John Mousinho delivers injury update on Portsmouth star who missed Millwall
Portsmouth have staggered through this season at times in terms of their fitness record.
Pompey have been blessed by the fact they approached their inaugural season back in the Championship with the largest squad in the division – and that bloated roster has actually saved them.
John Mousinho has rarely been able to field a settled starting XI due to the problems he has been faced with on the weekly, and now the Blues remain without several of their key men heading into the run-in, aiming for survival.
Portsmouth ace missed Millwall loss as Mousinho gives update
Mousinho should be admired for his attitude in the face of the injury adversity his side have faced.
Many managers in the past – and undoubtedly in the present – have liked to blame their lengthy injury list for shortcomings in their team, but the Portsmouth head coach vehemently refuses to use it as an excuse.
Zak Swanson was the latest Blues player whose fitness status came into question as he missed Saturday’s defeat to Millwall (5 April), which again leaves Pompey just four points above the relegation places.
Mousinho explained via BBC Radio Solent (5 April) that the soon out-of-contract Swanson was nursing a heel issue, which previously kept him out for two weeks, and was uncomfortable to confirm whether the defender would be available for the two upcoming games within the next week against Coventry and Derby.
“Zak just felt his heel in training, and it’s an issue he’s had previously, so it was an obvious one to bring Jordan [Williams] back in,” he said.
“It kept him out for a couple of weeks last time, so it’s one of those that just niggles away.”
Pompey come unstuck on the road again
Portsmouth can congratulate themselves for ‘Fortress Fratton’ all they like – but in private, not in the dressing room, because Mousinho would have their proverbial lives.
The away form Pompey have produced is utterly shocking – make no bones about it. Injuries aside, narrow defeats on the road in recent months have come from individual errors, naivety or not taking chances.
Combine that with the handful of hidings the Blues have endured on their travels – more so before Christmas – and you end up with an away record superior only to Plymouth Argyle – whose only away win this season was, of course, at Fratton Park (12 March).
| Portsmouth – final six fixtures | Date |
| Coventry (A) | 9 April |
| Derby (H) | 12 April |
| Norwich (A) | 18 April |
| Watford (H) | 21 April |
| Sheffield Wed (A) | 26 April |
| Hull (H) | 3 May |
Speaking of Argyle, they were Saturday’s big winners. While remaining bottom of the pile, Miron Muslic’s side are now suddenly back in the survival picture having been the only side in the bottom five to take all three points from their fixture.
Pompey will be up against it at Coventry and will certainly be underdogs. Not many of us expect a lot from the West Midlands on Wednesday (9 April), but trouble could loom if it goes as anticipated.