John Mousinho’s message to Portsmouth faithful amid south-coast derby inquest after Southampton loss
It’s a first league loss to Southampton in 22 years - and Pompey’s boss knows that will be ‘gutting’ for supporters. Here’s his vow after defeat at St Mary’s Stadium.
John Mousinho promised the hurt of south-coast derby defeat will be felt until the rivalry with Southampton is renewed next year.
And the Pompey boss acknowledged the missed opportunity, as his players fell to a 1-0 reverse to their 10-man rivals at St Mary’s Stadium.
Mousinho: ‘This should sting now until we get to the return fixture’
James Bree’s first-half goal was the difference, as his team ended a 22-year run without a league win over the Blues.
Southampton played over half of the game a man down, after Cameron Bragg was sent off just before the break for a second bookable offence.
Pompey pushed forward after the interval and clocked up the shots on goal, but couldn’t find a tangible reward on a frustrating afternoon along the M27.
Mousinho promised the hurt being felt by fans is echoed in his side’s dressing room, with the requirement now to start to put things right against Sheffield United on Wednesday.
The head coach vowed the result will ultimately ‘sting’ however until the two teams face off against at Fratton next February.
Mousinho said: ‘The only thing we can do for the fans now is try to win the game on Wednesday.
‘We need to attack that game and repay their faith.
‘You always get disappointments and this is going to be a really gutting loss for the supporters.
‘I know the fans will be devastated, so we need to try to repay them on Wednesday.
‘It’s a dressing room which is unbelievably down because of the result and opportunity.
‘It should hurt, we should be disappointed and it should really sting.
‘Even if we do get the result Wednesday, this should sting now until we get to the return fixture.’
The stats from defeat tell the tale of what unfolded, with Southampton dominating possession in the first half but Pompey registering more shots and touches in the box than their opponents as they threatened on the counter.
The possession evened up after Bragg’s dismissal, with the Blues having 15 shots on goal - but registering just two efforts on target.
Mousinho feels his players will reflect on what could have been in the final reckoning.
He added: ‘It’s gutting to lose in the circumstances, especially with some of the areas we got into.
‘It’s disappointing and frustrating, but I felt we did enough to create that opening.
‘We needed a bit more quality and better decision making.
‘It got away from us and that’s a frustration, so we’ll look back on this and regret not taking the opportunity.’