Portsmouth

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

On the surface Portsmouth aren't in a bad position. Their key objective this season is to stay in the Championship. They are currently a point above the bottom three with at least one game in hand on the sides around them.

However, a quick look under the bonnet and things are a little more concerning. The injury crisis has reached epic proportions and there are key absentees.

On Thursday it was confirmed Mark Kosznovszky will miss the rest of the season and some of the next. Hayden Matthews and Josh Knight are both set for extended spells on the sidelines. More bodies into a busy treatment room.

The real issue is going forward. Callum Lang and Josh Murphy could both miss the rest of the month.

Lang only returned recently from a hamstring injury and scored a brilliant goal against Derby County. Murphy has been carrying an injury most of the season but has still produced moments of real quality.

The combination of those two injuries, Colby Bishop's injury and lack of form and Conor Chaplin's surprising lack of impact since joining leave Portsmouth lacking firepower.

The owners have stuck to their goals of trying to be close to breaking even on the football side of the business while investing in the club's infrastructure. They've achieved a fair amount with it.

For that model to remain successful and for Pompey to stay in the Championship is going to require a number of rabbits to be pulled from the hat in this transfer window.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has made a number of decent signings in his time and John Mousinho remains an excellent manager, but this is asking a lot.

We've reached the point where crazy spending by other clubs and a horrendous injury list mean maintaining the current spending model and Championship status may not be possible.

Portsmouth were without three of their first-choice attacking players in the 5-0 defeat at Bristol City as Josh Murphy, Callum Lang and Colby Bishop were injured.

Conor Chaplin also only came on as a 62nd-minute substitute with the score already at 4-0.

With that in mind, BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and Andy Moon have been discussing the importance of players getting fit again, as well as the need for reinforcements in the transfer window.

"We had a question - Bishop, Murphy, Lang, Chaplin, if they're fit and firing, are they a front four to keep Pompey in the Championship? I think we both said yes, but that's a massive caveat," Moon said on the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast.

"At Derby, the goal Pompey scored was a really, really good goal from Callum Lang set up by Murphy. You take out Bishop, Murphy, Lang, all injured, Chaplin didn't start [in the 5-0 defeat at Bristol City].

"You've lost that entire front four and what you've got in replacement is a young front four with a bit of talent but very raw.

"Ultimately you've got a front four that can't impact games in the Championship, can't hold the ball high up the pitch and can't make a difference. That is the worry.

"I said after that game, forget January to some extent. We know the window is important but if Pompey can't get their best players fit and out there, you're going to need the greatest January ever to keep the team up.

"Because they can't cope without the likes of Murphy and Lang."

Listen to the full episode of Who Needs Mourinho? on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth are settle to battle Danish side Brondby for the signing of £2.6m-rated Senegal striker Ousmane Sow, 25, who has scored nine goals this season for Polish side Gornik Zabrze. (Mekzyki.pl - in Polish, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Tom Chappell
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Away day embarrassments were all too familiar last season, and a theme is beginning to develop this time round.

In the space of 72 hours, the collective euphoria I wrote about was wholly displaced by a comical disaster on the road. The good ship Pompey was sent into battle with a broken rudder and no ammunition.

Although big-name absentees currently make for very slim pickings for John Mousinho, that in absolutely no way excuses the unacceptable showing at Ashton Gate.

Huge goalkeeping errors, completely mindless passing and decision-making, alongside an inability to create anything meaningful at all resulted in a completely abominable showing.

And arguably, the worst thing is the result won't have taken many Pompey fans by surprise.

I remember writing, bizarrely after the reverse fixture, that without a big January transfer window, Pompey probably won't get out of this. This remains the case.

Now is the time to invest properly in our squad otherwise it's too late. Yesterday's team sheet was crying out for huge backing like you wouldn't believe.

Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel

Portsmouth centre-back Conor Shaughnessy says the players will do "everything they can" to put things right after being thrashed 5-0 by Bristol City on New Year's Day.

