Portsmouth manager John Mousinho expressed satisfaction with his team’s fitness levels, overall performance, and 2-0 victory over Woking in their pre-season opener, describing the match as a positive start to preparations.
After three weeks of training both domestically and overseas, supporters finally witnessed Pompey return to action with a convincing triumph at Woking. Summer recruit Adrian Segečić celebrated his debut with a composed finish, whilst substitute Paddy Lane sealed the victory after the interval.
Mousinho acknowledged the importance of the result whilst emphasising that outcomes carry less significance during pre-season preparations. The Blues manager reflected: “First and foremost, it was a decent run out for us and it’s nice for the players to get the first minutes of pre-season under their belts.
“It was a fairly competitive contest against a good National League side, a useful fitness test and pleasing to come through unscathed.”
The Portsmouth boss highlighted his satisfaction with both the performance and the implementation of tactics developed during recent training sessions. He noted the positive contribution of young players making their senior debuts, describing the evening as encouraging for the squad’s development.
“But I was also happy with the performance and we saw a lot of the things that we’ve tried to put into place over the past few weeks,” Mousinho explained.
“There were also some young players coming through to make their senior debuts, so it was a positive evening. Fitness is the priority at this stage, but you also want to see good levels from your side and it’s nice to get into those winning habits early.”
Segečić’s Impressive Debut
The Croatian forward demonstrated his quality by collecting a pass from fellow countryman Thomas Waddingham before calmly converting his maiden goal in Portsmouth colours.
Mousinho praised the new signing‘s contribution: “It was a really good start and he took his goal well, while he probably could have scored another. He led well from the front and I thought the most impressive part of his game was his pressing, while he also showed some real quality to find the net.
“What was saw in this game is what we see every day from him in training. He’s very bright and makes things happen.”
The manager’s assessment suggests Segečić’s training ground performances have translated effectively into match conditions, providing encouragement for the remainder of pre-season preparations.
