‘It’s our USP’: Portsmouth captain makes clear Fratton Park admission amid growing home concerns
Pompey dropped into the Championship relegation zone following a 1-0 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday.
Marlon Park has made it clear Pompey have to make Fratton Park a place to be feared once again after a disappointing start to the season.
The defeat represented the Blues’ fifth of the campaign on home soil, which has already equaled last season’s tally.
Pompey turned Fratton into a fortress on their return to the Championship, which proved pivotal in their survival battle last term.
And that worrying figure is something Mousinho’s men have to improve as the bid to make Fratton a place to be feared.
Pompey captain sends clear Fratton message
He told The News: I think it’s our USP in this division. We need to use this arena when it gets hostile and the fans are behind us like they are. We need to use it to our advantage.
‘I think what I have seen this year is that teams have learnt from last season, where I felt like they fed to our crowd a little bit and fueled it which is great for us.
‘Whereas I think this year they’re playing a lot more smarter and a lot more professional in their approach.
‘That is something we need to figure out and it still can become a fortress this year, we still know how vital it is. We have to aid that ourselves and start games better.
‘Yeah they do (change playing styles when they come to Fratton Park). They’re finding a solution or what they deem to be the best way to beat us here.
‘We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to counteract that and be better in our own performance.
‘We do look at the opposition but a lot of the focus is definitely on us and how we can be better as a team.’
Marlon Pack on ‘dejected’ Pompey
The latest defeat on home soil saw the Blues drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season and head into next Saturday’s fixture with Charlton Athletic 22nd in the table.
And while Pack has admitted Mousinho’s men are dejected, the captain has promised they are working to find a much-needed solution to their growing concerns.
‘We’re dejected. We’re professional footballers, there’s such a pride in winning games of football especially to this fanbase that follow us up and down the country.
‘We’re gutted just as much as the fans, of course we are, and what I will say is that this is a group determined to be better.
‘What I can promise is that we will continue to work hard and to continue to hopefully find a run of form and some results and performances along the way to climb us up the league table.’