Marlon Pack makes ‘huge’ admission ahead of Portsmouth vs Oxford United
Marlon Pack confessed he feels sorry for the Portsmouth fans who travelled to see their side hammered 6-1 by Stoke City on Wednesday night and described their next outing against Oxford United as “huge”.
The Pompey skipper was hooked after just 56 minutes of the match at the bet365 Stadium, by which point John Mousinho’s men had already conceded all six.
The Blues remain the only Championship club without a win this season, and host fellow promoted side Oxford on Saturday in an already crucial early kick-off.
Speaking to the Portsmouth FC official club channels [2 October], Pack said: “As a group, I think that game was a completely unrecognisable performance from what we’ve put in this season.
“It’s a lot to mull over, and obviously I feel sorry for the fans who have travelled in their numbers and supported us right until the end to witness that performance.
“We’ve got a short turnaround to Oxford, which is a huge game for us so early on in the season.”
Portsmouth embarrassed by Stoke, Oxford now a must-win
Wednesday was excruciating. In the 43rd minute, Pompey were level at Stoke and Mark O’Mahony had tucked away his first goal for the club.
By the 54th minute it was 6-1, Tom Cannon had helped himself to four goals of his own, and it had unravelled in unprecedented time – it was utterly unacceptable.
Mousinho, Pack and the squad know that. And it’s sheer relief that a win over Oxford on Saturday can put the midweek mauling to one side. Pack says there is plenty to assess, but there is little time in dwelling on the performance.
As seen by the goalless draw with Sheffield United only four days prior, the ability to match well-equipped Championship opponents is there – so every lapse in concentration which allowed Stoke to score at will was as baffling to supporters as any other reaction.
Oxford will arrive at Fratton Park fancying their chances – the Us sit in the top half of the table with three wins from eight.
They are a club Mousinho knows well – as does star man Josh Murphy having helped them join the Blues in the Championship via the play-offs last season – and three points becomes almost vital at this stage, as much as anything for a confidence boost which can hand Pompey some much-needed momentum.
In other Portsmouth news, Pompey Women were incredibly also beaten 6-1 on Wednesday night.
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