Portsmouth boss pinpoints 'shining light' among wreckage of crushing Cardiff set-back

When Jordan Archer was called off the bench in the 31st minute, he represented something of an unknown quantity in the eyes of the Fratton faithful having never previously featured competitively.

However, as the match proceeded, the former Spurs man produced an impressive display which kept the scoreline down and had Pompey’s boss singing his praises.

Despite the hugely disappointing 2-0 defeat - and an abject first half - Archer at least warrants a little credit for his individual showing on a night when so many others let the Blues down.

Should Nicolas Schmid now fail to recover in time for Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night (8pm) - and with Will Norris remaining sidelined by injury - Archer could well find himself starting the Blues’ next fixture.

Mousinho told The News: ‘I thought Jordan was superb, probably one of the only shining lights of the performance. I thought he did really well.

‘He had a couple of moments in the game, but really kept the scoreline respectable. To come in out of the cold like that - not in terms of his involvement in the squad, but not having played a huge amount of football last year and no minutes this year - and to play like that was really pleasing.

‘The only ones to come out with any credit was Jordan, Terry (Devlin) was good when he came on, and Christian (Saydee) showed a bit. Some of the substitutions.’

Schmid sustained a blow to the head when Callum Robinson netted the Bluebirds’ second goal after 13 minutes.

Despite continuing, he drew the physios’ attention to having blurred vision in one of his eyes, forcing him off. However, Mousinho afterwards denied it was a concussion.

Regardless, Pompey’s medical team will have to monitor the Austrian ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s visit and decide whether he can be involved.