Mourinho has Portsmouth problems to deal with after ‘massive’ news – Ian Darke
Portsmouth have an interesting dilemma when John Mousinho has a full quota of players to select from in defence, according to Ian Darke.
Rob Atkinson arrived on loan from Bristol City during January and has began life at Fratton Park well, having recovered from two years on the sidelines.
Conor Shaughnessy – who missed nearly six months with two separate calf injuries – has also now come back into the fold, and the two have struck a partnership at the heart of the backline.
Portsmouth defensive dilemma
Portsmouth have exhausted their defensive options this season, with an untold number of different central pairings at the back which have included Shaughnessy, Atkinson, Regan Poole, Marlon Pack, Ryley Towler, Hayden Matthews, Tom McIntyre, Jordan Williams and Zak Swanson.
Poole has, like Shaughnessy, suffered through injury woes for the majority of the campaign, likewise Ibane Bowat – who has still not debuted since signing in the summer – and Jacob Farrell, the Australian left-back who has played just once.
TV commentator and Blues supporter Darke, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, highlights the importance of Shaughnessy’s long-awaited return and believes Mousinho has a huge decision to make, implying this will be when Poole is fully fit.
“It’s a massive boost for Pompey that Conor Shaughnessy’s back,” he said.
“I think now, for the first time this season, John Mousinho has some selection problems for central defence and it’ll be interesting to see where he goes with it once everyone is up to speed.
“Shaughnessy and Atkinson have done well since Atkinson signed, so it will be one to consider.”
Mousinho’s side have raised their levels
The Championship is a notorious beast and can be ruthless, punishing even the slightest mistake.
While Portsmouth rip-roared through League One last year, now-departed goalkeeper Will Norris keeping a gargantuan 19 clean sheets in the process, the second tier has seen Pompey hard on their luck at times.
A key case in point was Saturday at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United (8 February), going down 2-1 when the Blues should really not just have nicked a point but won all three against Chris Wilder’s parachute-paid promotion chasers.
The defence have provided a key platform and recently mustered a hard-fought clean sheet against Burnley, while also forcing blanks from Sheffield United at Fratton Park as well as several others on home soil.
There are inconsistencies – often driven by the team changes forced upon Mousinho – and there have been unavoidable downright poor displays, which have resulted in harsh punishments. Stoke, West Brom, Derby all spring to mind.
But with players now back off the treatment table at long last and others not too far away, it should be a case of looking up the table rather than over Pompey’s shoulders as the business end approaches.