Pompey boss John Mousinho gives his verdict on the EFL Championship defeat at Sunderland.
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00:00The fans came to them but we pressed them really well. I thought there was a lot of nerves from the fans as well in terms of the way that they were building up and we nearly nicked it a couple of times. Colby had that chance to play up and then yeah, once the red card comes the plan is to stay in the game until late and then try and make changes and get the second set before them and it nearly worked, it nearly worked so, you know, chalk and cheese from the last away performance. Much, much better. Huge amount of improvement, just some tiny bits to do to make sure we get there.
00:29Any complaints of the red card? No, no. Going forward it just perhaps didn't quite fall for you. Murphy had that effort just over in the first half. The cross for Colby almost just got slightly too far up the pitch when it nearly fell so it just didn't quite go for you in the attacking third.
00:44No, it didn't quite go for us. When you come to places like this you have to have a little bit of luck. I thought we defended the box really well, particularly with ten men. Yeah, we didn't quite have the luck at the other end of the pitch. There were some really good opportunities, particularly in the last ten minutes where I think Colby had the header and we're looking back at it and it does hit the defender's arm. You can say it might be a harsh pounce to be given against but the referee's explanation at the back end of the first half of the handball he gave against us was that he hits his hand and he has to give it.
01:13I'll ask him that question. Mox's shot from the edge of the box, a couple of good areas that Murph got into. We were nearly there. I'm really, really positive off the back of that performance. I thought it was for the larger parts really good.
01:28It just shows how tough it is to get points at these top sides, particularly away from home.
01:32Yeah, you've got to be at full capacity and you've got to have a bit of luck going through as well. Unfortunately we were close to full capacity but we didn't quite have the luck.
01:42Was Rob Atkinson always going to come on or was that just become a necessity?
01:45No, that became a necessity during the game. So that's Rob's first game for I think 23 months. Brilliant that he came back on. I think he looked really, really good when he came on.
01:55How pleased to sign him and how did that come about?
01:58I've known Rob for a few years now. So Rob signed from Eastleigh when I was at Oxford. He went straight back out on loan and then his first full season with Oxford had a really strong breakthrough season which resulted in Bristol City buying him.
02:11He was superb that year and actually cost me my place in the side. He was absolutely superb that year, working with him every day. Really good kid, really good lad.
02:21I think we're getting a Championship level centre-half who, if he plays the games, will be a brilliant addition for us and we've just got to keep him fit.
02:30Where is he fitness-wise at the minute?
02:32I think he's been on the bench for Bristol City for 11 of the last 12 league games. We spoke to the staff at our place and at Ashton Gate as well. Really pleased with his fitness and where he's at.
02:45He's played a few 21s games. It's just a case of getting him that match fitness. So I think it was a useful half-hour as well today, however long it was.
02:52Who did you deregister to get him in?
02:55You don't have to in January. You can do whatever you want.
02:58I was going to say, Sammy Silvera not on the bench. No chance imminent of going back to Middlesbrough?
03:03I don't know. I'll catch up with Rich after and see what's happening there.
03:07You've been linked with Harvey Nibbs of Reading. Any light you can shed on that?
03:10No, same as I've answered throughout January. Any players that are contacts of other clubs you won't comment on.
03:16Anything imminent in the next few days?
03:18No, we're not going to rush anything with the FA Cup coming up. The priority is to get the right players in for Blackburn.
03:25Really, really pleased that we got Rob over the line and we'll do a bit of work over the next few days to make sure we get the right players in.
03:31If not by Blackburn, then pretty soon.
03:33Last week was pretty wet down here. How were the conditions today?
03:36It was wet. I thought the conditions were pretty good actually. Sometimes the rain and the slickness helps the football.
03:43I thought it was pretty good. It was a good game of football.