Pompey are now just one point clear of the relegation zone after the heavy defeat at Ashton Gate, albeit with a game in hand over Norwich in 22nd.

John Mousinho's side host high-flying Ipswich on Sunday (15:00 GMT kick-off) at Fratton Park, where five of their six Championship wins this season have come.

"It's a difficult one to sum up, it's disappointing obviously," Shaughnessy told BBC Radio Solent.

"We know that's not the standard we want to set. The good thing is we've got another game in a few days' time and we will do everything we can to put it right against Ipswich.

"We probably need to sit down and analyse it. They [Bristol City] were clearly the better side and let's not try and get too down. Let's try and pick ourselves up for Ipswich.

"We know it's a bad day at the office, there's no two ways about that. We know how bad that was and not good enough from all of us as a collective.

"We all win together, we all lose together. It's all about recovery in this quick turnaround. It's just getting it right for the next one."

The 29-year-old said the "great thing about this league" is the chance to "bounce back and put in a better performance" within a few days.

"We will be looking to put it right," he added. "Everybody wants the same thing."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

It's hard to believe there have been many, if any more one sided matches in the Championship this season

Bristol City didn't get out of second gear but were far too good for a woeful Portsmouth side. A more ruthless opponent might have threatened double figures.

Some of the wounds were self inflicted for Pompey. Two of the goals came from poor attempts to play out from the back.

John Mousinho switching to three at the back didn't work. But for any tactical shortcomings Pompey simply can't compete at this level without so many key players. Callum Lang and Josh Murphy are arguably the two best players and are sidelined again.

The big worry is it's unlikely anyone will be fit before Sunday. Ipswich at home looks daunting. The Fratton Park crowd won't stand for another showing like today.

It's been clear for sometime that this January would be a vital window. But even a good month may not be enough to keep Pompey up if they can't get their existing top players fit and firing.

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says his side has "no other choice" but to move on from their 5-0 thrashing at Bristol City.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after the match, he said: "Bristol City completely dominated us, we have to move on very quickly as we have some important games coming up.

"As a coaching staff we have to take responsibility for the team set up and tactics, the players have to take responsibility for their part too," he said.

Two of Bristol City's goals came from misplaced passes Pompey made deep in their own half.

"There were a couple of goals we shot ourselves in the foot with giving them the ball," Mousinho added.

"I said to the players we have to move on, show up on Sunday, run about and look like we can have a go, because we have no other choice.

"It's tough for us out there at the moment with the injuries we've got, but hopefully the fans can stick with us as we have some big games coming up."

Image source, Opta

Bristol City will look to keep their play-off bid on track when they welcome relegation-battling Portsmouth on New Year's Day (15:00 GMT kick-off).

The Robins picked up two wins on the bounce over Middlesbrough and West Brom before defeat at Millwall last time out and are two points behind the top six.

Pompey's dramatic late winner over Charlton on Monday extended their unbeaten run to four games (W2 D2) - their longest in the league so far this season.

John Mousinho's side are three points clear of Oxford in 22nd with a game in hand.

• Bristol City beat Portsmouth 3-0 in this fixture last season and are unbeaten in each of their previous seven home league meetings with Pompey (W3 D4), since a 2-0 loss in September 1991.

• Portsmouth lost 1-0 to Bristol City in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park in November, last losing both league games against the Robins in a campaign in 1975-76.

• This is the first time Bristol City are playing a league game on New Year's Day in four consecutive years - the Robins are winless in the first three matches of this run (D2 L1), drawing 2-2 with Plymouth Argyle in 2025.

• Portsmouth have won their past two league games on New Year's Day, never previously winning three in a row on this day.

• Portsmouth have won only one of their previous nine second tier away games in the month of January (D2 L6), winning 3-0 at Peterborough United in 2012.

