‘Threat’: Why Blackburn Rovers are now a different proposition for Portsmouth in crucial Championship survival showdown
Michael O’Neill has arrived at Blackburn Rovers boss, succeeding Valerien Ismael at Ewood Park. John Mousinho sees a man who’s made Saturday’s opponents a tougher prospect to face.
Michael O’Neill has improved Blackburn Rovers at both ends of the pitch.
That’s the verdict of Pompey boss John Mousinho, ahead of his side’s crucial Saturday lunchtime survival showdown at Ewood Park.
The Blues travel to Lancashire aiming to kickstart their bid to remain in the Championship, after last weekend’s frustrating home reverse against Hull City.
They meet a Rovers side in a similar position, with just a single point separating the two sides in the table.
Valerian Ismael was sacked at the beginning of last month, following a run of nine games without a win in all competitions and just a single success in 15 fixtures.
Northern Ireland boss O’Neill was the man opted for as his successor, with the 56-year-old taking on the role until the end of the season as he continues in his international posting.
Rovers have picked up three wins from six games since Ismael’s exit with O’Neill overseeing wins over QPR and Preston North End, before his new side suffered reverses against Bristol City and Derby County.
Mousinho sees an opponent who were performing better than their previous poor form suggested, with the new man at the helm making Blackburn a tougher proposition to face.
Speaking to Express FM’s David Howes, Mousinho said: ‘They were a team who weren’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, I thought Blackburn were unlucky in a lot of games we watched them play in previously.
‘But I think he’s made a decent enough team very, very solid, in terms of the defensive side of things.
‘They’ve picked up a couple of decent results as well, very, very good results.
‘Last week it was against Preston under the lights on Friday night at home, so they’ve definitely picked up and they’d picked up against Sheffield Wednesday as well.
‘He’s got a huge amount of experience at the level and is a current international manager as well.
‘He’s someone who’s come and in and not just steadied the ship, but made them a real attacking threat as well.’
Pompey fans face an early start for the long trek to Ewood Park for the 12.30pm kick-off, with the match shown on Sky Sports Football.
The Blues will also now face Oxford United on Easter Monday (April 6) at 12.30pm, with the game shown on the same channel after that news was confirmed yesterday.
The Blues’ meeting with Derby County has also been put back to an 8pm kick-off on March 16.
Mousinho added: ‘We’re used to any kick-off time in the Championship these days, you get all sorts so you just have to get used to it.’