Portsmouth returned from Sincil Bank with a win against Lincoln City, and if the Radio Solent podcast Who Needs Mourinho? is any guide, the mood inside the Pompey camp has shifted noticeably after what host Chris Wise and co-presenter Andy Moon described as "slaying the demon." Football commentator and self-confessed Pompey supporter Ian Darke joined the pair to pick the game apart, and the consensus was broadly encouraging, though not without caveats.

A result that was needed

Portsmouth had gone into the trip to Lincoln on the back of a home defeat to QPR at Fratton Park, a result that had sharpened the scrutiny on John Mousinho's squad. Mousinho had spoken in the days beforehand about spotting patterns in games that he wanted to address, and about the importance of building a solid defensive base. By that measure, coming away from Lincoln with three points will have felt like progress, even if no single performance should be treated as a turning point in a Championship season that runs to 46 league matches.

Lincoln, for their part, are themselves adjusting to life back in the second tier after winning promotion, and Sincil Bank is a ground they are determined to make a fortress. That the atmosphere there is genuine and noisy makes Portsmouth's win the more creditable. A 3-1 reverse for the Imps earlier in the campaign showed how Lincoln can ship goals when under pressure, and Pompey appear to have identified and exploited that vulnerability.

Who impressed for Portsmouth?

According to the podcast discussion, there were individual performances worthy of note on Portsmouth's side, though the panel were measured rather than euphoric. Darke, who brings decades of top-level commentary experience to his appraisal, is not the sort to reach for superlatives without cause. The broader point the show raised was whether the players who performed against Lincoln can do so consistently over the course of a full Championship campaign, a division that punishes any side that drops its level for a run of fixtures.

Ilunga Kamara, who signed for Portsmouth during the summer and spoke publicly about his confidence in thriving at the club, will be among those whose contribution is being assessed game by game. Early evidence from a single away win is thin, but it is at least a start.

The transfer question that will not go away

Even in the wake of a positive result, the discussion on the podcast circled back to recruitment. Mousinho had said publicly that no new signings would arrive before the Lincoln fixture, and that window of inactivity at a club adjusting to Championship football after returning from the third tier is notable. The question of where further additions are needed remains open, and the podcast's panel were willing to name positions rather than deal in generalities.

Portsmouth's squad depth will be tested across a season that includes trips to well-resourced clubs as well as fixtures against sides fighting for their lives near the relegation places. A single win, however pleasing, does not resolve the structural questions around the squad. What it does do is buy a little goodwill and, perhaps, a little time.

Lincoln's position

From Lincoln's perspective, this is another data point in their Championship education. Returning to the second tier after an absence brings a steep learning curve, and absorbing a home defeat while also integrating loan arrivals such as Ethan Wheatley from Manchester United and Yunus Konak from Brentford is a process, not a quick fix. The Imps will not be judged on one result in August.

For Portsmouth, the job now is to treat a win at Lincoln as the floor rather than the ceiling. The Championship will not wait for anyone to find their feet.

Frequently asked

Did Portsmouth beat Lincoln City?
Yes, according to the Radio Solent podcast 'Who Needs Mourinho?', Portsmouth won their Championship away fixture at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank ground.
Where do Portsmouth need to strengthen their squad?
The 'Who Needs Mourinho?' podcast panel discussed positions where further signings are needed, though manager John Mousinho had confirmed no new arrivals before the Lincoln game.
How are Lincoln City performing in the Championship?
Lincoln City are in the early stages of adjusting to life back in the Championship after promotion, integrating several loan signings while working to establish Sincil Bank as a difficult venue for visiting sides.