View: 0% Portsmouth ace has questions to answer after defeat v Plymouth Argyle
John Mousinho would have been disappointed with Regan Poole’s performance in the 1-0 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.
Pompey suffered arguably their most frustrating Championship defeat of the season yet at Home Park (5 November).
Despite dominating for large periods of the match, Michael Obafemi’s 82nd-minute winner off the bench was enough to condemn Mousinho’s side to their seventh Championship defeat of the campaign.
While they have likely become used to losing matches at this point, what would have been particularly frustrating about this result for Portsmouth was that they didn’t deserve to lose.
In addition, the loss came against their relegation rivals, with Pompey now firmly rooted to the bottom of the Championship table, five points adrift from safety.
Mousinho’s men created more XG and had more shots than Plymouth (Sofascore) as they dominated the first half and wasted several opportunities to go ahead.
Poole thought he had given Pompey the lead after just 48 seconds. However, the goal was ruled out for offside, and after starting the night on such a bright note, things would only go downhill for the defender.
Regan Poole struggles for Portsmouth in defeat against Plymouth Argyle
On a different night, Poole, Portsmouth’s captain against Plymouth, might have been the matchwinner. However, instead, he was arguably the reason his side lost at Home Park.
There was a lot to like about the centre-back’s performance. He made five clearances and three interceptions, with Portsmouth largely keeping Plymouth at bay, while he also won four of his seven ground duels.
However, the 26-year-old also did a lot wrong, making an error which led to the decisive goal. As a long kick came forward from Plymouth shot-stopper Daniel Grimshaw, Obafemi outmuscled Poole before firing the ball low into the far corner.
Poole also won zero per cent of his aerial duels and gave three fouls away. His performance on the ball wasn’t easy on the eye either. The Welshman completed just 68 per cent of his passes, while just one of his six long balls was accurate.
As a result, Mousinho will no doubt be concerned. Injuries continue to pile up at Portsmouth, and Poole needs to step up. However, he is failing to do so.
Things aren’t getting any better at Fratton Park results-wise, and it looks as though the club faces a real fight to remain in the second tier of English football this season.
Therefore, Poole will need to start putting in much better performances if Pompey are going to stay up.
In other Portsmouth news, Sam Hudson has reacted after the club’s academy blew a Youth Alliance Cup opportunity.
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