Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Thu 27 March 2025 20:40, UK

John Mousinho could make two changes to his Portsmouth side as Blackburn Rovers visit Fratton Park this weekend.

Pompey last turned out in the late 2-1 defeat by Preston North End (15 March), the second successive loss by this scoreline which has dragged the Blues closer to the Championship relegation dogfight.

To look to avoid the scrap, Mousinho’s men must channel their regular home form at Fratton and come out on top on Saturday (29 March) over an out-of-form Blackburn side without a point from their last three, under a pressurised Valerien Ismael.

Yengi injured as Mousinho could make one further tweak

Portsmouth firstly return from the international break with the one thing any manager or head coach dreads when their players depart with their nations – an injury.

Kusini Yengi was absent as Australia thrashed Indonesia last week and Mousinho was likely to initially have been encouraged by the avoidance of any on-pitch issue occurring. However, this was because the striker had already picked up a knock, which then ruled him out of the following win over China.

Yengi was given the nod to partner Colby Bishop at Preston, but will now make way and Mousinho is likely to restore Matt Ritchie, after the vice-captain was benched at Deepdale.

This would involve a shape shuffle, with Ritchie back on the right-hand side and Terry Devlin – the elusive utility man himself – thrown from right-back into a number 10 role, meaning Zak Swanson would fill in at the expense of Adil Aouchiche.

Devlin is on cloud nine following his Northern Ireland debut at the recent camp, and will benefit from the opportunity to continue his momentum in a role he has previously filled into well.

Freddie Potts and Andre Dozzell should continue at the heart of the midfield, while new free agent signing Alex Milosevic is now sharp enough to be in contention.

However, the prediction would be that Milosevic takes a place on the bench with how well Cohen Bramall performed at left-back against Preston. He will give Pompey a massive outlet down that flank at home, which would mean Connor Ogilvie at centre-half alongside Regan Poole.

Josh Murphy is a no-brainer with his Championship-high 16 goal contributions this term for a summer signing, while Bishop leads the line hoping to add to his seven league strikes.

Nicolas Schmid will be between the sticks, while the bench would be stacked with all manner of options such as Aouchiche, Marlon Pack and Isaac Hayden.

Jordan Williams and Christian Saydee are now fit to become part of the squad, though are very unlikely to be thrown in to start.

Portsmouth must seize Fratton chance

Portsmouth know what a massive opportunity Saturday is. Not only is Blackburn’s form reminiscent of a wounded animal of late, the Blues’ home record this season is the backbone of their survival.

After the final fixture of March, a massive April includes four away trips to the likes of Coventry City and Millwall – never easy places to travel.

Blackburn themselves will look to rekindle their play-off charge, having fallen to five points adrift of the top six. Ismael’s job is at stake, too, and this weekend could be the last-chance saloon for the visitors.