good stead going into the international break, so we can have a good rest and come back really well."

On Swansea, he added: "They have a lot of talent, on the pitch and the bench, and have invested heavily over the last 18 months and it's starting to bear fruit.

"They are building pretty nicely and have had some good results - particularly at home, though a couple away. They're certainly a side that plays some good football."

Regan Poole is 50/50 for the game and will have a fitness test after an ankle injury, but Ebou Adams, John Swift and Connor Shaughnessy are all fit and available.

Portsmouth will hope to end a three-game winless run when travel-sick Swansea City arrive at Fratton Park on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT).

Only Sheffield Wednesday (7) and West Bromwich Albion (12) have taken fewer points on the road than the Swans' 14 in the Championship this season.

Pompey's draw at Blackburn on Saturday leaves them five points clear of the relegation zone with 11 games remaining.

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past 14 league games against Swansea (W5 D8), although it was a 1-0 loss in this season's reverse fixture.

• Following their 1-0 win in December, Swansea are looking to complete the league double over Portsmouth for just the second time, following the 1922-23 Third Division South campaign.

• Portsmouth have lost their past two home league games, both by a 1-0 scoreline. They last lost three in a row in March 2018, while they last did so without scoring in August 2008.

• Swansea have lost nine of their past 11 away league games, winning the others at Oxford United and Watford.

• Only West Brom and already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday have lost more away games in the Championship than Swansea this season (11).

Tom Chappell
Portsmouth fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Shutterstock

The 500-plus mile round trip for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off in Lancashire was looking like it would all be worth it when Connor Ogilvie's deflected strike found the net in the 84th minute.

It was a very low quality match with only a handful of key moments to recall. As the game looked to dwindle into a 0-0 bore-fest, it would have been a sensational away win with just a point and a place separating Pompey and Blackburn before kick-off.

Albeit that is still the case now, John Mousinho's side's seeming inability to see a game out when in the lead meant two points were thrown away in devastating fashion.

It is unfortunately the sort of characteristic that means Pompey are where we are in the Championship this season, and the number of times it has been suggested that this is something to do with the players' mentality by Mousinho is alarming.

The month of March will prove to be season defining for Pompey - displacing the agony of last minute points dropped with some crucial home wins would be a good place to start this week.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

That was the angriest I have seen John Mousinho for a long time and, in some ways, it was understandable.

His Portsmouth team had done the hard bit by taking the lead and made a mess of seeing it out.

It was a strange and very poor spectacle. Blackburn came to sit back and try and hit Pompey on the break. Not many home teams play like that.

Both sides were determined not to make a mistake and efforts on goal were very limited.

Losing Regan Poole to injury would be a big blow even with Conor Shaughnessy returning, while Ebou Adams took a physical battering in the game - Pompey desperately need to keep him fit, he's a difference maker.

The bottom of the Championship is getting tighter. Two more points would have been handy but Pompey remain in a decent position.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho felt Pompey threw away two precious points by letting relegation rivals Blackburn score a 93rd-minute equaliser.

Pompey looked set to win when Connor Ogilvie netted six minutes from time at Ewood Park and Mousinho was not happy with his players' game management.

They are five points clear of the drop zone in 19th - and Mousinho feels it should be seven.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "Blackburn had a really good chance early on but, apart from that, pretty cagey. We've given ourselves the opportunity to win the game and after we scored the goal, I thought we just completely threw it away.

"Stopped winning headers, stopped winning challenges, stopped winning second balls, let them back inside for the goal, dropped too deep, committed too many bodies forward at times. We didn't do any of the things we'd done so well for 85 minutes.

"There's that mentality switch when you go a goal ahead. I can accept us sitting deep, but then we have to dominate underneath the ball, win our challenges, you've got to come out and win second balls.

"We managed the game horrifically. We managed it so, so poorly and ultimately we got what we deserved."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

In the second half of last season, Colby Bishop was one of the best strikers in the Championship.

His nine goals from 1 January onwards put him near the top of the scoring charts for that period whilst playing for a side battling against relegation.

This after consecutive seasons of reaching 20 goals in League One and a remarkable comeback from heart surgery which could easily have ended his career.

In some ways a drop-off this season isn't out of the ordinary. It's rare for a forward to have four seasons in a row playing at a high level, but it has been an issue for Pompey.

