Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth [Credit: Imago]
Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth [Credit: Imago]
Match

Ian Darke notes Portsmouth 'fear' after trend he's seen in the Championship

Dan Godfrey
Dan Godfrey

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

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Portsmouth are demonstrating a trend that strikes "fear" into the side heading into certain games, according to Ian Darke.

The TV commentator and Blues fan, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, has said John Mousinho's team are struggling to consistently deal with the rigorous schedule of the Championship.

Pompey were battered 4-0 at Derby County last Friday [13 December] in a horror show preceded by two encouraging results and successive clean sheets against Bristol City [7 December] and Norwich City [10 December].

"I think there was a fear about the Derby fixture anyway with it being the third game within six days, and there's a little bit of a trend developing here," Darke explained.

"The style and intensity against Bristol City and Norwich left them a little flat at Derby, who themselves had way too much for Pompey who were absolutely dire.

"But I do expect them to bounce back against Coventry [21 December] with a full week on the training ground."

Portsmouth aiming to shape up for Christmas period

The visit of Frank Lampard and his Coventry side to Fratton Park this weekend starts a demanding run of 12 games before 1 February, meaning every angle of the Portsmouth squad could be utilised.

The transfer window is also seen as vital both inside and outside of the club, with reinforcements needed to ensure survival at the first time of asking.

John Mousinho
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho [Credit: Imago]

In among the hefty run of fixtures come two rearranged league clashes in January against Blackburn Rovers and Millwall, as well as an FA Cup third-round trip to League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

In other Portsmouth news, Tayo Singerr stars for the Academy as the starlets make their case to Mousinho.

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Portsmouth
Ian Darke
www.theportsmouthnews.com