BLUEBIRDS REMAIN ON THE ROAD

ccfcinsider

Sep 4

3 min read

Cardiff City remain on the road as they travel to Fratton Park to face John Mousinho's Portsmouth.

The Opposition:

After a slow first half of the season, a strong ending to the season saw Pompey secure an 18th-place finish.

It has been a busy summer for Portsmouth as they look to build on back-to-back seasons in the second tier. John Mousinho has added Abu Kamara from Hull City, Marko Milovanović from Almería, Rocco Shein from Fredrikstad, Luke Brooke-Smith from Wellington, Odin Bailey from Stockport County, Ben Arthur from Brentford, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen from Chelsea, Jayden Maghoma from Brentford, Eoin Kenny from Dundalk, Iyad Mohamed from Casa Pia, Tyrese Shade from Burton Albion, and Daniel Bielica from NAC Breda.

The core principles we have seen from Mousinho’s time in charge at Fratton Park.

Short & patient build-up, Intense pressing, switching the play, dominating possession, High defensive line, Wide triangles and Set-piece domination. Mousinho likes his team to build from the back in a slow & patient manner, waiting for the opportunity to find passing options that open up as players move into space or an opposition player jumps out to press the ball-carrier.

The Bluebirds:

City come into this one on the back of their first league defeat of the season, as they lost 2-1 against QPR. Perry Ng's consolation wasn't enough for the Bluebirds as they continue their search for their first win.

The Bluebirds could counter Mousinho’s aggressive pressing by using quick combinations and rotations to create free players in midfield, then playing through the press rather than forcing long balls. Cardiff should also exploit the space behind Portsmouth’s advanced full-backs with switches of play and well-timed runs in behind. Maintaining width and an aggressive counter-press would help Cardiff turn Mousinho’s high-energy approach against him.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Adrian Segečić is one of the hottest prospects in the EFL at the moment. Segečić is a direct, left-footed attacking midfielder who excels at carrying the ball, beating defenders and creating chances in the final third. He is particularly effective when attacking isolated full-backs, using his acceleration, close control and aggressive movement to drive into dangerous areas.

Sydney FC is where Segečić spent his academy days. Segečić spent the first two seasons of his career with his boyhood side before joining Dutch side FC Dordrecht on loan. In his season in Holland, Segečić netted five and set up one. Segečić returned to Sydney the following season, netting eighteen and setting up three. Portsmouth came calling in the summer of 2025. The Croatian U21 international netted eleven and assisted five in his debut campaign at Pompey.

Last Meeting:

Portsmouth 2-1 Cardiff City (2025)

In the midst of a relegation battle, Pompey ran out winners the last time these two sides met in February 2025.

A quick-fire double from Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy put Portsmouth up just after a quarter of an hour. Callum O'Dowda netted in the 22nd minute. However, City failed to build on that and fell to defeat.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Dylan Lawlor and Will Fish remain out injured.

Portsmouth - Conor Shaughnessy expected to return. Josh Murphy, Conor Ogilvie,

Márk Kosznovszky, Keshi Anderson, Jacob Farrell, Thomas Waddingham, and Franco Umeh-Chibueze are out injured for the hosts.

Preferred XI:

GK - Nathan Trott

RB - Perry Ng

RCB - Gabriel Osho

LCB - Krystian Bielik

LB - Joel Bagan

CDM - Alex Robertson

CM - Joel Colwill