Tom Chappell
Portsmouth fan writer from Fournilwrittenalloverit

Image source, Rex Features

Having followed Pompey since I was 18 months old, I can recall very few moments like Yang Min-Hyeok's 98th minute winner at Fratton Park on Monday.

Collective euphoria. There's nothing like it.

It was yet another example of a poor quality game - Pompey had created very little until Conor Shaughnessy netted in such familiar fashion with his first touch since returning to the pitch after a lengthy spell away.

His aerial prowess, goal scoring threat and general footballing presence is everything Pompey have been missing in his absence.

Just when a crucial win looked home and dry, set-piece defending was once again Pompey's downfall - after a number of Charlton opportunities late on, Mousinho's side had seemingly thrown it away again.

Then from the kick-off, complete absurdity.

Andre Dozzell's masterful ball, debutant Franco Umeh keeping two defenders busy whilst Yang's fantastic feet and brilliant composure - signalled a noise like we haven't heard in years.

All it takes is one little moment.

The January window is a critical point in Pompey's season and moreover their wider status in the second tier of English football, not least with star men Callum Lang and Josh Murphy sidelined.

Shrewd additions, proper business and a couple more moments of magic like Monday, then Pompey have a fighting chance of staying up.

Click here to view more of Tom's Pompey content on Fournilwrittenalloverit, external

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Monday evening might have been a game of limited quality between two Championship strugglers but it was a night no Pompey fan will forget in a hurry.

The final 90 seconds of the match were as crazy as football gets after Pompey had seemingly thrown away a priceless win. Yang Min-hyeok had other ideas though.

It was a bungee jump of emotions that few things in life can deliver.

Given the scoring record of both sides it's no surprise that chances were limited. It felt like a game that one goal would win.

Conor Shaughnessy's return is a huge boost for Pompey, and not just for his near post headers from corners. He is their best defender and if he stays fit will significantly increase their chances of Championship survival.

Callum Lang and Colby Bishop joining Josh Murphy in the treatment room is a big problem. Pompey weren't scoring enough goals with their first choice attack. Breaking down Bristol City and Ipswich, let alone Arsenal, without them will be very challenging.

Being out of the relegation zone is nice but cutting the gap to Charlton to just two points was vital. Both sides are likely to spend the rest of the season battling the drop.

Fans in the UK might wish to hear how Pompey's dramatic win unfolded live on BBC Radio Solent. Click below to relive the moment over and over...

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho described their dramatic 2-1 win over Charlton at Fratton Park as "crazy" as they scored in the 98th minute to take all three points and move out of the relegation places.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "I can't remember being involved in a game in 20-odd years of football like it. It was just crazy at the end. We had our heads in the bin when Charlton equalised having just held out for so long, defending so well.

"Then to go up the other end - I didn't even see the goal, just the ball going in the net - it was a very surreal moment.

"I'd much preferred to have won it 1-0. But, there's a really ecstatic changing-room in there, and hopefully we can build on that and get a bit of that feeling back. We've not really had much of it this year.

"It was important today to try to reel sides in. There shouldn't be an obsession with league position until the back end of the season, but there should be an obsession with good performances and trying to win games. It was a big win tonight."

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said their 1-1 draw at home to QPR felt like a missed opportunity.

Mousinho's side dominated the first half and led through Terry Devlin's goal, but could have been further ahead.

Rangers were better after the interval and Jimmy Dunne's equaliser earned them a point - and sent Pompey into the Championship relegation zone.

"We were excellent in the first half and well deserving of the lead. We could have had a couple more - that was the only disappointing thing," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"Then in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half we just didn't do the things we'd done in the first half and were punished for that.

"On balance, it was a fair result, but the way we dominated the first 45, we definitely should have won the game and had it out of sight by that point, so it does feel like there was an opportunity there to get three points. We created enough to win the game.

"We have to take the point and dust ourselves off, because we've got Charlton here in three days' time."