Portsmouth weakness to be patched up at crucial point in major Mousinho boost
Portsmouth have struggled massively with injuries this season, to the point John Mousinho has been regularly forced into square pegs in round holes.
This has primarily been the case in defence, where Pompey have had countless centre-half partnerships and shipped 66 goals in attempting to patch themselves up throughout the season.
The Blues’ defensive record is the joint-second-worst in the Championship, on par with Cardiff City and superior only to Plymouth Argyle (82), though they have scored more goals (50) than the rest of their survival rivals.
Mousinho’s men sit 19th in the table with four matches remaining, starting with Good Friday’s trip to Norwich City (18 April).
Portsmouth set for welcome defensive return
Portsmouth welcomed back Rob Atkinson from injury against Derby County on Saturday (12 April), and his impact was wholly defining on the game.
The towering centre-back headed home twice at the Fratton End to secure a 2-2 draw, also stunting his side when his own goal but Derby in front for the second time in the contest. It was an eventful afternoon for the Bristol City loanee.
Regan Poole had been, in the handful of matches leading up to that draw at Fratton Park, partnering left-back Connor Ogilvie in the heart of the defence. The duo, for the most part, handled themselves very well but switched off for the last-gasp winner they conceded at Coventry City (9 April).
Conor Shaughnessy has seen his season robbed from him by a combination of two calf injuries and a hamstring issue. It has not just rained but poured for the Irishman, who was a massive hero of last season’s promotion and was tipped for a call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad.
Shaughnessy is hoping to feature in the final four games of the season, though Mousinho admitted he is unlikely to be fit to start against Norwich.
This comes as a major boost given his reliability in a blue shirt, and should hopefully give Pompey that push over the line they so desperately need – especially at the back.
Mousinho not fancying other options
Alongside the centre-halves Portsmouth have got, they have had other options which Mousinho has either experimented with or mainly avoided.
Marlon Pack has featured in defence as much as he has played in midfield this term, turning in a number of mixed performances at centre-half which have ranged from superb (Leeds United at home) to horrific (Bristol City away).
Alex Milosevic is one with whom Pompey fans will wonder if they will ever see him don the colours. Signed as a free agent after the transfer window for cover, the 33-year-old needed a few weeks to get up to speed but was then an unused substitute in recent games, before picking up an injury.
| Portsmouth – final four | Date |
| Norwich (A) | 18 April |
| Watford (H) | 21 April |
| Sheffield Wed (A) | 26 April |
| Hull (H) | 3 May |
With the anticipated return of Shaughnessy on the cards, Milosevic is now even further down the pecking order.
And then there is the curious case of Ryley Towler, whose 12 games for Pompey this season have come in spells. He would start a few, then wouldn’t be seen for months. It’s clear Mousinho does not trust him at the level, and in hindsight he should probably have been let out on loan in January.