Just two league goals in total is a disappointing return. He still provides a focal point for Pompey's attack and works selflessly putting centre-backs under pressure. He also takes a physical battering for his efforts, the lone striker role can be a thankless one.

He has missed Josh Murphy as much as anyone. His only Championship goal from open play was a brilliant header from an outstanding Murphy cross. Any centre forward would love to have Murphy on the flank.

It's not as if Bishop keeps missing chances. Pompey are not a free-scoring team and Bishop is usually marked by two or three defenders. But ideally you'd have more threat on goal from your main marksman.

It was a gamble not to bring in a senior striker last summer. Given Bishop's form and fitness record it was an understandable one. Makenzie Kirk is one for the future.

What about January? Well Portsmouth made a bid of around £1.5million for an EFL striker, which they believed would be accepted, only for the price to then be significantly increased.

They did sign Jacob Brown, but he's a different profile of forward to Bishop and can also play on the wing.

Striker wasn't the only position Pompey had to worry about. They also desperately needed a central midfielder and new wingers. Those positions were significantly strengthened with Ebou Adams and Millie Alli both making an impact.

Should they have sacrificed one of those additions for another forward? Adams and Alli are both significant reasons behind Pompey's improvement.

Last summer in the Championship West Brom bought Aune Heggebo and Watford (via sister club Udinese) signed Luca Kjerrumgaard. Reported fees are not always precise but both were suggested to be around £4.5million. They have scored nine goals each. A new striker is likely to be sought in the summer but they won't come cheaply.

Don't write off Colby Bishop. You don't reach the Championship from Leamington in the National League North, let alone recover from serious heart surgery, without having some serious determination and mental strength.

Pompey need more from their number nine role than they are currently getting, and he's had a disappointing season, but he's only 29... the Bishop of previous seasons could yet return.

Image source, Opta

There's a big game in the battle near the bottom of the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT) as Portsmouth head to Ewood Park to play Blackburn.

Rovers are 20th, two places and four points clear of the relegation zone, but a place and a point below Pompey, who also have a game in hand.

After back-to-back wins, Blackburn have lost their past two games, at home to Bristol City and at Derby last Saturday, having led in both games.

Blues have also followed two wins with two defeats, going down at Wrexham before being edged-out at home to Hull City on Saturday.

• Blackburn have won eight of their past 10 home league games against Portsmouth (L2), winning the past four in a row since a 1-0 defeat in the Premier League in September 2007.

• Portsmouth are looking to complete their first league double over Blackburn Rovers since the 1969-70 campaign.

• Blackburn Rovers haven't won any of their past 10 league games in the month of March (D4 L6) since a 2-1 win over Reading back in March 2023.

• This game will be John Mousinho's 150th league game in charge of Portsmouth – he's the 11th manager to reach that landmark, with only two of the previous 10 winning their 150th game in charge: Bob Jackson in December 1950 and Jim Smith in October 1994.

• No side has dropped more points from winning positions in the Championship this season than Blackburn Rovers (22, level with Wrexham), losing 3-1 from 1-0 up last time out against Derby.

Image source, Shutterstock

Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

It was announced this morning that EFL clubs have voted in favour of expanding the Championship play-offs from four to six teams from next season.

When asked by the Portsmouth News recently, John Mousinho said he wasn't in favour of this change.

In theory it increases Pompey's chances of promotion but eighth place feels a long way off, given their current Championship journey.

My intrigue is the motivation behind the move. Will more games at the business end of the season increase TV money for the EFL? Or are clubs thinking this increases the chance of promotion?

The gap between the Championship and Premier League feels massive. An eighth-placed side being able to survive, let alone compete in the top flight, feels unlikely.

Portsmouth will have defender Conor Shaughnessy available for Saturday's Championship match at fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers (12:30 GMT).

The 29-year-old has only featured in nine league games this season after sustaining hamstring injuries on two separate occasions, but Portsmouth manager John Mousinho will be able to select him for the trip to Ewood Park.

"He's fine and will be available on Saturday," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"When we lost Conor at the start of January it was a big blow for us because at the time we didn't have a lot of cover."

Shaughnessy's absence left Pompey short of central defensive options, necessitating full-back Connor Ogilvie filling in.

"We went into the Southampton game with only one fit centre-half and Connor Ogilvie had only played there once at that point," Mousinho added.

