Erin McLaughlin: Portsmouth Women results have not reflected performances

Portsmouth Women midfielder Erin McLaughlin insists the team's performances have been better than results have suggested.

Jay Sadler's side are still yet to register a point in the Women's Championship since soaring to promotion last season and becoming full-time.

Last time out saw a narrow 1-0 defeat by Bristol City [20 October], with a return to action after a three-week gap coming up against Sheffield United [10 November].

"We're just trying to keep building - a lot of these girls have never played with each other before," McLaughlin said on the league's official Championship Show [1 November].

"We're getting there, but we feel the results aren't reflecting how we're performing each week."

Portsmouth Women need results fast

Portsmouth have discovered the hard way the stark realities of the Championship in both the men's and the women's game.

Irish midfielder McLaughlin was one of a host of new professionals signed when the club achieved full-time status over the summer.

Injuries have not helped either, as results have struggled and Pompey are realising very quickly how difficult the gulf between the Championship and amateur National League can be.

What wouldn't be helpful either is to make comparisons to fellow promoted side Newcastle United, who already have a superb professional setup in place and are funded to levels which dwarf the Blues.

The test against Sheffield United will be a particularly interesting one at Westleigh Park, due to the Blades themselves only recently registering their first points on the board.

Blackburn Rovers are also on just three points with one side relegated at the end of the season, so the battle is very much on.

In other Portsmouth news, Rich Hughes echoes what Eric Eisner has said about the January transfer window.

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