‘Doesn’t bring me any pleasure’: The major Portsmouth concern threatening to destabilise impressive Championship start
Pompey fell to a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City before the international break.
Goalkeeping woes are threatening to destabilise Pompey’s impressive Championship start.
That’s the clear verdict of Ali Maxwell from the respected Not The Top 20 podcast, who believes Nicolas Schmid’s concerning form is ‘causing problems’ for the Blues.
The Austrian initially spilled Ben Johnson’s cross which led to Jack McGlynn’s leveller at PO4 before he then parried Ethan Galbraith’s shot moments later into the path of Ben Wilmot, who struck the winner.
Despite their critics, both stoppers have also contributed to points being picked up by the Blues with their displays between the sticks.
The defeat to Stoke leaves Pompey two points outside of the play-offs in 11th, with a win last-time out enough to lift them into the top eight.
But Schmid’s concerning run of form is proving costly in the Blues’ progression up the Championship standings according to Maxwell, who felt Mousinho’s troops were worthy of earning at least a point against the Potters.
Goalkeeping woes proving costly for Pompey in Championship
Speaking on the latest Not The Top 20 episode, he said: ‘They (Stoke) went to Portsmouth and won 2-1, their fifth away win in a row for the first time since 1947 and from behind as well.
‘Tyrese Shade put Portsmouth ahead, he took a corner and then ended up scoring about seven seconds later, which is always fun having trotted inside the box and picking up a loose ball.
‘This was a game that was very even. Basically, if I’m honest, two teams that are playing at a very similar level.
‘Portsmouth have been on the right side of a lot of tight games in their previous six games and that is the same for Stoke.
‘This time, they were on the right side of it and It was Jack McGlynn again. Then the second goal, who else scores goals for Stoke? Ben Wilmot with his head.
‘(Ethan) Galbraith with the shot from range, spilled by Schmid and Wilmot heads in.
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‘Now, we’ve got to bring up Schmid here. If I’m honest, he’s the most important player in this game and not in a good way.
‘There’s no getting away from it here. His errors gave the game to Stoke City in what I really believe was a tight football match, which could’ve been a draw or a one-goal win to Portsmouth if not for Schmid.
‘It’s a continuation of a very, very dodgy few weeks for him. It doesn’t bring me any pleasure to criticise goalkeepers, I think they’re over criticised mostly.
‘But it's impossible to get away from the fact that Schmid both with his feet and his hands is causing problems for Pompey at the moment.’