Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has called on his squad to draw belief from their weekend triumph over Blackburn Rovers as they prepare for a demanding festive fixture list beginning at Derby County on Saturday.
The Blues ended a concerning run of three consecutive defeats with a spirited display at Fratton Park last weekend, lifting spirits after sliding into the Championship’s relegation zone.
Mousinho emphasised the importance of building on that performance as his side faces a congested December schedule. “The only way you ensure it’s not a false dawn is by going out and getting a positive result on Saturday,” the Pompey boss explained.
The manager highlighted a notable shift in his team’s performance during the Blackburn clash. “I don’t know what happened after the 60-minute mark, but we suddenly seemed to have an extra zip in our step,” he observed.
Whilst acknowledging the victory’s significance, Mousinho remained measured about his team’s prospects. “We’re certainly not sat here saying that we’ve cracked it, but we want the boys to have enjoyed the last win and take some confidence from it,” he stated.
The Portsmouth chief believes his squad possesses the quality to compete effectively when performing at their best. “When we play to our capabilities, we’re not a bad side at all – so it’s about us convincing the lads of that,” Mousinho added.
With limited recovery time between matches, physical preparation has become paramount. “It’s a busy Christmas period and there’s not a huge amount of time to rest, so we have to ensure we’re physically prepared for every single game,” the manager noted.
Saturday’s opponents Derby County present a stern test, particularly after last season’s 4-0 defeat at Pride Park during the festive period. However, Mousinho insists circumstances have changed considerably since that encounter.
“That was a frustrating night and we got the approach totally wrong – certainly from a tactical perspective,” he admitted. “But both sides have changed a lot in the past year and it’s a completely different fixture, so that will have no bearing.”
The Rams enjoyed a strong run of form following a difficult start to the campaign, with John Eustace’s side particularly impressive on their travels. “Derby had a tough start to the season and then clicked into gear to secure some impressive results, especially away from home,” Mousinho acknowledged.
“But regardless of their form, it’s always a challenge going there. John Eustace has got them going and we expect a tough game,” he added.
Portsmouth received encouraging injury news regarding defender Regan Poole, whose ankle problem proved less serious than initially feared. “He trained with us again on Wednesday and was fine, so should be available for Saturday,” Mousinho confirmed.
However, Josh Knight faces a longer absence than anticipated. “We thought that Josh Knight would be back quicker, but those two have flipped. There’s some bone bruising and he’ll probably be out for 2-3 weeks,” the manager revealed.
Conor Shaughnessy continues his rehabilitation, with Mousinho targeting the Charlton fixture for his potential return. “Conor Shaughnessy is back on the grass, although not in full training yet. We’re still targeting Charlton as the earliest game for him,” he said.
Youngster Franco Umeh has recovered fitness but awaits his opportunity. “Franco Umeh is pretty much ready to go, but we haven’t yet decided when we think he’s ready for first team football,” Mousinho explained.
Connor Ogilvie remains sidelined until late January, whilst Florian Bianchini deals with knee tendonitis. Jacob Farrell continues modified training with progress being monitored closely, though no return date has been set.
