6 red flags Portsmouth need to address now to avoid Championship relegation
Pompey find themselves looking over the shoulders at their Championship rivals, who can cut the gap to the bottom three to just two points tonight. After one point from a possible 12, John Mousinho is facing a number of issues - we highlight six key areas which need consideration at a critical moment in the season.
The Colby Bishop conundrum
It remains the single issue generating the most conversation among Pompey supporters.
Colby Bishop continues to toil in front of goal, his body language veering between boiling frustration and exasperation fuelled by a short supply of confidence.
Some point to the lack of quality supply for the top scorer of the past three seasons, others point to a player not making the runs to profit on suitable deliveries. The truth probably lies somewhere in between the two issues.
The current wingers will not match the deliveries offered up by Josh Murphy, but very few players in world football could match the reigning player of the season’s balls into the box. Likewise, there’s been examples of balls flashing across the box without a final touch in recent weeks.
The stats show an expected goals (xG) return of 7.92 for the season in the league (6.26 non-penalty xG), with Bishop returning two league finishes and three including his FA Cup effort against Arsenal. Bishop has not scored in open play in the league for 30 games.
Pompey have been hurt by the lack of Championship-ready alternatives, no doubt, but even back-up options Makenzie Kirk and Thomas Waddingham are still missing.
It appears a conundrum without an obvious solution, beyond Bishop turning the corner and getting back on the goal trail.
A surprise problem position
Pompey are not short of options in the number 10 position, but John Mousinho still appears unable to settle upon a player who can be a consistent threat in the role.
The fervour over Conor Chaplin’s summer transfer deadline day capture appears a long time ago now, with it simply not working out for the massive fans’ favourite so far this term.
Chaplin was left on the bench for Swansea City, as Jacob Brown was given a chance in the position on Tuesday night. Brown is viewed as a versatile operator, but it’s not a position he’s operated in to any extent for three years.
The Luton loanee was nowhere to be seen in the first half for long periods, though he did hit the woodwork from a set-piece. A couple of balls spread wide to Gustavo Caballero was the extent of his contribution in the position, being moved to the right flank at the interval.
Adrian Segecic was used in his preferred central role against Hull City and is an obvious thought to be redeployed there, when Pompey need to be front-footed.
Beyond that, John Swift is the other standout contender for the position - one he performed impressively in for the back-to-back away wins at Charlton and Millwall.
Swift did struggle along with the rest of his team in the first half at Wrexham, but was back with a bright cameo at Fratton against Swansea.
Alli fears
Millenic Alli set a ferocious pace at the start of his Pompey career, following his January arrival from Luton Town for the season.
A series of front-footed displays full of direct pace and extreme physicality marked the Irishman out as a standout performer, through positive starts at the start of the year.
Those efforts took the edge off Josh Murphy’s absence and the eventual news the star man’s season was over, but the past three games have seen a concerning drop-off in the 26-year-old’s form.
That culminated in Alli being withdrawn at the break against Swansea City, with that downturn having a clear effect on Pompey’s dissipating attacking threat of late.
There has been a heavy reliance on a player who’d not played three games in a week for a year, before his January move to PO4 sealed.
It’s critical Pompey find a way to get Alli firing again, with major fears over how a failure to do so could impact the season.
Adams battering
The midfielder has incredibly put himself into player of the season contention, despite being at PO4 since January 16. But it’s a patched-up Adams who is getting through games 12 appearances into his Fratton career.
‘He takes some whacks’ Mousinho said of the combative operator who is currently playing with a hand injury.
Adams is also observing Ramadan, meaning he is fasting between dawn and sunset, which is expected to run until March 18-19 depending on the sighting of the moon.
That is naturally going to have it’s impact on the all-action man’s performances, with the challenge to keep the 30-year-old at a good level for the run-in.
A central issue
Conor Shaughnessy’s absence from the squad had hearts in mouths, when the team news was announced against Swansea City.
John Mousinho allayed fears over a major issue for the central defender, who’s had such a wretched time with injuries over the past couple of years.
Shaughnessy is expected to be back for Monday, but won’t be considered for three games in a week for the rest of the season.
The League One champion and Regan Poole are expected to be back for Derby County on Monday, with the Welshman out with an ankle issue.
In their absences Mousinho turned to Madiodio Dia on Tuesday, with the Senegalese defender handed his full debut. There was some sturdy interventions, but Dia also looked ill-at-ease on numerous occasions with there apparent communication issues and uncertainty radiating through the back line.
There has to be major question marks over turning to the January arrival, when the stakes are so high in a Championship relegation battle. Meanwhile, Dia being fancied over Hayden Matthews speaks volumes over where the Aussie currently stands.
That shows you how important keeping Pompey’s established central defensive options playing is going to be in the coming weeks.
Devlin’s learning curve
If there was a player of the season call to make now with 10 games to go, Terry Devlin would likely feature prominently in the thoughts of Pompey fans.
The Northern Ireland international has been a standout performer, as he becomes a bona fide right-back option for John Mousinho’s side.
Yet, there’s been reminders Devlin is still early on his education in the position over the past couple of weeks.
Wrexham’s George Thomason gave the 22-year-old some tough moments at the Racecourse Ground at the end of last month, with it a similar story against Swansea’s Eom Ji-Sung last night.
Not gifted with the explosive pace of some his full-back peers, Devlin will need to learn the moments to get tight to his opponents and when to limit the space behind him as travels a steep learning curve for the role at Championship level.