Honest Ipswich Town reaction given to situation involving Conor Chaplin at Portsmouth - "It's hard to tell" | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich fan pundit has given his verdict on Conor Chaplin's difficult Portsmouth form

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Conor Chaplin has come under some criticism since making the loan switch from Ipswich Town to Portsmouth in the summer.

Expectations were high at Fratton Park for what the 28-year-old could bring to John Mousinho’s side, with supporters especially excited to have one of their own back in the side.

However, some fans have been left frustrated by his standard of performance, with the forward yet to score for the club since returning after his 2019 exit.

In Chaplin's previous stint in the Championship, in which he helped Ipswich gain promotion to the Premier League in 2024, he registered 13 goals and eight assists from 44 appearances, and he also managed 22 league goals in five years in the first team squad at Fratton Park prior to his move to Coventry City.

On that basis, he has certainly underwhelmed in front of goal as Portsmouth struggle for consistent results in their second year back at this level.

Conor Chaplin deserves patience at Portsmouth

When asked about Chaplin’s struggles at Fratton Park, FLW’s Ipswich fan pundit Adam Wilkin claimed that the club still made the right move to loan him out in the summer, given he was third choice and coming off the back of a bad injury.

He believes there are two main factors that could explain his poor form at Portsmouth, and that someone of his style is actually being missed at Portman Road despite his lack of goals or assists.

“The Chaplin one at the time, although it was a painful one, it did feel like the best move for both parties at the time given that he was third choice in that 10 role, and he was coming back from injury,” Adam said.

“I do still think we’ve missed his attributes in that role, and he could’ve played himself back to fitness here, especially now when you consider that [Chuba] Akpom and [Sammie] Szmodics have both had fitness issues of their own.

“I’ve not watched him too much at Portsmouth, but from what I’ve seen is that he seemed to be playing out on the right-wing.

“So I don’t know if it’s a case of Mousinho not using him in the correct role, or if he’s still getting up to speed there.

“So it’s hard to tell.

“I think him having not scored or assisted makes it easier to say it was the right call, and I think it was the right call at the time anyway, just to get his fitness back up and get him playing regular football.

“But, I don’t know, I still think he can do a job at Portman Road.”

Portsmouth fans were quite excited by the signing of Chaplin late in the summer window given his record in front of goal at Ipswich, and his connection to the club as an academy graduate.

However, his lack of goals has contributed to the team sitting 18th in the Championship table after their opening 12 games of the campaign.

Pompey have earned 13 points, and are already six adrift of the play-off places, while sitting just four clear of the relegation zone.

Next up for Mousinho’s side is a trip to face Birmingham City on 1 November in a 3pm kick-off.

Portsmouth need to see something more from Conor Chaplin

No goals or assists from seven appearances is quite underwhelming, and it’s no surprise that supporters are starting to get on his back.

Given the reputation he brought with him to Fratton Park, he really does need to start providing some threat in the final third soon, as he should now be up to speed after seven games in the side.

Goals have been a big problem for Mousinho’s team, who have scored just 10 times from 12 fixtures, which isn’t enough to be contending further up the table.

If Chaplin can’t start finding the back of the net, then he could find himself back on the bench very soon.