Portsmouth faces a significant challenge as they cope with the absence of Australian midfielder Alex Robertson, who suffered a hamstring injury in training last week. The blow is particularly harsh for the team’s promotion aspirations, given Robertson’s outstanding performance since joining Fratton Park.
In response to this setback, Joe Rafferty, a defender for Portsmouth, is urging his teammates to step up their game in Robertson’s absence. Rafferty acknowledges Robertson’s unexpected excellence in League One and emphasizes the need for others, including Christian Saydee, Gavin Whyte, Anthony Scully, and the returning Tom Lowery, to fill the void.
Expressing optimism, Rafferty believes in the club’s recruitment team to make the right choices in finding potential replacements for the injured midfielder. He emphasizes that whoever takes Robertson’s place must contribute to the team’s strengths and continue the positive momentum.
With Robertson likely facing a prolonged period on the sidelines, there is speculation that Portsmouth might explore the transfer market to address the gap in their squad. Rafferty, however, expresses confidence in the club’s football operations, trusting the manager and the recruitment team to make sound decisions in bolstering the squad.
On another note, Portsmouth recently suffered a setback in their promotion bid with a 2-1 defeat to Cheltenham. Despite contentious refereeing decisions and dissatisfaction within the camp, defender John Mousinho believes that the team’s own mistakes were the primary cause of their downfall. Mousinho points out poor defending that led to both goals, highlighting uncharacteristic errors during a brief but crucial five-minute period.
Mousinho asserts that the team must take responsibility for their own decisions and not solely blame the referee for the defeat. While acknowledging that certain refereeing decisions didn’t go in their favor, he emphasizes that self-inflicted mistakes, particularly defensive lapses, played a significant role in the loss.
In conclusion, Portsmouth faces a dual challenge of compensating for the absence of the influential Alex Robertson and rectifying defensive issues that contributed to their recent defeat. The team’s response and the effectiveness of potential transfers will likely play a crucial role in determining their success as they strive for promotion.
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