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Mousinho: Records Not Important

Boss says simply avoiding defeat is not the focus at Stevenage

25 August 2023

John Mousinho
Fixture News

Mousinho: Records Not Important

Boss says simply avoiding defeat is not the focus at Stevenage

25 August 2023

Pompey will become club record breakers if they can avoid defeat at Stevenage this weekend.

It would stretch their unbeaten league sequence to 16 games – a feat not achieved since being elected into the Football League in 1920.

But John Mousinho is not overly concerned with making history, feeling that too many points have dropped during that run.

And he does not expect an easy ride against the side where he won League Two promotion as a player in 2011.

The Blues boss said: “The record doesn’t matter in a lot of ways because it’s just another game, although there are a lot of positives we can take from the run.

“We’re pretty satisfied with where we are at the moment and it does show that we’re pretty solid and hard to beat.

“But we want to convert a lot of those results into wins – it was four draws over the Easter period last season that really did for our promotion chances.

"We’re pretty satisfied with where we are at the moment and it does show that we’re pretty solid and hard to beat."

John Mousinho

“Ultimately, avoiding defeat won’t be the name of the game for us on Saturday and we’ll be trying to win.

“It’s a compliment when I say that Stevenage know what they’re doing and are a very organised side under an experienced manager in Steve Evans.

“They’ll be well drilled and their start to the season shows that, with three wins out of four in the league.

“I played there for a couple of years and know what it’s like, but we have to impose our own game on them and it’s a good challenge for our players.”

Sean Raggett is yet to start a league match so far this season, although the defender scored twice in a midweek EFL Trophy draw with Fulham.

Mousinho said: “Those games are good for a number of reasons and it gives players a chance to show that I might be making the wrong decision.

“Sean has been very good in the two cup ties he’s started for us and that’s exactly what we want to see.

“He can probably count himself unlucky this season and he’s got to keep plugging away, but we want those selection headaches.”


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