Dan Godfrey

Tue 25 February 2025 22:46, UK

Matt Ritchie has stepped straight into a key leadership position at Portsmouth since returning to his boyhood club.

Ritchie, now 35, came back last summer to Fratton Park where he began his professional career and sat in the stands as a young boy, and has become an integral part of John Mousinho’s setup.

The former Newcastle United and Bournemouth winger has made the berth on the right flank his own, has proven his fitness at Championship level still remains in bulk, and his vocal nature on the pitch is crucial towards the guidance of his Portsmouth teammates.

Ritchie has always fully believed in his teammates

Ritchie scored what turned out to be the decisive goal on Saturday (22 February) as Portsmouth overcame QPR 2-1 at Fratton Park to record a third win on the bounce.

The nine points from a possible nine have lifted Pompey 17th in the table, nine points clear of the drop zone in a much healthier-looking position.

After the game, BBC Radio Solent’s Andy Moon wondered if Ritchie shared the external view among some that the Blues did not have what it took to achieve what they have done to earn their brighter league position.

Moon said: “Let’s be honest, back in October, it didn’t look as if this squad would be capable of being in this position.”

Ritchie promptly disagreed and responded: “I’m not sure about that. We certainly didn’t feel that internally, we believe we felt like we had enough.

“There were obviously some lessons we had to learn quickly, but there hasn’t been one moment personally when I’ve felt we didn’t have enough.

“You can learn, adapt, and those margins are so small throughout the whole season.”

Portsmouth must capitalise on trio of March home games

Portsmouth now focus on a quintet of matches in March, and will attempt to navigate through a host of increasing injury situations.

It’s nothing Mousinho isn’t accustomed to, though now question marks hang over the fitness of Rob Atkinson, Hayden Matthews and Isaac Hayden, as well as Zak Swanson, Mark O’Mahony and Freddie Potts.

Several other first XI regulars are still on the sidelines including Callum Lang, Conor Shaughnessy and Jordan Williams, but Pompey have performed admirably at home this season and three of their five March fixtures come at Fratton Park.

This is a factor of which must be taken advantage. Luton Town and Preston North End represent two winnable away games as well, though it must be noted both opponents will themselves see an equal opportunity for three points.

While the natural anxiety among the fans still remains and will continue to do so for several weeks, the mission looks far more achievable than as Moon mentioned, it had done back in October.