Portsmouth are cruising towards promotion from League One, with John Mousinho’s side now 11 points clear of third-place Bolton Wanderers.
The Blues beat Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday in one of their better performances since the turn of the year.
An Abu Kamara masterclass coupled with some clinical finishing saw the Chairboys brushed aside with relative ease; Portsmouth are playing like champions-elect, and attention will soon turn to the League One title once a place in the Championship is secured.
There have been so many standout performers for Mousinho’s side, with the entire squad playing a part.
However, one player must have completely forgotten what it feels like to lose a game.
Portsmouth star hasn’t lost a game in over a year
Sheffield Wednesday at home was the last time Connor Ogilvie lost a game in a Portsmouth shirt.
Pompey have only lost four games during the 2023/24 League One season; Blackpool, Leyton Orient, Cheltenham Town, and Bristol Rovers are the only sides to have beaten the Blues – the 28-year-old didn’t feature in any of the losses.
Perhaps the ever-dependable left-back was fortunate to miss the defeats, but there’s also a strong argument to suggest those losses wouldn’t have occurred had he been fit and firing.
Ogilvie is among the best one-on-one defenders in the league and is always in the right place at the right time. Had he been present during the latter stages of 2023, Pompey’s points tally would’ve been slightly healthier.
What are Connor Ogilvie’s statistics like this season?
Whenever the former Tottenham man is fit, he starts; that’s how important he is. There’s an argument to suggest Jack Sparkes’ is better going forward, but players like Ogilvie are a rare commodity. Essentially, the left-back completely nullifies whoever is tasked to operate on the right flank.
Here are just a few of his defensive stats this season [FotMob].
- 87% of tackles won
- 58.6% duels won
- 60% of aerial duels won
Players like Ogilvie and Marlon Pack will be the reason why Pompey return to the Championship. Experienced heads are vital, and Mousinho has plenty to call upon.
Lee Evans was another who made his debut at Adams Park on Friday, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the former Ipswich Town man partner Pack for Tuesday’s massive clash against Derby County.