‘Most ridiculous thing’ – Portsmouth boss issues firm warning ahead of facing old club Preston North End.

That loss put Pompey in 17th place with 42 points; home form has been crucial for the promoted team this season, with 32 of those points earned at Fratton Park. Mousinho’s team struggled at first but subsequently improved, but he insists that the club cannot afford to get complacent for even a single minute.

“I keep saying it and I can’t emphasise the point any more,” complained Mousinho. Derby have picked up six points in four days, while Luton, Plymouth, Stoke, and Hull have all won. It’s silly for us to get carried away with anything other than the idea that we’re in a scrap and need to do everything we can to gain enough points.

“I keep saying it: whenever we win, we need that mentality as a football club to say, ‘Fine, we’ve got to go again and again.'” Because you are immediately sucked back into it. There are nine points available this week, and there will be other times throughout the season when there are so many points available in such a short amount of time.

“We need to be much better at dealing with that. Absolutely, that has been my message to the players and the media, and that is what I truly believe. There can’t be much more proof than this week’s victories by the lowest three teams, including Derby, who earned six points. “It’s extremely tight.”

Mousinho makes his comeback to Deepdale

This weekend, Pompey’s manager will pay a visit to his former team. Graham Westley signed Mousinho to North End in 2012. He donned the captain’s armband at Preston and scored once in 32 games, including loan stints with Gillingham and Stevenage. He took over as Portsmouth manager in January 2023, following Danny Cowley.

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