Portsmouth are confident they can secure Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson's signature this winter despite already having a bid for the 27-year-old Swede rejected. (The News), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Tom Chappell
Fan writer
Image source, ShutterstockSunday afternoon's south coast derby was befitting of the build-up and billing afforded to it.
The first thing we heard when we stepped out of the car was the distinct rumble of a helicopter above our heads.
Our usual walk to the crowd was punctuated by police officers, horses or vans every 500 yards - and the entire city had an anomalous crackle in the air.
The noise inside Fratton Park was expected to be deafening, but it was truly next level throughout proceedings. Every tackle celebrated, every move or pass meant that little bit more.
Albeit perhaps a game a little low on quality, that was very much to be expected in a hot atmosphere and inclement conditions.
Ebou Adams may well be the best £500,000 that Pompey have spent in a very long time. He has been an undeniable difference-maker since his arrival and would have been player of the match with or without his derby-day equaliser.
An afternoon defined by a breakaway run and the reply of a Pompey set-piece. John Mousinho's side can feel slightly disappointed not to have nicked a winner.
It transpires as the point to lift us out of the Championship relegation zone for now.
Pompey have worked so hard to have days like this again and the fight now is to ensure this fixture is a mainstay.
Find more from Tom at the Fournilwrittenalloverit, external YouTube channel
Image source, Rex FeaturesPortsmouth boss John Mousinho said that their draw with Southampton was a "fair point".
The Blues came from behind to force a draw after Ebou Adams headed home deep into the second half to send Fratton Park into a frenzy.
Ultimately, it was an important point for Pompey, who are now out of the relegation zone.
"It was a good and fair point considering the circumstances with our injuries and really shuffling the squad around," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.
"We'll be disappointed to not win the game overall with the chances we created, and we could have nicked it at the end.
"We're always going to be frustrated with the goal we conceded, we didn't lock off the situation well enough and gambled trying to play offside.
"But, overall, I think it was a fair result."
Portsmouth welcome West Bromwich Albion to Fratton Park on Saturday.
Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, Getty ImagesThat felt like a proper derby. The crowd was loud and at times angry, and a bit of edge on the pitch, which is just what you want.
Once more it was a Pompey team-sheet that raised eyebrows.
Regan Poole was the latest defender to suffer an injury as Pompey ended the match with four full-backs. A new centre-back is an urgent requirement.
But it was another spirited showing. Nico Schmid made amends for his error on Wednesday night with two brilliant first-half saves.
Pompey had to dig deep after going behind and ended the match looking more likely to steal it.
It's a big week ahead in the transfer window. If Pompey can find a few new additions who can make as big an impact as Ebou Adams has, they'll be fine in the Championship.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is the first league meeting between Portsmouth and Southampton at Fratton Park since 2011
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has highlighted the importance of home atmosphere and the difference it can make in big games.
The Blues welcome their south coast rivals Southampton to Fratton Park on Sunday and Mousinho is hoping the fans can help push his side over the line.
The two sides played out a goalless draw in September, when Andre Dozzell came closest to scoring with an effort that struck the crossbar.
"We've had a lot of incredible home atmospheres over the past three years so I know how Fratton Park gets when everyone gets going, but this is obviously something completely different," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.
"It's one of those things since I joined the football club that everyone has been talking about - the anticipation for this season has mainly been about the two games we have against Southampton.
"Such is the rivalry and tension between the two clubs it's a massive chance for one of the players to step up and write their name in the history books."
Tune in to live text commentary of Portsmouth v Southampton on the BBC Sport website and app on Sunday.
You can also listen to live commentary of the game from BBC Radio Solent on 96.1FM, 103.8FM and digital radio across Hampshire and Dorset.
Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, Rex FeaturesCallum Lang has been linked with a move away this January
Portsmouth went to St Mary's in September as big underdogs and put in a good performance, arguably having the better of the goalless draw.
The bookmakers have Southampton favourites again this time but there will be a different feel at Fratton Park and few would be stunned if Portsmouth do manage a victory.
However, it's worth remembering Southampton's team cost vastly more to put together than Portsmouth's and their wage bill is multiples of Pompey's.
The Blues will also be without Josh Murphy, Callum Lang and Conor Shaughnessy, their three best players.
