[themaclad]

Photo attributed to Ian Patterson
Will it look like this on Saturday, or will the big tent have turned it into a pristine surface

OPPOSITION

www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/

MANAGER

John Michael Lewis Mousinho (born 30 April 1986) is an English professional football manager and former footballer who is head coach of EFL Championship club Portsmouth. Primarily a central midfielder early in his career, he was later utilised as a centre-back.

Mousinho began his senior football career at Brentford, having previously played for Chesham United and Notre Dame Fighting Irish while studying at the University of Notre Dame. He spent two and a half years at Brentford before joining Wycombe Wanderers in June 2008, playing regularly for two seasons and experiencing both a promotion and relegation. He signed for Stevenage in June 2010, helping the club earn the second of back-to-back promotions and scoring the decisive goal in the 2011 League Two play-off final, finishing as the club's joint-top goalscorer for the season.

After an injury-affected 2011–12 season, Mousinho joined Preston North End, with loan spells at Gillingham and a return to Stevenage. He signed for Burton Albion in June 2014, winning the League Two title in his first season and achieving promotion to the Championship a year later. Mousinho moved to Oxford United in August 2017, making 151 appearances before retiring in January 2023. During the latter part of his playing career, he served as chairman of the PFA from May 2021 until January 2023, when he stepped down to become Portsmouth's head coach, leading the club to the Championship as League One champions in the 2023–24 season.

FORM



MYSTIC MACS FORM RATINGS

PNE 7 POMPEY 11

Slightly better form than us, suggests a close game

[themaclad]

Team News​

Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that Robbie Brady has been more involved with training in recent times, as he edges closer to a return to action.
Meanwhile, Dan Iversen, Andrew Hughes and Brad Potts continue on their individual paths back to full fitness.
The Visitors​

Having clinched the League One title in 2024, Portsmouth successfully retained their Championship status last year by finishing 16th in the second-tier standings.
After a stuttering start to the 2025/26 campaign, John Mousinho’s side have picked up form in recent times, losing only one of their previous nine league matches heading into this clash.
With the smart recruitment of players such as Millenic Alli and Ebou Adams in the winter transfer window, Pompey may have several reasons to feel optimistic about what the second half of the season has in store for them.

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Match Officials​

Referee: Adam Herczeg
Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and Simon Bennett
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse
Adam Herczeg will take charge of North End’s clash with Portsmouth at Deepdale.
He last officiated PNE in their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Wrexham in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Herczeg has shown 71 yellow and three red cards in 19 contests so far in the 2025/26 campaign.

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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).

[themaclad]

https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup

Referee: Adam Herczeg

Attendance: 16,034 (1,785 Portsmouth)

An ugly win is how you would describe this slog on the Deepdale mudflats, but a win it was. A milestone Cornell kept his first clean sheet and celebrated his first victory between the sticks for us. He was excellent yesterday, two crucial saves in secnd half and one just before half time from Dozell which was top drawer.
Pompey are a hard side to play against, direct and probably the most dangerous side seen this season from inswinging corners. They ping the ball from the backline to the two wingers who were both a handful.
First 25 minutes we were second best against the aeriel attack, felt sorry for Lukovic up front on his debut, from the passing game in La Liga to the bombardment on the mud of Deepdale, a couple of nice touches but after this wouldn't blame him he went back to France.
Managed to get a lead with probably the only bit of football played in the first half, Gibson surging run, ball to Vucevic, great cross and the header from Devine was perfect found the only spot which the giant Pompey keeper couldn't reach.
Have to say Pompey were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty which probably would have resulted in a second red card on the bounce for Storey.
With the luck we have had with officials this season about time we got some luck.
Second half slightly more entertaining althouh not be more, assault via corners mainly survived it just, we created liitle a shot by Dobbin and right t the end Morsn clean through should have scored didn't, which left time for Swift to put in a corner which hit the bar following a Cornell save.
Horrible three points

Paul Heckingbottom was happy with the resilience his side showed in their 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.

After securing a point away at Portman Road last week, Alfie Devine’s header was enough for PNE to claim victory at Deepdale on Saturday.

In a match of extremely tight margins, the Lilywhites’ boss was delighted to come out on the right side of the result.





“A big win,” stated Hecky. “A hard-fought win. I don't think we're going to get many pretty games here, but we're going to get exciting games. When the margins are fine, and there's only one goal in it, you know it's going to be nervy. We had to defend our box well, as it wore on.

“The first goal is always big. If you can get the second one, it does change the dynamic of it (the game). We did get punished a lot last year when there was only one goal in it and got pegged back.

“This year, we've shown a lot more resilience, and we had to today.”

For the second week in succession, Dai Cornell started in between the sticks as Dan Iversen continues his journey back to full fitness.

The Welshman excelled against Pompey, keeping his first clean sheet as a PNE player as well as a crucial save deep in stoppage time to keep his side in front.


“He's had to be patient,” admitted the manager when discussing Dai. “He's had to be patient, but he's trained hard. He's worked hard.

“We felt it was right to bring him back in because he's been training very, very hard. So, we can't always have a No.1, a No.2 and a No.3. It's got to be on merit. It's got to be on performance. That's how we treat every outfield player.

“Goalkeepers need to be the same. So, it was the right decision to bring him back in. As I said, he's been training hard, training well. Thankfully, he's helped us get the win today.”

Callum Lang joined North End on deadline day from today’s opponents but didn’t make the matchday squad against Pompey.

The manager discussed the reason for his absence, as well as offering an update on other members of the squad currently sidelined.


“He's only really trained one day with us,” said Hecky. “He missed a lot of days because he thought the deal was going through.

“His first real day of training with us was Thursday. It's just slightly too soon, but he's fine and we'll have him back next week.

“Hopefully Jeb, hopefully Milly, hopefully Lins, hopefully Hughesy. Potentially Dan, let's see. It would be nice to welcome them all back.”


MOOSE

Possession, shots, xG, corners – Pompey finished ahead on all key metrics when they visited Deepdale in the Championship.

But it was Preston who claimed all three points after Alfie Devine headed home Andrija Vukčević’s cross late in the first half.

That came after referee Adam Herczeg had inexplicably failed to punish Jordan Storey’s foul on Adrian Segečić inside the area.

John Mousinho was flummoxed by that decision, but pleased with the overall display of his side, including the showings of debutants Jacob Brown and Gustavo Caballero.

The Blues boss said: “If you look at the balance of the game and how well we performed, then I think we deserved more.

“We were left scratching our heads about how we didn’t manage to put one of those chances in the back of the net.

“I’m completely baffled, though, because it was a stonewall penalty for us in the first half. If he doesn’t give that then it’s a corner. I don’t know how it can be a goal-kick.”

John Mousinho

“But ultimately Preston were able to do that in the first half, while we couldn’t quite get the ball over the line.

“We looked more dangerous from set-pieces as the game went on and we threatened once we got the ball into dangerous areas.

“I’m completely baffled, though, because it was a stonewall penalty for us in the first half. If he doesn’t give that then it’s a corner. I don’t know how it can be a goal-kick.

“Jacob led the line well on his debut and looked promising, but was always going to tire around the hour mark and that’s why we brought him off.

“Gustavo was lively when he came on and had some really good moments, even if the conditions didn’t quite suit him.”

Colby Bishop was missing with an ankle injury, while January arrival Keshi Anderson was also a noticeable absence from the squad.

Mousinho said: “He is okay and we’re just waiting on some scan results because he felt his hamstring in training earlier in the week.”