John Mousinho makes baffling mistake as Portsmouth release starting XI vs Southampton
Portsmouth face their biggest game of the season on Sunday as they travel down to St. Mary’s to face Southampton.
With it being the first South Coast derby in six years, there is a lot of pressure on John Mousinho to get a result.
Before the international break, the South Coast club had a great start, with Portsmouth’s 1-0 victory over Preston ending an excellent August.
However, Mousinho has now made a bold move in his lineup, which could cost Pompey the match against Southampton.
Marlon Pack left out of Portsmouth starting lineup vs Southampton
One of the biggest questions going into the match was who would start for Portsmouth.
With Conor Chaplin making his return to Fratton Park, it was unknown if he would be placed straight into the starting XI.
On top of this, Marlon Pack had been in contention for the South Coast derby after quickly recovering from his injury.
Now, on 14 September, Portsmouth confirmed via X that Chaplin was set to start the match, with Pack left out on the bench.
- Pack has grown-up a boyhood Portsmouth fan
- The midfielder has been out with an injury so far this season
- Pack has now returned to the bench for the Southampton match
Simply put, if Pack was available for the match, the midfielder should have started. The captain knows the South Coast derby inside out, and knows how much this means to the fans.
With Pompey missing this from their line-up from the get-go, it could prove to be a costly mistake in a must-win match.
Hopefully, Mousinho gives Pack some minutes from the bench where he can make an impact.
Your derby day BLUES. 🔵📋 pic.twitter.com/1L1VdwqEMP
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) September 14, 2025
Conor Chaplin has chance to make instant impact for Portsmouth
The return of Chaplin to Portsmouth has no doubt been considered a bit of a coup.
The attacking midfielder has previously been sensational at Ipswich Town and guided the East Anglian club to two promotions.
Now, for Mousinho to put Chaplin straight into the lineup is an instant show of faith from the manager, proving that he believes he can make an instant impact.
Hopefully, this gamble will pay off, and the attacking midfielder will quickly score in the derby.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Portsmouth news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @pompeynews247