The Portsmouth gaffer talks record-breaking unbeaten runs, the art of good defending and his top-tier ambitions
Interview: Ed McCambridge
INTERVIEWJOHN MOUSINHO
Portsmouth have topped League One for most of the first half of 2023-24. What has been pivotal to that form?
I think we can trace it all the way back to the transfer window last January, so pretty much a year ago now. We knew exactly where we'd be in the summer in terms of outgoings from the squad, and that just enabled us to plan very early. When the time came to bring in new players, we had our ducks in a row and the people we wanted to target. By the second week of pre-season, 11 of our 14 signings were through the door, and by the opening match at home to Bristol Rovers, we were more or less done with recruitment. Added to that, we've had fortune on a few occasions this season to rally from behind and win games with late goals. I reckon the squad’s come together really nicely to ensure we can challenge at the top end of the League One table. It's been great to see.
Pompey sat 15th when you took over last January, but soon embarked on a 27-game unbeaten league run that ended with November's 4-0 defeat against Blackpool. What happened?
It was less about the run ending and more about the manner of the defeat. We didn't really show up, and at home too. That was extremely disappointing, but losing the game actually took a bit of pressure off the lads. There’d been a huge amount of coverage about the unbeaten run and we’d got ourselves into an odd mindset where we simply wanted to keep it going, almost seeing draws as a decent result when they’re definitely not in terms of the table. The positive was that we bounced back straight away, beating Burton and then Northampton. That was very pleasing.
You got the job despite having no prior managerial experience. What convinced Pompey to gamble on you?
It was a long recruitment process, and one of the things I offered that some far more experienced managers didn’t was that I was playing in the league last year. I know what makes players tick at this level as I’ve recently been one. I want my players to love coming in, train hard and enjoy being part of this squad. Sporting director Richard Hughes told me the decision would be based on merit and that any coaching appointment, especially at this level, comes with risk. The news took most supporters by surprise and I knew the only way to win them round would be by winning matches. Thankfully, we've done a
