Portsmouth boss Mousinho on Wanderers' play-off final chances

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho reckons Wanderers are the favourites to win the play-offs – but insists anything can happen in a one-off game.

The Whites will face Oxford at Wembley after the U’s beat Peterborough 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final.

Ian Evatt’s side finished 10 points clear of Oxford in the League One table and secured a 5-0 victory when the sides met at the Toughsheet Community Stadium a couple of months ago.

Mousinho, who guided Pompey to the title, expects a “fascinating” contest at Wembley with the final promotion spot on the line.

He told Sky Sports: “If you look at the form of the two sides over the season, I think Bolton have been the better side consistently.

“But the play-offs do sometimes throw out those mad results and you never know what is going to happen, especially in a one-off.

“You have probably seen over the two legs where Peterborough had the better chances and were probably the more dominant side over two legs, but came away not winning it.

“You never know what is going to happen, but I think Bolton are favourites going in. It is going to be a really fascinating game, but I certainly think Bolton will fancy themselves.”

Oxford boss Des Buckingham took charge at the Kassam Stadium in November after Liam Manning’s departure to join Bristol City.

Mousinho added: “When we talk about Des’ time so far and his first season over in England, it has not been straightforward. He was under a lot of pressure two or three months ago.

“I think there were quite a few Oxford fans as well, who were probably questioning the appointment. I know that myself, so for Des to come through that is fantastic credit to him.

“He managed to block all that out, ignore the noise and get on with what has been a fantastic job towards the back end of the season.

“The form going into this game and his form over the past seven or eight games has been fully deserving to be in the play-off final.”