‘Tempting fate’ – John Mousinho makes injury admission with update on Portsmouth star duo
Portsmouth have enjoyed a solid start to the Championship season.
Pompey currently find themselves just one point off the play-offs with five games played so far this campaign.
Portsmouth’s scoreless draw against Southampton was a very good result away from home, and a point well earned against their big rivals.
John Mousinho’s focus has now turned to the weekend, where his side hosts Sheffield Wednesday at Fratton Park.
The Pompey boss was speaking ahead of the game and was highly complimentary of two of his players in particular.
John Mousinho wary of injury record of defensive duo
Conor Shaughnessy and Regan Poole have been key to Pompey’s good start to the season.
The duo have started together at centre-back in every game so far this campaign and looked exceptionally solid.
Mousinho, speaking before the Sheffield Wednesday game, complimented the pair while stating the importance of their partnership.
Speaking to the News [18 September], he said: “Partnerships are really, really important all around the pitch.
“We’d want any of our centre-halves to be able to step in at any point, but Regan and Shocks seem to have a very good understanding of each other and are forming a good partnership”.
He was also very aware of the injury troubles both players have had and wanted to exercise caution when looking ahead to the rest of the season.
He said: “You always think there is a potential injury around the corner and we don’t want to tempt fate, but, at the minute, they are fit and it’s a real positive.”
Shaughnessy missed most of last campaign through injury, while Poole suffered a devastating ACL injury the year before, but both seem back to their best this season.
Portsmouth have one of the best defences in the Championship
Portsmouth have been excellent so far defensively this season, with Shaughnessy and Poole at the heart of it.
The loss of goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid will definitely be felt, but Mousinho will be determined to see the same defensive performances.
| Defensive stats this season | Portsmouth |
| Clean sheets | 3 |
| Goals conceded per match | 0.6 |
| xG conceded | 6.1 |
With three clean sheets in five games, Pompey are top of the charts in the Championship, and will look to continue that this weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday have only scored three times this season and will undoubtedly find it difficult against this resolute Portsmouth defence.
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