Portsmouth

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said he could not believe his team did not score - and that they were not awarded a penalty - as they lost at Preston.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "If you look at the balance of the game and how good we were for 90 minutes, we are scratching our heads as to why we didn't put one of those chances in the back of the net.

"We looked more dangerous as the game went on from set-pieces but there were four that went directly out for goal-kicks. It's a difficult surface so I understand that, but still expect us to do a lot better. Once we started delivering the ball into good areas we looked threatening.

On the penalty incident, when Jordan Storey appeared to bring down Adrian Segecic, he said: "It's either a corner or a penalty, it's not a goal kick. I'm completely baffled by that decision. It was a stonewall penalty."

Mousinho added that he was happy with new signing Jacob Brown's debut: "He led the line well. It's new territory for Jacob in terms of coming in and slotting into the system and seeing what we want from him. He was always going to tire around 60 minutes so that was the plan to bring him off."

Image source, Getty Images

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho says that Saturday's game at Preston North End will be a "tough test" for his side.

The Blues won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in August, but since then the Lilywhites have pushed on, currently ninth in the Championship table and three points off the top six.

Paul Heckingbottom's side come into this match with no wins in their last four games but drew 1-1 at Ipswich Town last time out.

"Preston have had an outstanding season, competing up in the top six and the top eight for large parts of it," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"They have been very consistent in terms of their output and have picked up some very good results, least of all last week against Ipswich away from home.

"They have a very distinct playing style, excellent structure and some really good players.

"When they came here to Fratton Park it was a real tough test but a good win for us ultimately and it's going to be a really tough test for us going into this game."

The Blues could end up facing a familar face in Callum Lang who they sold to Preston on the final day of the transfer window.

Lang has been recovering from an injury but could face his former side who he made over 50 appearances for.

"I think it always is (strange) whenever you face former players, particularly after such a short turnaround," Mousinho added.

"It's just one of those things that we'd have to deal with."

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

If you buy into the theatre of transfer deadline day, Portsmouth were the club for you this January.

There were late signings, an acrimonious 'will he, won't he?' saga and some frantic googling of players you hadn't heard of.

Lots of excitement, but is it a good outcome for the Blues?

The flippant response is always that we'll know in a few months, but we already know the signs are encouraging from the early business. Midfielder Ebou Adams has made a stunning impact and has been exactly the kind of player Pompey needed in midfield. Millenic Alli has also made an encouraging start and Keshi Anderson looks a useful addition.

Those three all know about the Championship, as does Jacob Brown. The same cannot be said for Gustavo Cabellero and Madiodio Dia. Dia is a centre-back for the future, Cabellero a winger for the here and now. It will be fascinating to see how they get on. Nico Schmid has been a brilliant addition but other recent overseas signings have found life tough in the Championship.

This window could have looked different. Richard Hughes said Portsmouth believed they met the valuation on three signings that did not happen.

Svante Ingelsson is understood to have been reluctant to make the transfer from Sheffield Wednesday for personal reasons. While it's believed the original valuation was met for Dundee defender Luke Graham and an unnamed EFL striker, only for the clubs to then ask for more money. You have to have a walkaway point in any negotiation.

January can be difficult, and difficult is a fair description of Callum Lang's drawn-out move to Preston North End.

When asked about Lang this week John Mousinho was fairly short in his words. It wasn't quite a 10-word departure statement that you sometimes see, but it hints at an acrimonious transfer which has left some wounds to heal.

Pompey's owners stuck firm on their valuation and there was a real chance of Lang having to head back down the M6 with his tail between his legs, had Preston not finally reached the asking price.

A sale in excess of £2m with further add-ons to potentially come feels decent business.

Lang was brilliant for Pompey in his first year at the club, but has made just 11 appearances since first injuring his hamstring in the middle of February last year.

The league table looks a lot better for Portsmouth than it did a month ago and the squad is clearly stronger.

If they can maintain their current performance levels and finally get a bit of good fortune with injuries, they should be able to secure their Championship status for another year.

Preston North End could include their record signing Callum Lang in their squad just five days after the forward left their opponents on Saturday, Portsmouth.

The Lilywhites have slipped three points outside the play-offs after a four-game winless run.

Pompey are four games unbeaten but only one point clear of the relegation zone.

• Preston are unbeaten in their past 11 home league games against Portsmouth (W7 D4) since a 5-0 loss in February 1973.

• Following their 1-0 win in August, Portsmouth are looking to complete the league double over Preston for the first time since 1969-70.

• Preston have lost their past two home league games (1-0 v Derby, 3-0 v Hull). They last lost three in a row in the same season in December 2023, while they last did so without scoring in October 2020 (4).

• Portsmouth have lost just one of their past nine league games (W4 D4), and are looking to win consecutive matches for the first time since April 2025.

• Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (1) have won fewer away games in the Championship this season than Portsmouth (2).

Portsmouth did not have to sell forward Callum Lang in the January transfer window, according to boss John Mousinho.

Preston North End signed the 27-year-old for a club record undisclosed fee on deadline day but Mousinho says Lang's sale was not out of necessity in order to balance the books.

The move means Liverpool-born Lang returns to the north west having signed for Pompey from Wigan Athletic in January 2024.

"We took everything into consideration - first of all the valuation was met late on and Callum made it clear he wanted to leave as well," the head coach told BBC Radio Solent.

"We stick by what we said and the football club not needing to sell players to bring the money in but at that stage we had over and above the valuation of the player, we had a player who wanted do leave.

"So at that stage we thought it was good business for the club."

Injuries have limited Lang to only eight Championship appearances this season, scoring two goals.

Portsmouth face his new club on Saturday (15:01 GMT) with a trip to Deepdale but Lang has not featured since Boxing Day because of a hamstring issue.

