The South Stand entrance at Portsmouth's Fratton Park
The South Stand entrance at Portsmouth's Fratton Park
Match

Ian Darke drops 'panic' verdict on Portsmouth in 'rocky road' admission

Ian Darke
Ian Darke

Portsmouth fan Ian Darke has one of the most recognisable voices in English football. Born and bred on the south coast, Darke has seen almost everything in the game having worked as a commentator for Sky Sports and BT Sport. He's covered four World Cups and we're delighted to have him join our team of experts at Pompey News.

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Ian Darke has told Portsmouth fans not to panic about results at this stage of the season, claiming it is important not to overreact.

Pompey are without a win from their first eight games of the Championship season and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the first round.

The winless start has been largely put down to a horror run of difficult fixtures, but an inexcusable 6-1 hammering by Stoke City has attracted deserved criticism.

TNT Sports commentator and Blues fan Darke exclusively told Pompey News: "I said that it was going to be a rocky road and it's important that fans understand what the team are up against.

"Plenty of players have come and gone, and it's important that at this stage especially, the fans don't panic.

"John Mousinho and Rich Hughes are smart and know how it will be, and the fans shouldn't have an overreaction to every result."

Portsmouth look for immediate response against Oxford United

If Portsmouth were going to take a pasting, at least it came with another game within fewer than 72 hours.

Fellow promoted side Oxford will visit Fratton Park in full confidence they can take a result and get one over on their former servant Mousinho, who ended his playing career at the Kassam Stadium less than two years ago and has promised changes to his side.

Four of the last eight meetings between the two sides have ended all square, while Oxford heartbreaking knocked Pompey out of the League One play-offs on penalties in 2020.

John Mousinho
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho

Last season saw the Blues emerge victorious in this fixture at Fratton Park in League One, as Callum Lang and Christian Saydee struck in each half to wrap up a narrow 2-1 win.

The Us have beaten Stoke, Preston and Norwich in the league so far this season, and sit in 11th, seven points ahead of Mousinho's men.

In other Portsmouth news, the head coach should stand by one of his midfielders after Wednesday.

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Ian Darke
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