x

Two proper clubs going toe to toe - why Leeds v Pompey excites Mousinho

A visit to Leeds might be one of Pompey's toughest looking trips of the season as they begin life back in th Championship - but John Mousinho is happy with the hand the fixture computer has dealt them.

'It really is a brilliant one for us to go to a club of Leeds’ size, stature and history,' he told the Pompey website ahead of the Saturday lunchtime clash. 'After the play-off disappointment they experienced at the end of last season, everyone will be raring to go on their side.

'We’ve also got great anticipation ourselves, especially given that we haven’t been in the Championship for so long. It’s two proper clubs that will be going toe-to-toe and everything about this fixture provides so much to look forward to.

'We’ve been working very hard over the past few weeks and it’s a really exciting time for all of us at Pompey. It’s the first game of the season and we’re all raring to go. We’ve sold out our allocation and it promises to be a great occasion.'

Josh Murphy may be missing after a knock picked up in the friendly at Charlton last week, while Tom McIntyre and Jacob Farrell don't look ready to play though are not far off. Matt Ritchie and Andre Dozzell could both feature just days after joining.

Regan Poole and Colby Bishop are longer-term absentees, though Bishop has now had his heart surgery.

What to read next:

Cullen on Pompey's transfer strategy: 'It will bring success long-term'
Andy Cullen is comfortable that Pompey's recruitment strategy is working - and says it's important to look at the long-term not just the short-term.
Grateful and happy - how Bishop is feeling after triumphant Pompey return
Grateful to be back in the fold - and for all the support he has been shown by staff and team-mates at Fratton Park.
Blues belief among frustration - Mousinho positive ahead of Pompey-Preston
Pompey are bottom of the Championship and there's a fair bit of doom and gloom among the fan base - but you won't find John Mousinho feeling sorry for himself as he plots to try to secure a home win over Preston North End this weekend.
Pompey head to Hull with boss insisting: We're still in positive mood
John Mousinho is confident Pompey will be in the right frame of mind as they bid to recover from their latest Championship setbacks by gaining some reward from their trip to Hull.
Pompey have so much room for improvement - but doomed already? No way!
Twelve games into Pompey's season, and it would appear we've landed slap bang in the middle of relegation fight. Not what we wanted, not what many expected, I don't think, and not a very nice prospect for the long winter months ahead.
Queens Park Rangers 1 - 2 Portsmouth - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
'At the start of the journey' - Pompey chief outlines spending strategy
Pompey chief executive Andy Cullen has promised Pompey are not shirking away from spending money on players - but stressed they're at the start of the sort of journey that's brought major success to the likes of Brighton and Brentford.
Pompey in 84-85: the Santa game, 4-4 with Fulham, Biley, Webb, Dillon and Vince - and last-day heartbreak
When I decided to devote this season's View From the North Stand columns in the PFC programme to our past 21 seasons in the second tier, there was only one it was legal to feature in the Oxford programme... 1984-85.
Pompey v Oxford - a must-win game for Blues, or is such talk too early?
October does seem early to talk about must-win games. There are, after all, 38 Championship games to go before we see the final league table.
The power of partnerships - and why Michael Eisner is happy to put faith in this pairing
Michael Eisner calls it the power of partnerships - and he is convinced the pairing he has put faith in to carry Pompey upwards is the right one.