Portsmouth boss' challenge to 'frustrated' January signing after key Blackburn impact
The Luton loanee was involved with a Blues goal for the first time after six outings
John Mousinho has revealed Jacob Brown’s frustration at the lack of Pompey starts since his deadline day switch.
Now the Luton loanee has been challenged to build on a key Blackburn breakthrough and force his way into the team.
Replacing Colby Bishop in the 81st minute at Ewood Park on Saturday, it took just three minutes for the former Stoke man to make his presence felt.
Brown’s cleverly-cushioned header into the path of Connor Ogilvie created Pompey’s opener against their relegation rivals, while also signalled his first assist in six games for the club.
‘It’s good for Browny to come on and have that impact’
Nonetheless, Brown’s crucial contribution in a game lacking creativity and goal threat was widely applauded by Pompey supporters.
Mousinho told The News: ‘It’s good for Browny to come on and have that impact. It’s pleasing we got the goal at that time - and then we should have just won the game.
‘He’ll be frustrated at the lack of minutes, but, in the run of games where we’ve picked up a couple of wins away from home, Colby’s been excellent and Browny’s had to wait patiently and bide his time.
‘Frustration is natural having only one start since he came in, but I thought he was pretty good against Preston when he started the game. It’s just a case of making sure he sticks with it and keeps going.
‘Hopefully it gives a huge amount of confidence going forward. He’s had that input on Saturday and we’d like to see a huge amount more of it.’
Totalled 21 minutes in Portsmouth last four games
Brown had featured just eight times for Luton this season before his Fratton Park switch, after returning from long-term injury in November.
He was subsequently handed an immediate Pompey start at Preston last month, with Bishop absent from the 1-0 defeat through an ankle injury.
However, with Bishop available once more for the following match against Sheffield United, the 27-year-old has swiftly found himself as a substitute for the subsequent six games.
Even then, he has totalled just 21 minutes of match action over the last four fixtures, including not being used off the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Wrexham.
Still, Saturday’s Blackburn assist could well alter the course of his Fratton Park career, particularly considering Bishop’s ongoing scoring issues.
Indeed, Pompey’s leading scorer for the previous three successive seasons has just three goals in 33 appearances in all competitions this season.
‘To freshen things up’
And Mousinho has explained the reasoning for replacing Bishop with Brown at centre-forward with nine minutes remaining at Ewood Park.
He added: ‘We brought him on for Colby just to freshen things up.
‘We’re asking a huge amount from the front four, particularly on the press. We ended up obviously moving Milli to the right-hand side, so sort of changed up the front four and looked for something else in the game.’