These concerned Portsmouth fans all spot one thing as team and bench named for game v Derby County
John Mousinho has made four changes to the Pompey side that beat Blackburn Rovers last time out
Pompey fans have been reacting to the starting XI and bench John Mousinho has selected for today’s game at Derby County.
The Blues boss has made four changes to the side that beat Blackburn Rovers last time out, with the fit again Regan Poole, Jordan Williams, Mark Kosznovszky and Colby Bishop replacing Ibane Bowat, Zak Swanson, John Swift and Minyeok Yang respectively.
Summer signing Franco Umeh is included in a match-day squad for the first time. But with no sign of Bowat, who scored the winner against Rovers last Saturday, or Swanson on the bench - or any other defender for that matter - there’s concerns among the Fratton faithful that Pompey lack defensive cover for the game at Pride Park.
If both Bowat and Swanson are out through injury, as expected, rather than from a selection call, then they’ll take the number of defenders currently unavailable to six. Conor Shaughnessy, Josh Knight, Connor Ogilvie and Jacob Farrell are all presently on the treatment table. Meanwhile, Ashton Sizer, who was named among the substitutes last weekend, is also absent.
Benched skipper Pack can fill in at centre-back if needs be. However, a section of the Fratton faithful are worried by the lack of defensive options available to the boss - especially if something happens to either Devlin and Williams today.
Here’s what fans have been saying ahead of kick-off?
How fans have reacted to latest Pompey team news
@HazzaTWoods: Line up looks ok but I really hope Bowat will be ok and it’s concerning we have no recognised defenders on the bench, still here’s hoping for a decent Pompey performance away at Derby this afternoon, PUP.
@pfcdave1898: Like it! Good apart from having no defenders on the bench. Hope Bowat and Swanson are ok, good to see Umeh finally in the squad!
@DanLewis1999: Not a single defender on the bench.
@peckham65Grant: Not one defender on the bench Unless you count Pack, a bit risky when we have a team that constantly have defenders injured.
@pompeanut1898: No Bowat is ruthless if he’s not injured or something! Like it though.
@SamuelEMCB: No cb on the bench.
@crying_freeman: Not happy to see bowat out tbh or Swanson.
@PortsmouthFC_FR: Happy with Kosz in the middle of the park! Please tell me Bowat & Swanson aren’t injured.
@Tommy_hird: No defender on the bench and also no captain on the pitch other then the squinny.
@jackcummins_9: Bowat and Swanny please be okay.
For your next Pompey read: Derby County v Portsmouth LIVE: Team news in from Pride Park