Furious John Mousinho slams Portsmouth players after late Blackburn heartbreak
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho was left fuming after his side conceded a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, insisting his team “managed the game horrifically.”
The Blues looked set to secure a valuable victory after Connor Ogilvie fired them ahead in the 84th minute against their fellow strugglers. But deep into added time, Ryoya Morishita cut in from the right and delivered a dangerous cross that was headed into the net by Hayden Carter, the ball sneaking in off the far post.
The late equaliser was a painful blow for Portsmouth, who had enjoyed the majority of possession and largely dictated the tempo in a match that lacked clear chances for either side.
Speaking after the match, Mousinho did not hide his frustration at the way his team handled the closing stages. He felt the game had been firmly under control for most of the afternoon until the final minutes.
The Portsmouth boss admitted the contest had been fairly balanced for much of the game, though his side had seen more of the ball. Blackburn’s best opportunity came early on, but overall the encounter was cautious and tight. However, once Portsmouth took the lead, Mousinho believed his players failed to manage the situation properly.
According to the coach, his team stopped competing effectively in key moments. They lost important aerial duels, failed to win challenges and second balls, and allowed Blackburn too much space to create the decisive cross for the equaliser. Mousinho also pointed out that the team dropped too deep and struggled to maintain the composure they had shown earlier in the match.
He acknowledged that teams often naturally sit back after taking a late lead, but stressed that they must still remain aggressive in challenges and control the space in front of them. Instead, Portsmouth allowed Blackburn back into the game and were punished for it.
Mousinho added that his side had chances to clear the danger before the goal, but poor positioning and a lack of pressure on the cross ultimately led to the equaliser.
In truth, it had been a quiet afternoon for both goalkeepers, and a goalless draw might have reflected the balance of the game. But after taking the lead late on, Portsmouth were left particularly disappointed not to secure all three points.
The manager also admitted that closing out matches has been a weakness for Portsmouth this season. He felt that, for once, his team had done the hard work by finding a goal from a set-piece in a tightly contested match. However, instead of seeing the game through, they allowed the opportunity to slip away.
For Mousinho, that failure to protect their advantage made the result even more frustrating, as it was a game Portsmouth could – and perhaps should – have won.
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