Dan Bardell drops ‘pressure’ verdict ahead of Portsmouth vs Oxford United
Dan Bardell says a first win for Portsmouth will lift a weight from their shoulders, as Oxford United come to Fratton Park.
Pompey remain the only Championship club without a victory to their name so far this season, after a hugely challenging opening run of fixtures was followed up by a night to forget at Stoke City in midweek.
Sky Sports broadcaster Bardell claims the visit of the Us to the South Coast represents the first “pressure” game Pompey will be facing in 2024-25.
“It was always going to be a tough start to the season for Portsmouth, but you look at this one being a really winnable game,” he exclusively told Pompey News.
“This is probably the first game this season where there is some pressure for the team, and once they get that first win – which they hope will come against Oxford this weekend – a weight will be lifted off their shoulders and they can go on and pick up more points.”
Portsmouth need first win to kickstart campaign
Telling outsiders that the table is nothing to worry about and that the performances have been there without a win is all well and great – until you go to Stoke and get hit for six.
That is what Pompey now have to recover from in such a short period of time, and the turnaround is probably beneficial for John Mousinho’s side.
Mousinho himself will face up against his former club once again after he hung up his boots mid-season in 2022-23 while an Oxford player to become the Blues’ head coach.
An opportunity he could not turn down has come to much fruition since, achieving the promotion to the Championship which has eluded several before him.
But now he needs something to go his side’s way, and three points against his ex-employers would be more welcome than at many previous points in his tenure.
In other Portsmouth news, the boss has promised to make changes to his team.
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