'We can be a good side': John Mousinho praises Portsmouth players after huge win over Blackburn

John Mousinho reflected on a priceless victory and insisted: I think we can be a good side.

The Blues headed into this afternoon’s Blackburn clash positioned second from bottom in the Championship, following Norwich’s 2-1 win over Southampton earlier in the day.

To make matters worse, Pompey trailed Rovers 1-0 at half-time after John Swift’s mistake allowed Yuki Ohashi to open the scoring.

But Callum Lang and Ibane Bowat then both netted as the hosts fought back superbly to end a run of three successive defeats and secure a crucial 2-1 victory.

Pompey are now one point and one place above the relegation zone, with a trip to Derby next on the fixture list.

And Mousiho is convinced his team can continue to climb the table after seven defeats in their previous nine games.

He told The News: ‘With three losses - including the last time we were here at Fratton Park losing the game - it meant this was very, very important, especially having dropped into the bottom two this morning.

‘More importantly was the nature of the game and how it panned out. The fact we got back into it, the fact we have given people something to cheer about and believe going home - that’s the biggest thing for me.

‘When we actually knuckle down and do some of the right things and attack with intent, I think we can be a good side. When we don’t do those things, we’re not particularly good.

‘That was the pleasing thing for me, I have seen that a lot this year, but maybe just without the final sprinkles on top and being ruthless in front of goal. We put all of that together in a half-an-hour spell towards the back end of the second half.’

Ohasi’s 36th-minute opener came against the run of play in a first half when Aynsley Pears was by far the busier goalkeeper.

Certainly there was more aggression and fight about the Blues in that opening 45 minutes, although, crucially they lacked quality in the attacking third.

However, that changed after the break as they earned only a second win since October 4.

Mousinho added: ‘I sat in the office at half-time thinking about the message to the players. We didn’t show anything tactical or technical, Blackburn are a really good side and have some players who can hurt you.

‘It was a decent-enough performance (in the first half), particularly off the back of the disappointment on Tuesday night, but that was probably all it was, it was decent.

‘I felt there was more to come, we just lacked a little intensity and aggression in the final action of anything we did defensively and on the ball as well.

‘We probably didn't come out in the second half and do that for 10-15 minutes, but once we had that triple chance (on 60 minutes) the whole game changed off the back of that.’

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