It's the calm before the storm for Pompey - a two-week break before a hectic end to 2023 that will tell us much about whether they have what it takes to stay at the forefront of the race for League One promotion.

And John Mousinho was not too disappointed to be going into the fortnight away from match action on the back of a draw with Charlton, even if he was frustrated at the anner in which the Addicks claimed a point.

After the international break, Pompey play eight league games between November 25 and December 29 - after which Mousinho's side will have played 24 games, just over half the 46 on the calendar.

Following the 2-2 Fratton draw with Charlton, the boss told the media: 'We’ve got a couple of days off and it’s a well deserved break for the boys, but those who need a bit more fitness will be in.

'There’s a very hectic schedule after the Blackpool match right up until the new year and we have to be prepared.'

It would have been ideal to go into the break on the back of a win, but the Charlton draw keeps them a point ahead of Oxford at the top.

Mousinhold told the club website: 'The draw isn’t necessarily disappointing, but the manner of it is – we deserved to win the game and should have done. The nature of the second goal is really going to hurt us, although overall the performance was very positive.

'We hit the bar twice in quick succession and their keeper had probably the best game I’ve ever seen him play. Our finishing has to be a bit better, but he made save after save after save – some of them were excellent.

'If we create chances like we did in this game, then we’re going to score a lot of goals more often than not. Joe Morrell and Alex Robertson were excellent in the middle of the park and there were no eyebrows raised when the latter was named man-of-the-match.

'We were very positive, got the ball in the box early and there was a lot of attacking intent from us throughout. On another day Charlton’s second goal wouldn’t really matter because we would have a comfortable lead.'

Photo: Action Images

Miaksoa added 06:36 - Jan 8 Even though we played pretty well overall, the second goal's characteristics will severely hinder https://spacebar-clicker.net/
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