Pundit in bold prediction regarding Portsmouth boss John Mousinho ahead of 'massive' QPR clash
Pompey are back in Championship action this weekend
Former Football League player Carlton Palmer doesn’t believe either Pompey boss John Mousinho or QPR’s Marti Cifuentes will be under ‘pressure’ if one of them loses this weekend. The pair lock horns at Loftus Road as they both go in search of a much needed three points.
Mousinho’s men are yet to win in the Championship since their promotion from League One. They have five points on the board from five draws out of their first nine fixtures, losing the other four. Only Cardiff City separate Pompey from the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents QPR make up the other team in the bottom three.
Palmer has said, as per Football League World: "Two teams who are struggling at the wrong end of the Championship face off against each other this weekend when QPR host Portsmouth. QPR are sitting in 22nd place, occupying the third spot in the relegation zone, and Pompey are second from bottom. Only two points separate them, with the R's on seven and the visitors on five. It's a massive game.
"I don't think either manager is under any kind of pressure in terms of getting sacked. QPR: we all know the problems that they've had; it's been well documented. They haven't had loads and loads of funds to be able to recruit in the way that they would like. And Portsmouth have just got promoted, so they'd expect to be down there.
He added: "Both teams want to stay in the Championship for next season and that is their priority. They aren't out of the running after nine game, they aren't adrift. Luton Town and Coventry City are only on eight points. They're sides that you wouldn't expect to be down at that end of the table. I don't expect either of these two managers to be under pressure just yet, but both will need to pick up results soon."
It has taken Pompey a while to adapt to life in the second tier and they have seen Oxford United and Derby County, who both went up with them in the last campaign, find their feet much quicker. However, they still have plenty of time to start picking up points and shouldn’t be panicking just yet.
Mousinho has done an impressive job since taking over and this is the first time he will be truly tested. At the age of 38, he is still learning as a manager and has a bright future.
He has recently said: “I felt we didn't need this international break, it would have been best to keep the momentum going. I know that sounds strange off the back of the Stoke performance [a 6-1 defeat on 2 October] but we put that to bed really quickly and played well against Oxford. The general feeling around the camp is we want to play games and get that first win over and done with so we can move on with the season and focus on where we want to go."