'I genuinely believe that': Portsmouth boss on what huge Blackburn win can do for Blues' unravelling season
Pompey climbed out of the relegation zone after a second win in 11 matches
John Mousinho believes Saturday’s huge win can be the turning point for a Pompey season which had been unravelling.
The Blues were 14th in the Championship following a 1-0 victory over then-league leaders Middlesbrough at the start of October.
However, a run of one victory in 10 matches had seen them plummet to second from bottom ahead of kick-off against Blackburn, with the league’s joint-worst scoring record.
Subsequently, second-half goals from Callum Lang and Ibane Bowat earned Mousinho’s men a timely 2-1 triumph, lifting them outside the relegation zone.
And the Blues’ head coach is banking on those priceless three points providing the catalyst they so desperately need.
Portsmouth boss: I’ve never felt we’re way below the standard in the league
Mousinho told The News: ‘Saturday’s win has to be a turning point for us.
‘Over the past few weeks, we have spoken a load of times about how small the margins are in games. I genuinely believe that.
‘We got completely blown away by Birmingham, but, in all the other matches, we’ve been in the game. For Sheffield United, you can have an argument there, but it was 0-0 until the 39th minute and we had a man sent off.
‘We’ve been in all the other games, though, but just haven’t quite done enough. I have never felt we’re way below the standard in the league, yet we’ve definitely needed to improve, to raise our percentages.
‘We must make sure we can go and hurt sides - or at least compete with more intensity and more aggression. That’s the biggest thing for me.’
Seven defeats and two draws from 10 matches
Pompey had previously lost seven and drawn two of their 10 matches since the October 4 victory over Middlesbrough.
The sole victory was last month’s 3-1 success over Millwall at Fratton Park - which was followed by three straight defeats.
However, they finally arrested that dismal run by coming from behind against Blackburn to claim the win.
‘You don’t want to dampen things down’
Mousinho added: ‘The message from me to the boys in this situation is usually about making sure we don’t get too carried away.
‘But while I don’t want to get too carried away, you don’t want to dampen things down. I want them to take a load of confidence from it, so it’s a slightly different message this time.
‘Let’s take some confidence from the game, enjoy it, it’s much more enjoyable when you win games, it’s much more enjoyable speaking to the media!
‘Everyone will have had a nice Sunday, so let’s have a good week going into Derby and then come back to Fratton Park for successive home games over Christmas.’
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