'It's gone beyond the point' - Portsmouth boss acknowledges Fratton faithful frustrations ahead of huge game against Blackburn Rovers

John Mousinho has acknowledged the fans’ patience is starting to wear thin as Pompey’s Championship struggles continue.

And he conceded the atmosphere at Fratton Park could turn ‘very quickly’ if the Blues fail to match the energy and passion that will be on display in the stands when fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers visit PO4 on Saturday.

Certainly on social media, criticism of the head coach, players and owner Michael Eisner has been more forthcoming in recent weeks as Pompey continue to grapple with this season’s second-tier demands.

Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Swansea - another team battling for survival at the wrong end of the table - was the Blues’ 10th in the league this term already. It was also the team’s third straight Championship loss, leaving Mousinho & Co trapped in the relegation zone and two points from safety, albeit with a game in hand on 21st-placed Oxford United.

Pompey’s current predicament, therefore, places extra significance on their forthcoming game against Rovers, who have won three of their past four away matches and are unbeaten on the road since their trip to league-leaders Coventry on October 18.

But Mousinho admitted that pressure will intensify further if his team don’t burst out of the blocks against Valerien Ismael’s side, especially with the Fratton faithful witnessing just three home wins all season.

The Blues head coach also recognised that any credit he and his players had in the bank wasstrting to run out.

John Mousinho acknowledges significance of Pompey v Blackburn Rovers game

When asked about the fans, after more than 1,100 made the arduous trip to Swansea as Storm Bram hit the UK, Mousinho said: ‘I know what we’ll get from the fans (against Blackburn), which is exactly what we got at the start of that Bristol City game - we just have to try and feed off some of that energy and replicate it.

‘We can't start like we did against Bristol City, though, because it's going to very, very quickly turn.

‘I guess, anything at this stage of the season in terms of where we are, I think the fans have been more than fair.

‘I think we've had plenty of chances and it's our chance now to go and give them something back and give them something to actually cheer about.’

A much-needed win could see Pompey move out of the bottom three. Yet that will require results elsewhere to go their way, too. It will also require the Blues to up their game from that witnessed against the Swans.

Mousinho added: ‘I think it's going to be a case of a little bit of nerves, a little bit of tension at Fratton Park, which is fine. That's understandable. (But) I don't think that's going to be the case when the game kicks off.

‘I think that's only going to be the case if we don't go and replicate the atmosphere that I know the fans are going to create at the weekend. So we have to show that.

‘It's gone beyond the point where we have that sort of grace and we have that credit in the bank. And I think we ultimately need to come and produce it on the football pitch.’

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