Portsmouth ‘puzzle’ emerges ahead of Preston clash amid Fratton Park development
Portsmouth will look to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat against Plymouth when they face Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday.
Pompey’s hopes of building on their surprise 1-0 win against Leeds United at Fratton Park last Sunday (9 March) did not according to plan as bottom-placed Plymouth Argyle handed them their first home defeat since January.
John Mousinho and Co will be determined to put that disappointment behind them when they travel to Lancashire on 15 March, with a win certain to take them above the Lilywhites in the Championship table.
Sam Parkin notes Portsmouth ‘problem’ after Plymouth loss
Looking back at Portsmouth’s defeat against Plymouth, Sam Parkin noted how Mousinho’s side struggled to cope despite having 81 per cent possession.
The Championship forward also pointed out how Pompey had a similar problem when they lost 1-0 against Millwall at home on 28 January.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
| 15. Preston | 37 | 9 | 17 | 11 | -6 | 44 |
| 16. Swansea | 37 | 12 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 44 |
| 17. Portsmouth | 37 | 11 | 9 | 17 | -14 | 42 |
He is of the view that managing a game when they have more possession than their opponents is a “puzzle” that the Fratton Park outfit need to solve, although it is unlikely to cause them major problems this season, having steered clear from the relegation zone.
“When you consider the only two defeats for Pompey maybe in the last two or three months at home have been against Millwall and Argyle, it shows you it’s a little bit of a problem, a little bit of a puzzle to be solved”, Parkin said on the Championship Check-in podcast (13 March).
“But, hopefully, they are not going to have to worry about it too much because they have got enough points on the board.”
Pompey to bounce back at Deepdale
There is no reason why Portsmouth cannot claim all three points at Deepdale, having already beaten Preston once this season.
Mousinho’s side earned a convincing 3-1 victory over the Lilywhites when the two sides locked horns at Fratton Park in November this season.
Pompey will be looking to replicate a similar scoreline on Saturday.
Preston, for their part, are on a poor run of form in the Championship, having failed to win each of their last six league games.
The two teams could be without as many as 16 players for the match, with Portsmouth missing Callum Lang, Hayden Matthews and Ibane Bowat among others.
Therefore, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious on Saturday.