Wanted Portsmouth duo in spotlight again following impressive end to season

Further end-of-season joy could be heading Pompey’s way in the coming days.

Fresh from securing their Championship status for another year, the Blues’ form over the closing weeks of the campaign could see them presented with not one, but two awards.

April’s Skybet Championship manager and player of the month nominations have just been announced, and both John Mousinho and Adrian Segecic have been recognised for their telling contributions as Pompey booked their place in next season’s second tier.

Heading into the month without a league win in six games and off the back of a 6-1 hammering at QPR, morale was low at Fratton Park.

A look at the Championship table wouldn’t have helped matters either, as the Blues sat just a point above the relegation zone in 21st place.

However, all that dramatically changed by the time Pompey got to May, with four wins and two draws from their next seven games moving Mousinho’s side away from the threat of danger and to Championship safety with two games remaining.

In total, 14 points from a possible 21 were collected, with the Blues’ victories against Middlesbrough (A), Ipswich (H), Leicester (H) and Stoke (A). plus their draws against Norwich (A) and Oxford United (H), proving crucial to their final league position of 18th.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that Mousinho - who has been linked with the manager’s job at Bristol City - has been nominated for the manager of the month, but he’s up against some stiff competition.

Frank Lampard used his experience to guide Coventry over the promotion line and then to the Championship title with another flair-filled month in a stellar season. The Sky Blues’ 12 points from six unbeaten games were matched by 12 goals, five of which came against the Blues on April 21.

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert had to manage his squad through a gruelling schedule that included an FA Cup quarter-final and semi-final. His players battled fatigue and conceding first on four occasions to still tally 16 goals and 14 points from six unbeaten games.

Meanwhile, Michael O’Neill’s calm assurance, man-management and organisational skills came to the fore as he guided Blackburn to safety with nine points from six hard-fought games.

The winner of the manager of the month award will be revealed on Friday morning - as will the player of the month victor, where Segecic is bound to be favourite to pick up the accolade.

The highly-rated Fratton favourite registered four goals and three assists to help haul the Blues to safety and bring his maiden season on the south coast to an unforgettable end.

The 21-year-old’s personal highlight will, undoubtedly, be his hat-trick at Stoke, which helped the Croatia under-21 international finish the season as Pompey’s top scorer. However, both assists in the 1-0 wins against Boro and the Foxes will make the Blues faithful eternally grateful.

The three others competing with Segecic for the Skybet prize are Norwich’s Mohamed Toure (four goals, two assists), Ipswich keeper Cristian Walton and Wrexham’s Josh Windass (five goals).

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