If John Mousinho can add a south coast derby win to his impressive list of achievements at the club, it will cement his legacy as one of the best managers at Fratton Park in recent memory.
Image source, EFLA new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).
'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.
Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.
The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.
The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".
Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.
"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."
QPR have made a £1m offer to Dundee for centre-back Luke Graham, but Portsmouth are expected to make another bid after having a £400,000 offer rejected, while Sheffield United, Aberdeen and Hearts are also interested in the 21-year-old. (LondonWorld), external
Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Friday's gossip column here.
The South Coast derby is back and it's Portsmouth's time to host as they welcome Southampton to Fratton Park on Sunday (12:00 GMT).
September's clash between the two sides ended in a goalless stalemate but both sides now find themselves in a situation that will require more than just a wish for bragging rights.
The Saints' hopes of play-offs are dwindling with seven points worth of ground to make up, while Pompey are just one point above the relegation line as it stands and firmly in the mix for a return to League One.
This will be the first time that Portsmouth have hosted Southampton at Fratton Park in league action since a 1-1 draw in December 2011. Overall, Pompey are unbeaten across their last four on home soil against the Saints (W2 D2).
Southampton are winless across their last four league meetings with Portsmouth (D3 L1), never before have they gone five without win against their South-coast rivals in the Football League.
Portsmouth have won three of their last five home games (D1 L1), and are looking to win consecutively at Fratton Park for the first time since February/March last year (a run of three).
After winning their first two away league games under Tonda Eckert, Southampton are now winless in their last five on the road (D1 L4).
Southampton have conceded in each of their last 24 away league games, their longest run without a clean sheet since a run of 50 between March 1962 and September 1964.
Image source, Rex FeaturesPortsmouth head coach John Mousinho has said that he will wait for more tests on the extent of Conor Shaughnessy's injury, which is feared to be significant.
The central defender was not part of Pompey's squad that faced Watford on Wednesday night after picking up a quad injury, and initial scans indicated a grade-three tear.
"It's a really strange one because he finished the game [at Sheffield Wednesday], and slightly felt his quad, but on the scan it looks like it's something more serious," Mousinho said after their midweek draw at Vicarage Road.
"We're just waiting to get a second opinion because Shaughs still feels OK, he still feels a bit of tightness there.
"The initial prognosis from the scan isn't great, so we're just going to have to wait and see on that."
Shaughnessy had only just returned to Mousinho's side after missing part of the season with a hamstring issue, with the defender limited to only nine appearances in the league so far this season.
"I think the best case would be that the [initial] scan's over-reported and we're looking at, sort of, a muscular tear, but it's maybe four to six weeks," Mousinho added on Thursday morning.
"Then the worst is probably what it has reported and we're looking at about 12 weeks."
Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator
Image source, ShutterstockWednesday night was another spirited performance from Portsmouth as they earned a draw at Vicarage Road.
They largely nullified Watford's attack while posing an occasional threat at the other end.
It was notable, on the day it emerged defender Conor Shaughnessy has suffered another potentially bad injury, that Regan Poole and Connor Ogilvie played so well in the heart of the defence.
But it does not change the fact that Pompey need a centre-half urgently.
Another good finish from Adrian Segecic was pleasing to see as was a perfectly-weighted pass from Conor Chaplin - his future should be resolved shortly.
This Pompey side keep battling. There were some tired bodies at the end of the match who will be relieved the South Coast derby is not until Sunday.
Further reinforcements are urgently needed although Ebou Adams and Millenic Alli have already made very positive contributions.
John Mousinho: 'On the scan it looks serious'
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent after their draw at Watford.
"A superb performance. If you'd offered me a point before the game I would have taken it, but I think we should have won the game," he said.
"A little bit bittersweet, but I thought on the night - fantastic - and the lads can really build on that.
"Tonight was about coming away from home and making sure we performed, we are extremely thin on the ground at the minute, but we did that and the performance from the entire squad was excellent."
Image source, ShutterstockTom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for Luton Town in December 2023
All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.
The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.
EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.
Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.
Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.
Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.
"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.
"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.
"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.
"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."
Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.
"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.
EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."
Preston North End remain keen on signing Portsmouth forward Callum Lang after failing with a £2m bid in the summer transfer window. (Lancashire Post), external
Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Wednesday's gossip column here.
