Mousinho needs more from 60% Portsmouth maestro after Leeds win
Portsmouth need other players to step up with Callum Lang set to miss the remainder of the Championship campaign.
After what was a challenging start to the campaign, Portsmouth look set for another season in the Championship, with the latest victory against Leeds United doing plenty to aid that.
Not only did it significantly boost their chances of staying up, but it also provided a huge blow to the Whites in their race to achieve a return to the Premier League.
While safety isn’t guaranteed yet, it’s certainly likely, and that allows some of the pressure to be lifted on the Pompey players, though John Mousinho will need to see far more from one player in particular.
Adil Aouchiche is capable of far more than has been on show
When Lang was ruled out for the season, concerns emerged as to who would be able to step up in his absence, and Adil Aouchiche is certainly capable of being that player.
However, as of yet, the Frenchman has yet to hit the heights that everyone knows he is capable of, and the reduction in pressure may allow him to excel.
In the win against Leeds, Aouchiche completed just 60 per cent of his 15 attempted passes and created just one chance in the game [FotMob].
| Portsmouth | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Adil Aouchiche | 6 | 0 | 0 |
To call it a chance would be generous, given the fact it arrived with just 0.01 xA (expected assists) while failing to complete either of his two attempted crosses.
Despite Pompey seeing plenty of the ball at Fratton Park, the Frenchman was limited to just 24 touches, the least of anyone who started the game.
Aouchiche certainly didn’t have a bad game, but at this stage in the campaign, he certainly needs to show far more to warrant his place in the team, and with the level of quality that he has, he is more than capable of doing so.
Portsmouth are edging closer to Championship safety
Ahead of the final 10 games, Portsmouth have a 10-point advantage on those in the bottom three, which, in reality, should be enough to secure their status for next season.
However, the momentum from the win against Leeds should provide them with the upper hand in many of their remaining fixtures.
Mousinho‘s side simply need a handful more wins to confirm their place in the Championship for a second season.