John Mousinho steps in to solve Portsmouth issue he was ‘worried’ about
Portsmouth took a huge step towards securing their Championship status with a 1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday.
John Mousinho’s men are now seven points above the relegation zone with just seven games remaining, and look set to enjoy another campaign in the second tier.
However, the manner of their victory over Blackburn was brought into question, as goalscorer Josh Murphy admitted it was a “horrible” game to play in.
Meanwhile, Mousinho caught the eye with a raft of defence-minded substitutions in the second half.
Mousinho praised after massive win v Blackburn
In the second half of Portsmouth’s win over Blackburn, attacking midfielder Adil Auochiche and winger Matt Ritchie were replaced by Terry Devlin and Jordan Williams, who are both defenders by trade.
| Opponent | Result |
| Leeds (H) | 1-0 W |
| Plymouth (H) | 1-2 L |
| Preston (A) | 2-1 L |
| Blackburn (H) | 1-0 W |
Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent’s Who Needs Mourinho Podcast [1 April], Andrew Moon said: “You have to credit John Mousinho.
“I think it was the right thing to shut the game down. I know he’s been worried in the past about Pompey getting hit on the counter-attack.
“If you think about the Leeds game, Leeds’ opportunities actually came when Pompey had committed men forward.
“It’s seen as probably negative, with half an hour to go at 1-0 up to make those changes, but I don’t think it was. It’s worth saying Devlin can play at number 10, he does bring something there, and (Cohen) Bramall isn’t a bad option on the left wing.
“It’s not like you park the bus, but making the team that much more solid, I thought worked pretty well.”
Mousinho and Portsmouth must maintain their momentum
Portsmouth’s victory over Blackburn was a massive one, and a win which could even prove to be the one which keeps the Fratton Park side in the Championship.
However, now is not the time for Mousinho’s side to allow complacency to slip into their game, and they can further bolster their increasingly positive survival chances by beating Millwall on Saturday, 5 April.
Alex Neil’s side sit 13th in the Championship but are still just six points below the playoff spots, so they could prove tough opposition for Portsmouth.
After their trip to Millwall, Portsmouth then travel to Coventry on 9 April, before taking on relegation-threatened Derby on Saturday, 12 April.
Mousinho’s men have a huge opportunity to enjoy a relatively comfortable end to the season if they can get the better of Millwall in the capital.
But if they suffer a defeat to the Lions, Pompey may end up in a position where they have to get something out of a tricky trip to Coventry.