Matt Ritchie has ‘no excuses’ as Mousinho holds breath in Portsmouth v Blackburn
Matt Ritchie is expected to return to the Portsmouth starting lineup when they face Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park.
With the last international break done and dusted, Portsmouth are back in action for the final stretch of the season, as they host Blackburn at home on Saturday, 29 March.
Although Pompey appeared safe from relegation at one point, their recent run of form, which saw them lose three of their last four Championship games, has pulled them straight back into the battle.
Therefore, the Fratton Park outfit must begin the final eight games of the season with a victory over the Rovers this weekend.
Ritchie to return v Blackburn
Mousinho has been predicted to make two changes to his Portsmouth lineup after their 2-1 defeat against Preston before the international break.
He is poised to draft Ritchie back into the team after benching him for the trip to Deepdale on 15 March.
The Pompey boss decided to axe his vice-captain for the first time since January in favour of starting Kusini Yengi against Preston.
With Yengi picking up a hamstring strain while on injury duty, Mousinho could be forced to bring Ritchie back into the fold even if he was not planning it in the first place.
| Matches | Starts | Minutes | Goals | Assits | Shots Per Game | Pass Accuracy |
| 32 | 23 | 1719′ | 4 | 0 | 0.9 | 72.2% |
Ritchie’s goal output this season has left much to be desired, with the 34-year-old only having four goals to show for his 34 appearances across all competitions.
However, he cannot be excused for not contributing towards the team between now and the end of the season.
The veteran also has no excuses to be anything but excellent against Blackburn, having sat out the trip to Preston.
Mousinho will surely be holding his breath as Portsmouth begin they make one final push to avoid dropping straight back into League One.
Portsmouth need Ritchie to step up at Fratton Park
Ritchie’s numbers are even more disappointing when you consider he is one of the most experienced players in the squad.
When Pompey re-signed the left-footer from Newcastle on a free transfer last summer, they would have hoped he would help them navigate through their first season back in the Championship.
However, he has been underwhelming at times, even though Mousinho has continued to trust him.
With Portsmouth embroiled in a relegation battle, they need Ritchie now more than ever, and the ball is in his court to step up.