Marlon Pack shares what Portsmouth were guilty of in Sunderland defeat

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

01 Sep 2024, 11:49 am

Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack says his team need more bravery after suffering their first defeat of the Championship season by Sunderland at Fratton Park.

Pompey were no match for the league-leading Black Cats as they took a 3-1 win back to Wearside, leaving John Mousinho's men to identify where it went wrong.

The skipper and local lad says he and the side must be more courageous in certain situations.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Andy Moon [31 August], Pack said: "Bravery is the key word. Myself included, I think at times we're all guilty of not wanting to be the one to make the mistake.

"You can also be the one to make something happen when you're brave and there's a really fine line between the two - I think that will come.

"We have two weeks now to work on what we need to, and we'll come back to face West Brom ready to go."

Portsmouth enduring tough fixtures

The fixture list certainly handed Portsmouth a baptism of fire to begin their first season back in the Championship, with table-topping Sunderland being the first side to beat the Blues.

Draws with Leeds United, Luton Town and Middlesbrough preceded the defeat at Fratton Park to complete August, with high-flying West Brom first up after the international break.

This season will be a steep learning curve, but in the long run be beneficial. There are several making their bows in the second tier and getting to grips with issues that are not faced in League One.

Marlon Pack was the Portsmouth Player of the Season for 2023/24. (Credit: Imago)

The club have acted to bring a mix through the door of Championship pedigree and exciting unknown quantities from abroad, as they look to compete with the big boys.

Pompey will be okay come May - a campaign of stability and establishment is just what the doctor ordered.

In other Portsmouth news, a tactical assessment of new signing Mark O'Mahony.

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