The latest Portsmouth concern ahead of Swansea and Derby games that John Mousinho is tackling head on
John Swift’s impedning return from injury is a boost for Pompey but the Blues remain short of attacking options ahead of games against Swansea and Derby
John Mousinho is remaining levelled-headed despite his lack of attacking options at present.
Pompey went into Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers without seven forwards because of injury, including last season’s player of the year Josh Murphy, the rejuvenated John Swift and January signing Keshi Anderson.
That meant Ewood Park starters Millenic Alli, Conor Chaplin, Gustavo Caballero and Colby Bishop had limited back-up as the Blues pushed for a winner, with just three attackers named on the Blues’ nine-man substitutes’ bench.
In the end, Mousinho turned to all three available to him - Harvey Blair, Jacob Brown and Adrian Segecic. Although, their introductions couldn’t inspire a Pompey win, following Hayden Carter’s injurry-time equaliser for the hosts.
With Bishop’s troubles in front of goal continuing, Caballero still finding his feet in English football, Chaplin yet to find his true form and the workload on Alli looking like it’s catching up on him, it’s hardly an ideal situation to be in as Pompey’s Championship status remains under threat.
However, ahead of Tuesday night’s game against Swansea - a fixture that should see Swift return to action - Mousinho wasn’t letting his lack of attacking prowess defeat him.
He admitted his options were light but refused to get too downbeat on the matter.
‘At the minute, we're probably slightly lighter on attacking options,’ admitted Mousinho.
‘Obviously, in an ideal scenario, particularly with nine subs, you probably want a bit of a different mix in terms of positions, and in terms of what you have across the board.
‘We travelled with six fit centre-halves to Blackburn, which is obviously too many, and we ended up leaving one of them (Hayden Matthews) out. And maybe in another day, if we've got an attacking player, we leave one more out off the bench.
‘So, yeah, it's something we've got to try and balance.’
When it was put to him that he has to keep making the same substitutions as a result, he replied: ‘Yeah, yes and no.
‘We've mixed it up a little bit over the past couple of weeks, depending on personnel, depending on who we've had. We just make the substitutions based on who we think is going to affect the game the most. ‘
Swift’s likely return against Swansea could see him restored to the starting XI at the expense of Chaplin.
Thomas Waddingham, Makenzie Kirk, Franco Umeh and Florian Bianchini remain out.