Portsmouth 3-1 Stoke City: John Mousinho celebrates two years in charge of Pompey with fourth straight home win

Callum Lang scored his 10th goal of the season as Portsmouth marked John Mousinho's second anniversary in charge with a 3-1 victory over Stoke in the Championship.

Colby Bishop bagged an early penalty before Lang and Connor Ogilvie sent Pompey above Stoke up to 18th - their highest position since the end of August.

Ben Wilmot had pulled the score back to 2-1 but the Potters, who have one victory in their last 14, could not prevent Portsmouth from a sixth win in seven home matches to ease their relegation worries.

Mousinho arrived at Fratton Park on January 20 in 2023 before securing the League One title, and as he marked two years in charge Stoke presented him with two gifts to take a 2-0 lead inside 13 minutes.

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Josh Wilson-Esbrand, whose loan move to Stoke from Manchester City was announced at 10am, gave away a penalty just four minutes into his debut.

Pompey had sent a warning when Isaac Hayden failed to bundle the ball over the line from two yards before Wilson-Esbrand - who had worked with Mark Robins at Coventry - needlessly shoved Callum Lang over.

Colby Bishop dispatched the spot-kick, the 17th he had successfully converted since arriving at Pompey two-and-a-half years ago.

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The Potters were disjointed and there was little surprised they found themselves 2-0 down inside 10 minutes through another defensive mistake.

This time, Pompy goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid's long ball was allowed to bounce by Wilmot before Lang beat him in the foot race to loop a header over Viktor Jonasson.

The hosts' 15-minute spell of dominance fizzled out as Stoke grew into the game. Lewis Baker left Schmid rooted to the spot as his effort buzzed just wide.

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And they pulled one back through two atoning defenders. Wilson-Esbrand delivered a dream of a ball to the back post for Wilmot to nod in.

Bar a Baker shot from range, the first half lost attacking quality, but as they had at the start of the match, Pompey scored within five minutes of the restart.

West Ham loanee Freddie Potts' in-swinging corner found Ogilvie with space to pull down and rifle into the roof of the net.

During Portsmouth's unbeaten run at home, they have scored at least three times in five matches.

And the home side could have made it even more comfortable as Hayden slotted wide, Matt Ritchie had a shot in the box battered away and Bishop dragged an effort across the face of goal.

The result was payback for a 6-1 humbling at Stoke in October, with the visitors only mustering one, off-target, shot in the second half.

The managers

Portsmouth's John Mousinho:

"It feels great. We knew how important it was pre-game and just about everything about the game was great.

"We knew we could get up the league and above Stoke, so we knew the result was important tonight but the performance in the second half was one of our best displays of the season.

"We didn't play scintillating football but were ruthless, clinical and came out on top in pretty much every area.

"We have to make sure we build upon these wins. They are our first back-to-back wins this year.

"I think we are progressing but the next stage is that while we are looking up, we don't think we have cracked it and the job is done.

"We will judge ourselves at the back end of the season if we are a good side. For now, we have a lot of work to do."

Stoke's Mark Robins:

"I'm really disappointed. Portsmouth set the tone from the start and we didn't live with that. We allowed them to bully us all night.

"They set their stall out by throwing themselves to the floor, fouling us and kicking us, all the dark arts. They have old-manned us tonight.

"They have players with experience who have come up on the other side of the game.

"It was old school type of football but we have to be able deal with it and not just think that teams will allow you to come and play.

"They ran harder, that is how they put us under pressure. That's what they are and how they've been built.

"We can show our players all that beforehand and if it still surprised you then you aren't going to get anything from the game.

"Where they were miles better was in the physical department. I suppose some of our young players have never come up against that in their lives and it can be a big shock.

"Ultimately you have to be able to deal with it and be able to fight back and earn the right to play football."

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