EFL pundit makes Portsmouth League One play-offs prediction after John Mousinho start
EFL pundit Don Goodman believes John Mousinho's Portsmouth face a 'difficult task' to reach the League One play-offs.
Mousinho replaced Danny Cowley in the Portsmouth dugout following the latter's sacking at the start of the month, with the 36-year-old joining the club on January 20 and winning his first two games against Exeter and Fleetwood.
Mousinho suffered his first loss on Saturday when Peterborough United earned a 2-1 win, leaving Pompey six points off sixth-placed Barnsley having played a game more.
Speaking before Saturday's fixture, Goodman said it would be a "tall order" for Portsmouth to finish inside the play-off spots due to the teams currently sitting above them in the table.
"Well, they started off great, they were nine or ten games unbeaten and were up there with the likes of Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich," Goodman told OLBG. "They were flying and looking good for at least a play-off spot, but then they started losing games and went on this really bad run.
"When you're Portsmouth and it's your fifth season in League One with ambitions of going up having lost a couple of times in the play-offs, then you're desperate to make that next step. I haven't been to a game this season, but I can only presume the crowd weren't happy with the way things were going.
"That makes it difficult for a club's hierarchy and ultimately, they've come to that decision. You stand and fall by your decisions in football whether you're a manager, a coach, an owner or a chief executive. You stand and fall by your decisions and the decisions you make.
"Clearly, they couldn't see it getting any better, they've brought in John Mousinho who got off to the best possible start. They're only six points off the play-offs as it stands, so it's doable but it's a tall order. There's a lot of sides above them who are very good teams, so to dislodge them is going to be a difficult task.
"To name a few, currently there's Ipswich, Bolton, Derby, Barnsley, Wycombe and Peterborough. Portsmouth have to overhaul all of these teams that are above them and I'm not sure that's achievable. It's a case of wait and see for John Mousinho, but I'm struggling to see if Portsmouth can compete this season.
"But it's always sorry to see good people lose their jobs. Danny and Nicky Cowley are good lads and hopefully they'll be back in football soon."
