Portsmouth loss v Preston: John Mousinho ‘angriest’ after what was seen
John Mousinho was at his angriest after what was seen as Preston beat Portsmouth 2-1 in the Championship on Saturday.
Deepdale hosted Pompey on 15 March, with all three goals scored in the final 15 minutes of regulation time.
Ryan Porteous scored for Paul Heckingbottom’s team in the 76th minute before Colby Bishop equalised for the Hampshire outfit.
Stefan Teitur Thordarson broke the travelling supporters’ hearts as he scored a late winner, with Sam Greenwood picking up a red card at Deepdale towards the end.
Mousinho at his angriest after Portsmouth loss v Preston
Mousinho was at his angriest ever seen after Pompey lost to Preston, Andrew Moon says.
The BBC Radio Solent journalist believes the English manager was particularly unhappy with the manner of the defeat.
Moon feels the visitors were the better of the two teams in the first half but let the game slip despite scoring an equaliser late on.
| Championship table (2024/25) | Points |
| 17. Portsmouth | 42 |
| 18. Oxford United | 42 |
| 19. Hull City | 41 |
| 20. Stoke City | 39 |
| 21. Cardiff City | 39 |
| 22. Derby County | 38 |
| 23. Luton Town | 35 |
| 24. Plymouth | 33 |
The journalist wrote on the BBC (16 March): “Mousinho was the angriest I’ve ever seen him after the 2-1 defeat to Preston. This was a match that got away. Portsmouth were the better team in the first half but squandered their decent attacking positions.
“The second half was different after four changes by Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom, but Pompey seemed to have done the hard bit by equalising with just seven minutes left.
“Mousinho was particularly angry with the way Preston won the game.”
Pompey undo good work done in Championship
Mousinho’s hopes of avoiding Championship relegation have arguably been hit after losing to Preston.
The English manager has done well to drag the Hampshire outfit out of the drop zone after enduring a poor start to the season, but losing two games on the bounce won’t help.
Leeds United were beaten 1-0 at Fratton Park on 9 March, but Mousinho’s team have since dropped six important points against teams around them in the table.
While fans will still be confident of avoiding relegation to League One, Pompey can’t continue to put in underwhelming displays.
The English manager will have time to review his tactics during the international break and hope for a better result at home against Blackburn Rovers on 29 March.
Considering the season they are having, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Valerien Ismael’s team beat the Hampshire outfit.
Another defeat would be a big dent in Mousinho’s record, and he will undoubtedly want to play his strongest players.
With some key players joining their respective national sides for the coming weeks, Mousinho will hope they will return without any fitness issues.