Portsmouth defender makes confident Championship admission after Bristol City loss in FA Cup

Callum Johnson is confident Pompey could acclimatise in the Championship after their heartening Bristol City display.
Goal 1-1 - Callum Johnson (2) of Portsmouth celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the The FA Cup match between Bristol City and Portsmouth at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England on 10 January 2021. Picture: Graham HuntGoal 1-1 - Callum Johnson (2) of Portsmouth celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the The FA Cup match between Bristol City and Portsmouth at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England on 10 January 2021. Picture: Graham Hunt
Goal 1-1 - Callum Johnson (2) of Portsmouth celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the The FA Cup match between Bristol City and Portsmouth at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England on 10 January 2021. Picture: Graham Hunt

But the right-back warned the hard part will be ensuring the Blues achieve League One promotion this season.

Kenny Jackett’s men exited the FA Cup with a 2-1 loss to the Robins on Sunday.

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But Pompey were the better side for much of the clash against their second-tier opponents and rued several goalscoring chances.

Reaching the Championship is the Blues’ aim once against after suffering play-off heartbreak in the past two campaigns.

Jackett’s men are well poised in third spot after 19 matches and among the favourites to go up automatically.

Should Pompey achieve their aim then they’ll be making a leap some believe is the biggest in football when it comes to the step up in quality.

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Johnson experienced enough against Cuty to believe the Blues could be competitive in the second tier – although they must get their first.

He told The News: ‘It was a good opportunity to test us against a Championship team. That’s obviously where we want to be and we got to see the standard they set.

‘It whets the appetite. All the lads and everyone knows – because we have made it public – that our target is promotion.

‘It’s great to match yourself up against Championship opposition, look at players in your position and match yourself up.

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‘You see what you can do to get to their level. We are all hungry to get there and hopefully we can do that now.

‘I think we could (acclimatise if Pompey were promoted). The hard part is getting there and that’s the first step.

‘We won’t look too far beyond that but if we were to get up then I would be confident. The hard part is getting there and hopefully we can do that.

‘There are some good sides in League One but we are as good as anyone. If we play like can then we can do it.’

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Johnson, who scored his first Pompey goal at Bristol City, felt it was harsh the visitors went out of the Cup.

But the Robins took their chances – and that’s what the Blues would need to do if they make it to the second tier.

Johnson added: 'As you get higher up, especially in the Championship and the Premier League, it is about punishing teams and you’ve got to take your chances.

‘Getting half-a-chance, you’ve got to take it. It’s very fine margins.

‘I wouldn’t say it is a massive difference but the quality is about those fine margins and punishing teams.