RECAP as gutsy 10-man Pompey graft to point at MK Dons

...in the away end that is. Pompey have the top tier behind one goal and most of the lower. The rest of the groud pretty empty as usual at Stadium MK

Pompey have shifted around 4,000 tickets for today’s game. Expect an MK takeover from the blue army.

No news on the reason for Towler’s omission today, will ask afterwards. Otherwise looks like a 4-3-3 with Pack sitting behind Morrell and Lowery. Best guess is it will be Raggett on the left of the central defensive pairing with Bernard.

Two changes for Pompey at MK Dons as Pack and Bernard come in for Robertson and Tunnicliffe. No Towler, Hume, Mingi or Freeman in the squad.

An insight into how well John Mousinho has done at Pompey. After the Bolton game in January Pompey had 31 points from 23 games. Now they are on 60 points, so Mousinho has picked up 30 from his 16 games.

John Mousinho has told his players to embrace the pressure of being involved in a late-season play-off charge.

And the Pompey boss has revealed why he’s chosen not to take on the underdog tag created by the unlikely nature of their push for the top six.

Mousinho has overseen a rejuvenation of the Blues’ season since his arrival in January, eating into a nine-point gap to the top six and taking his side from 15th to ninth in the table. With it now three points separating Pompey from the places which will extend their campaign, the 36-year-old wants his players to see gatecrashing the end-of-season shootout as a realistic ambition.

Mousinho said: ‘As much as we’re the chasing side which feels like a nice position to be in, I don’t want us to think it’s a shot to nothing. In some ways it is, but I want us think we’ve got a real chance here. So if we’ve got a chance not to waste another season - let’s do everything possible to make something of it.

That brings a little bit of pressure, I felt the pressure at home last week and I’m sure everyone else did. The pressure it brings is of a missed opportunity.

‘If we don’t make it we don’t make it that will not be the end of the world, but we have to do everything we can to give us the best possible chance - and adding a bit of pressure on the lads can help to do it. That’s where I’m coming from.’

Mousinho’s attitude towards making the top six represents a refreshing departure from the approach of many managers, who attempt to do all they can to alleviate pressure from their players. The Pompey boss made it clear that operating at the club he represents means both players and staff should embrace the expectancy which comes with the territory.

He added: ‘It’s part of the lure of coming here. You can go to places as coach where there is no pressure and you don’t have the amount of fans breathing down your neck every week.

‘I don’t think that is quite as enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, when things aren’t going well it’s not the best feeling of the world, but that’s part of it and something you have to take on as a professional and a coaching unit. I certainly enjoy it, that’s why I’m here, to get those results - there’s pressure to do that.’