View: John Mousinho will demand more from 68% Paddy Lane after Portsmouth v Luton Town
John Mousinho will want to see much more from Portsmouth forward Paddy Lane as the 2024/25 season progresses.
It has been a tough start to life back in the Championship for Mousinho’s side.
Pompey’s opening two matches have seen them take on last season’s play-off runners-up Leeds United and Luton Town, who were playing their football in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season.
Therefore, supporters at Fratton Park are unlikely to have too many complaints with Portsmouth having come out of those matches with two points on the board.
However, fans might feel slightly concerned about the form of Lane.
While a more favourable run of fixtures might offer the forward a chance to move up the gears, it is fair to say that the 23-year-old has not been able to match the standards he set last season thus far.
Lane was a key player at Fratton Park during the EFL League One title-winning season, with the winger scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in the league.
He was a constant threat for Portsmouth, creating 41 chances and providing 26 successful crosses into the box, placing him in the top 12 per cent of his positional peers regarding that particular statistic (FotMOB).
However, his form has been quite the opposite in the Championship, with the Englishman yet to register a goal or assist across two appearances.
Paddy Lane struggling for Portsmouth in the Championship
Lane’s struggles were most apparent during Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw with Luton Town at Fratton Park on Saturday (17 August).
The forward was unable to get into the game at all, completing just 68 per cent of his passes and mustering up just 0.12 expected goals as well as 0.01 expected assists (SofaScore).
In addition, both of his shots were off target while he also failed to complete a successful dribble with the one attempt he had.
Defensively he was just as poor, winning just one of his four ground duels and losing his sole aerial duel.
His form in the 3-3 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road wasn’t much better either. While he did win three of his four ground duels, make two tackles and complete a successful dribble that day, he struggled in other areas.
He only completed 79 per cent of his passes and failed to register a shot in the match with his one cross inaccurate also.
While there will no doubt be easier matches on the horizon, Mousinho will be hoping that Lane can find his form from last season sooner rather than later.
In other Portsmouth news, Liverpool are ready to sell a player to the club.
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