Numbers don’t add up as Blues fail to wing it in play-off quest
Pompey’s hopes of a play-off finish are fading by the week.
And Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury once again highlighted why fingers have been pointed at the Blues squad.
The Fratton faithful have attempted to dissect why the campaign has gone so horribly wrong, with injuries, Danny Cowley, formations, tactics and budgets all focused on at some stage or another.
But one of the most glaring issues is the lack of service and creativity within the team, with Pompey failing to make the most of 23-goal striker Colby Bishop’s physical and aerial presence.
Despite the former Accrington forward’s impressive goal tally – Bishop is joint-third in the third tier scoring charts with 19 league goals – crosses into the penalty area from wide positions is still of huge concern for head coach John Mousinho.
To highlight the issue, we’ve taken a look at the goal and assist returns of the wingers previous Blues boss Cowley and his successor Mousinho have called upon this season in League One.
And ahead of tonight’s trip to relegation-threatened Oxford United, the numbers don’t make for particularly impressive reading.
Owen Dale
The Blackpool loanee hasn’t struggled for game time, having featured 40 times in League One so far.
Despite his hard-working attitude on the pitch, a return of two goals and five assists in the league has frustrated the Fratton faithful from a winger who has featured the most this term.
Josh Koroma
The summer deadlineday signing was the man highlighted by the Fratton faithful as the key to Pompey’s promotion push.
And there was reason to believe after the onloan Huddersfield attacker scored just minutes into his debut.
However, only two goals would follow in Koroma’s next 16 games for the Blues in League One.
As a result of his disappointing return and performances, the winger had his loan stay terminated early in January.
Koroma is now a regular starter, though, in Huddersfield’s quest to avoid relegation from the Championship.
Dane Scarlett
The promising Spurs loanee shone in a two-man attack under Cowley, but the same can’t be said under Mousinho after being moved out to the left wing.
Although he’s scored five goals in the league, Scarlett has registered just one – a last-gasp winner against Burton in February – since the new boss’ arrival having been moved out wide.
He’s also yet to record a assist, with his only contribution in that area coming during the 3-1 win against Bristol Rovers at Fratton Park in August.
Reeco Hackett
Hackett has appeared 32 times in the league this term, having been utilised both on the right and left.
The 25-year-old has scored two goals under the new head coach – the most out of any wingers under Mousinho to date.
However, his goal tally for the season stands at just three.
Meanwhile, Hackett has just one assist to his name all term.
Ronan Curtis
The Blues’ longest-serving player in the current squad was deemed not good enough by Cowley at the start of the season.
Despite picking up form under Mousinho before his campaign-ending ACL injury, the Irishman has netted two league goals and registered just one assist in 25 League One outings this term.
Michael Jacobs
Although Jacobs had an impressive start to the season, scoring two in his opening four league games, he’s managed to only double his tally to four for the campaign.
Injuries have once again limited his game time to 28 appearances in League One, many of them as a substitute, but you’d expect him to register more than two assists in that time.
Paddy Lane
The January arrival has had a difficult start to his Pompey career, with a hamstring injury limiting his game time to 11 appearances.
The 22-year-old has registered two assists for the Blues after a tough start to the season with Fleetwood.
More is expected and more will be demanded next season.