'Confidence and arrogance': Portsmouth players lift lid on shock season turnaround
The Blues have lost once in eight matches to climb into 11th place in the Championship
‘Confidence and arrogance’ are the key ingredients behind the Pompey transformation which is threatening to drive them into unchartered territory.
That’s the verdict of Adrian Segecic, who has applauded the Blues’ potential season-defining response in the aftermath of Southampton agony.
Within a fortnight of their 1-0 St Mary’s defeat, John Mousinho’s men had amassed 10 points from a possible 12, with Iyad Mohamed, Madiodio Dia and Regan Poole emerging as pivotal performers.
The remarkable response has positioned Pompey in 11th place, just two points adrift of the extended play-offs, with a trip to struggling and managerless Burnley on Saturday.
And Segecic is convinced the in-form Blues possess the crucial attributes to maintain a push towards their highest Championship finish since returning to the level.
‘We’ve got everything to be a top team’
He told The News: ‘After the Southampton game, whether we were being a bit delusional or not, we said we’re a top team and we just need to prove it.
‘For us it was just mentally staying focused and, obviously, it’s now a lot easier after a few good results, there is positivity flying through the changing room. It’s something we need to keep a hold of, having that bit of arrogance and composure as well.
‘We knew, we knew since the first day of pre-season that we’ve got the quality, we’ve got everything to be a top team, to fight for play-offs, to be up there all season.
‘I actually think you just need a bit of confidence and arrogance in the group - and we’ve got that with the balance perfectly. We need everyone and the boys have dug deep. A performance like that against Millwall is exactly what we needed.
‘After the last few games, we need to believe in the play-offs, we all need to show we can get there. Why not? We are up there.
‘We have shown we can compete with the best sides and, if we just keep going and have that confidence about us, who knows. I think we’re a great side.’
10 points from a possible 12 for Portsmouth
With one defeat in their last eight fixtures, suddenly the Blues are no longer being included in relegation discussions.
Certainly it’s a far cry from their previous two Championship campaigns, with survival clinched with two matches remaining on both occasions.
Challenged with a tough fixture list following the international break, a run of eight games in 28 days was widely regarded as potentially a season-defining period.
As it has turned out, Mousinho’s men have already taken 10 points at the halfway stage, surely exceeding the expectations of almost every member of the Fratton faithful.
And skipper Marlon Pack has praised the players’ response ahead of a Turf Moor fixture which could result in them breaking into the Championship’s top eight.
He added: ‘All credit has to go to the response of the group, not just the results, but the mental side of it.
‘In the lead up to the Southampton game, the group on the whole grasped that and the response has been great. I’m pleased for us because I see the work we put in.’