Marlon Pack shares what’s needed at Portsmouth after defeat vs Ipswich Town
Portsmouth were handed their third Championship defeat of the season away at Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Ipswich beat Portsmouth 2-1 at Portman Road in the latest fixture, following the loss suffered at the hands of 23rd-placed Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
The loss put an end to Portsmouth’s unbeaten Championship away record this season.
The treatment room also claimed a new patient as Portsmouth’s injury crisis worsened over the 90 minutes when John Swift went off with a knock.
This weekend’s goalscorer, Marlon Pack, shared what needs to change if John Mousinho‘s side are to see an upturn in form.
Pack pinpoints improvement Portsmouth have to make after Ipswich defeat
Pack converted Portsmouth‘s best chance of the game in the 92nd minute, but it was too little too late and proved no more than a consolation goal.
Pompey’s skipper told the club’s official website after the defeat that they need “extra bravery” in the final third, saying: “The message for us is just to have more belief in what we’re doing because we look good when we press with intent and purpose.
“Once we got those openings, then we need to be a bit cleaner in the final third. That extra bravery is needed.
“So, we’ll come away disappointed not to get something from the game. We gave it a go, although it’s easier to do that when you’re 2-0 down.”
s as the only teams to have not scored more than Mousinho’s side – both clubs are on five as well.
Read more: Portsmouth news round-up: John Mousinho issues devastating injury update amid ‘dire’ Ipswich scenes
Portsmouth’s wasteful form in the final third
The Blues had opportunities to create goal-scoring opportunities, but couldn’t turn final-third possession into clear-cut chances, and the numbers prove Pack’s opinion correct.
Efficiency in the final third (stats according to SofaScore)
- Portsmouth had 13 touches in the opposition’s box but managed just four close-range shots.
- Ipswich turned 17 touches into 10 shots from within 18 yards.
- Portsmouth had 45% accuracy when passing in the final third.
Only bottom-placed Sheffield United have scored fewer than Pompey’s five league goals so far this campaign.
The struggles for the south coast club are clearly in attack, while the defence has held up at the other end of the pitch; it is a much different story.
In possession, Portsmouth have averaged a pass accuracy of 89.7% in their own half, but this figure drops to 57.8% as soon as they cross the halfway line.
In comparison, Oxford United average a 62.4% pass accuracy in their opponents’ half.
Three of the five goals the Pompey fans have celebrated have come from outside of the box, implying a lack of a consistent and replicable source of goals.
Across the seven league fixtures played so far, Portsmouth have had 52 shots from inside the box, a figure which has resulted in just two goals.
In addition, 1.7 big chances are created by Mousinho’s team per game, 1.6 are missed per game.
Portsmouth’s woes in front of goal are their main issue, as highlighted by Pack, and a change in form is needed if this September form is to change going forward.
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