x

Destiny in our hands: Mousinho relishes Fratton return for Derby clash

It feels like every time a home game comes round, there's pressure on Pompey to win it.

Often they do - they've taken victories from 10 of their past 14 matches at Fratton - but the away games that come in between rarely yield any return.

So it is again this week - and a fortnight after the Blues lifted some pressure with a home 1-0 win over Blackburn, they return to Fratton to face Derby having lost two away games in the meantime, late goals turning one point into none at both Millwall and Coventry.

John Mousinho is happy to be back at Fratton this weekend - and is not getting too downhearted about the cruel end to the trip to Coventry.

He told the Pompey website: 'Our performance on Wednesday was generally very good and we have to remember that when we face Derby. It’s a massive game for both sides – we’re fighting at the bottom end of the table and need the points.

'Everyone should be relishing the game because we’re playing at Fratton Park with our destiny in our hands, so we have to be positive. Getting the mentality right is so important when you’re in the position we find ourselves in and you can use that to make up for any deficiencies in other areas.

'I feel like we’ve performed better this season when the pressure has been on us and it’s when there has been a buffer to the bottom three that we’ve struggled. There have been setbacks before that we’ve recovered well from and I’m confident in the ability of this group to bounce back.

'But Derby are a strong team and recent results under John Eustace speak for themselves, so we have to be ready.'

It looks like Alexander Milošević, Rob Atkinson and Conor Shaughnessy will all miss out - which would seem to mean it likely that Connor Ogilvie will continue in the centre of defence alongside Regan Poole.

Mousinho has implied that Thomas Waddingham will get another start in support of Colby Bishop after a decent showing at Coventry.

What to read next:

Hanging in there - and attacking the game: Mousinho's Pompey message ahead of Ipswich clash
Many Pompey fans are fearing the worst as the Blues gear up to take on in-form Ipswich at Fratton Park on Sunday - but boss John Mousinho is putting a brave face on the prospect of the clash.
Portsmouth 1 - 1 Queens Park Rangers - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Play forward with purpose - what Mousinho wants to see more of after Pompey's draw at Derby
John Mousinho liked what he saw as Pompey claimed a well-deserved point from rheir visit to Derby.
We can't feel sorry for ourselves - Mousinho message to Pompey strugglers ahead of Blackburn clash
John Mousinho says making wholesale team changes can be 'over the top' - and has indicated he does not want to do that when Pompey host Blackburn in what feels like a must-win game on Saturday.
Swansea City 1 - 0 Portsmouth - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Pompey fans' moans and groans are understandable - so can team silence them?
John Mousinho says some 'moans and groans' from fans are underatandable as Pompey struggle for results and form - so now he wants his team to halt such reactions by getting back on the right Championship path.
Win your individual battles - the message to Pompey players ahead of Bristol City clash
Win your battles - it's what Pompey fans will be demanding of those selected to face Bristol City this weekend - and it's what John Mousinho will be telling each man in blue too.
Portsmouth 3 - 1 Millwall - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Key Pompey trio ready to return - but which of them will walk into starting line-up?
John Mousinho is set to have three key members of his squad available after injury when Pompey entertain Millwall on Saturday - but are all three guaranteed starts?
'Not going to be too negative' - Pack looks on Pompey's bright side
Marlon Pack has played more of a role in Pompey's season so far than many thought he would - and his intention is to carry on being at the centre of things, literally.