"How well the back four have done since then has softened the blow."

Portsmouth are currently 19th in the Championship table, five points clear of the relegation zone, while their opponents, Blackburn are one place and one point below them.

Former Portsmouth defender Nathan Thompson has been reflecting on Pompey's attacking issues during their 1-0 loss to Hull City on Saturday - and thinks the problem lies with positioning.

"When you were seeing the ball going wide, the bodies in the box - it tended to be just Colby [Bishop] in there," Thompson told BBC Radio Solent. "That becomes very easy as a defender to mark if you've only got one guy to worry about.

"When you are getting in the wide areas, you need bodies in the box and that just wasn't happening on Saturday."

The loss means the gap between Portsmouth and the relegation zone remains a nerve-wracking five points.

However, Thompson is not worried about the side's potential for survival.

"The manager will be disappointed from Saturday but ultimately he will go, 'there's certain stuff we can work with here that will give us a real chance'," he said.

"Two weeks ago, the back-to-back wins gave them a really good opportunity in many ways."

Listen to the full episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds

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Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent

Image source, Shutterstock

Another performance with many decent aspects but another blank in front of goal and another defeat at home.

Against Sheffield United at Fratton Park in Portsmouth's previous home game, Pompey made plenty of chances but could not convert them.

By contrast on Saturday, Hull's goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was hardly tested despite all the territory and possession Pompey had.

Given how limited promotion-chasing Hull were with their intent, Pompey should have secured at least a point. Adrian Segecic will not want to see the winner again.

It feels like this might be a blueprint for sides to take on Pompey at Fratton Park.

Teams have had more success on the counter-attack than they have had trying to outplay the Blues.

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has confirmed winger Josh Murphy will miss the rest of the Championship season with his broken foot.

Murphy has been out since he was injured against Derby on 20 December, missing the past 13 games.

The 31-year-old had a scan on the fractured metatarsal in his right foot and Mousinho said it had not healed as quickly as they had hoped.

"Josh is out for the season unfortunately, the foot hasn't healed," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's a massive blow and you could see today. We had three centre-backs on the bench and in a game like this where we need a bit more attacking impetus, yeah, that's a massive blow for us."

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent following their 1-0 home defeat by Hull City.

"I am very disappointed with the result. We controlled pretty much the entire game," he said.

"Ultimately we came away with 21 shots, Hull had two, we completely shot ourselves in the foot with the goal. The manner of the goal was completely unacceptable.

"I thought we didn't have quite so much control in the second half, it makes it more frustrating in a way.

"Today was one where we really should have taken advantage."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

At this point of the season, it's normal to have a group of players coming to the end of their contracts. It's also common for negotiations to go on to the back burner until the end of the campaign.

This is what happened at the end of Pompey's promotion season from League One and to a lesser extent last summer.

But it's not the case this time around. John Mousinho has been open that talks are ongoing, external and a quick look at the starting XI in recent weeks would help explain why.

Connor Ogilvie has played pretty much every match when he's been fit this season. Zak Swanson has appeared in 28 of Pompey's 33 Championship games. Both have impressed away from their regular position. You don't want to lose players like this.

Marlon Pack and Andre Dozzell have both been strong contributors again. Pack might be 34 but is still impacting matches. Dozzell hasn't managed to maintain his brilliant form from the first couple of months of the season but is always solid and dependable.

Keeping all four, or at least attempting to, would seem sensible - although Portsmouth's current plight complicates things.

Income is higher in the Championship than League One, therefore wages are higher. While Portsmouth have put themselves in a good position to avoid relegation their fate is far from certain, which doesn't help.

Jordan Archer hasn't even been registered to play this season so will surely depart. Reuben Swann and Harry Clout have failed to set the world alight on non-league loans. They are both still young and can improve but seem some way off playing in the Championship.

Toby Steward has had an excellent loan spell in Scotland with St Johnstone, although it's understood his contract is not set to expire this summer. There's belief that he can challenge for the number one jersey in the future.

Portsmouth's football set-up means Mousinho doesn't deal directly with agents. That side of the business is handled by Richard Hughes, allowing the head coach to focus on footballing relationships with his players. He still has a say in club business but distances himself from negotiations.

There are only nine weeks left of the EFL season. We may not have to wait that long for contract news at Fratton Park.