The French head coach insisted the atmosphere at Pompey’s home ground will be far from easy for visiting sides. With both clubs embroiled in a tense battle near the bottom of the second-tier table, Ismaël is bracing his team for a physical test.
“It will be a fight, it will be loud, but we are ready… Our goal is to keep our momentum going and give ourselves the chance to fight for the three points.”
Blackburn currently sit just outside the relegation zone, having picked up 20 points so far this season, while Pompey are 22nd with 17 points — inside the drop places.
Ismaël stressed his players must focus on the fundamentals — duels, intensity, and winning second balls — if they are to cope with Portsmouth’s home support and hostile conditions. He also believes his squad has shown enough quality on their travels to compete effectively even in difficult environments.
Portsmouth chief executive Andy Cullen has also called on supporters to bring the famed “Pompey spirit” to Fratton Park, urging fans to galvanize the team as they look to arrest a poor run of form. The Blues have suffered recent home defeats and are desperate to turn around a difficult campaign.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth native John Mousinho, Portsmouth’s head coach, has stressed the importance of a sharp start to the game, acknowledging that early momentum could play a significant role in how the match unfolds.
Both squads are under pressure with survival in the Championship at stake, and today’s fixture is viewed as a pivotal encounter in the fight to escape the relegation places.
Kick-off is scheduled for this afternoon at Fratton Park, where both sets of fans are expected to generate an intense atmosphere befitting the high stakes.