"I was consulted throughout and the decision was made quite late to allow Callum to leave," added Mousinho.

"We were firm in what we thought the valuation of Callum was, we weren't going to cave [in] in terms of that.

"It was never a case of we might have a player who isn't happy here that's going to force our hand, it was just getting the right valuation and doing what was right for the football club."

Listen to more Portsmouth interviews and content on BBC Sounds.

Tom Chappell
Portsmouth fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

Saturday against West Brom was probably the best that the Fratton Park crowd have seen Pompey play all season. In terms of both performance and result I thought we were excellent.

John Mousinho's side were at it from the off and consistently kept their levels, our sharpness and energy twinned with an opposition heading very much in the wrong direction meant for only one outcome.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable home win in the EFL over the weekend.

Conor Chaplin's first goal since his return to the club provided an emotional moment of hometown glory following understandable frustration at his inability to convert previously.

That was his best game in his second spell here so far, in the sort of win that will keep Pompey in the Championship.

The arrival of both Ebou Adams and Millenic Alli, with the physicality and pace they bring respectively, has firmly correlated with Pompey's steady form in January.

Alli's man-of-the-match display leaves many Pompey fans bemused as to how that man couldn't get a game at Luton.

As strong as Pompey's attacking prowess was, this was backed up by an excellent defensive shutout and a well-deserved clean sheet.

Albeit an alarming lack of chances from West Brom's point of view, Pompey's rearguard barely put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Six wins from our remaining 18 games and we will be all but there.

Winning games against those around you while others are struggling to pick up results means Pompey are a team moving in the right direction at the moment.

Watch back BBC Radio Solent's transfer deadline day show which covered all the breaking news and talking points from Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Jono Holmes talks you though all the action as it unfolded, as well as views from expert commentators, pundits and fans.

There was even some special guests from each club that joined the show...

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has said that Terry Devlin is "not for sale" following reports linking him with a move away on deadline day.

The defender has been a key player for the Blues this season, filling in across a number of positions through 23 appearances.

"Terry is not for sale. He'll be here tomorrow (past the deadline)" Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

Portsmouth signed Devlin from Northern Irish side Glentoran in 2023 and he has since made 86 appearances for the club, scoring five times.

Image source, Getty Images

Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Ipswich Town will look to regain their form against relegation battlers Portsmouth when the two meet at Fratton Park on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

Ipswich have not won either of their past two league games (D1 L1) and as a result have slipped seven points adrift of the top two.

While Pompey are in fine form, undefeated across their past four (W2 D2) to help lift them out of striking distance from the bottom three.

• Portsmouth are winless in each of their last five league games against Ipswich Town (D2 L3), since a 2-1 home win in League One in March 2021.

• Ipswich won 2-1 at Portman Road in the reverse fixture with Portsmouth in September this season, and could now complete a league double over Pompey for the first time since 2011-12 under Paul Jewell.

• Portsmouth are winless in each of their last nine midweek Championship games (Tue/Wed/Thu - D3 L6), since beating Cardiff City 2-1 in February 2025 – Pompey have failed to score in four of their last five midweek games.

• Ipswich Town have won only one of their last six Championship away games (D2 L3), and could lose back-to-back league matches on the road outside of the Premier League for the first time since December 2021 in League One.

• Portsmouth's Colby Bishop has scored more goals in the Football League against Ipswich Town than any other opponent (6 goals – 3 for Accrington Stanley, 3 for Pompey)

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

That was Portsmouth's most comfortable win of the season by some distance.

There was a lot to like about a number of aspects. Pompey were a constant threat going forward in the first half and controlled the game after the break.

This all must be caveated by West Brom being as poor as any side that's turned up at Fratton Park since Pompey returned to the Championship. They are in real trouble despite having a strong squad on paper.

Suddenly the league table looks a lot more promising.

The final hours of the transfer window remain important for Pompey. A couple of further good additions and there should be confidence that Pompey will be a Championship side again next season.

Image source, Rex Features

Boss John Mousinho said Portsmouth's display in the dominant 3-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion was their "best of the season".

"I was really impressed with the first half. The second half was a different display but it was really professional," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

"From the first minute we pinned them in and won the physical duels.

"The energy and quality was there. And putting those two together is something we have struggled with this season.

"The big thing that has been missing is putting the ball in the back of the net and getting into the final third and creating a bit more. But today we were relentless in terms of getting into the final third and creating chances.

"It was the best performance of the season and an important result."

Image source, Opta

There's a big game in the battle to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone as Portsmouth welcome West Bromwich Albion to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey go into the game sitting 21st, one point above the drop-zone and one place and two points behind Albion.

Sunday's 1-1 draw in the South Coast Derby means John Mousinho's men have taken eight points from their past four home games and earned a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns back in August.

Eric Ramsay picked up his first point as Baggies boss at the third time of asking last time out at Derby, which ended a run of 10 straight defeats on the road, however it was Albion's only point from their past four games.

• Portsmouth's last league win against West Brom came in December 2005 (1-0), failing to win their past five against the Baggies (D3 L2).

• West Brom have won each of their past three away games against Portsmouth in the second tier, including a 3-0 victory in this exact fixture last season, under Carlos Corberan.

• Portsmouth have only lost one of their past eight Championship games (W3 D4); this after losing three in a row and failing to score in all three beforehand (0-3 v Sheffield United, 0-1 v Bristol City and 0-1 v Swansea).

• West Brom have the most away defeats in the Championship this season (11) – only once have they suffered more defeats through their first 15 away games of a second tier campaign (12 in 1987/88).

• West Brom winger Mikey Johnston is the only player with 50+ chances created (51) and 50+ completed dribbles (52) in the Championship this season.