View: Time may be right for Mousinho to leave out 0% Devlin for Portsmouth v Norwich
John Mousinho would be wise to axe Terry Devlin when Portsmouth face Norwich City on Tuesday.
Pompey are beginning to find their feet in the Championship, winning two of their last three matches, with one player looking back to his best in the 3-0 Championship victory over Bristol City at Fratton Park on Saturday [7 December].
As a result, they have moved off the foot of the Championship table, and are now just three points off 17th-placed Preston North End with two games in hand after a series of postponements which could cause a “financial headache”.
Therefore, there will be a lot more optimism around Fratton Park that Pompey can maintain Championship status this season. As a result, the mood is likely to be an incredibly positive one when Norwich City visit Fratton Park in the league on 10 December.
The Canaries have won just twice away from home all season, which should leave Mousinho and his players optimistic about claiming victory.
However, if they want to do just that and continue building momentum, Mousinho would be wise to axe Devlin after his display last time out.
John Mousinho must axe Terry Devlin for Portsmouth v Norwich City
Devlin and Jordan Williams have filled in at right-back while Zak Swanson has been out injured.
Williams recently picked up an injury himself, which has resulted in Devlin starting Portsmouth’s last three matches at right-back. However, after his display against Bristol City, he is unlikely to make it four starts on the bounce.
As per Sofascore, while the 21-year-old did make three clearances, two interceptions and block one shot, he was also dribbled past once.
In addition, he was only able to complete 58 per cent of his passes, with just one of those key, and while his one cross into the box was accurate, he only was able to provide one long ball from three attempts, while giving possession away 16 times.
Perhaps most concerningly, Devlin only won one of his four ground duels and three of his seven aerial duels, while zero per cent of his dribbles were successful.
Overall, it wasn’t the most positive display, and Mousinho needs to address this.
Swanson returned from injury against Bristol City, coming off the bench in the 78th minute and completing 75 per cent of his passes on the pitch. Therefore, this could spell the end for Devlin, who should be replaced by Swanson against Norwich on Tuesday.
In other Portsmouth news, Don Goodman has described recent injury news as a big blow for the club.
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