Portsmouth at home. A club which has spent big in the summer and is, like us, looking to improve on last season’s standing in the Championship. They did the double over us last season and we played poorly in both games, so we undoubtedly owed them one, although there can never be bad feeling towards the club that came to The Valley as the opposition for that game and played their part by losing. They’ve had a mixed start to the season, two wins and three defeats, but won last time out. We just hoped before the game for, in order of priority: the points, a decent performance, a decent game of football (ie not another against teams prioritising keeping possession over scoring goals), no fresh injuries, some coming back from injury.
What we got by just about every measure a glass half full/empty. The game itself was pretty even, quite entertaining, we didn’t play badly, should have been ahead at half-time, having spurned the best chance of the game, then watched as Okonkwu pulled off the save of the game early in the second half. Another ref bottled another important decision as at the close Leaburn is bundled over from behind in the box, protests waved away. A point and a clean sheet’s no bad outcome, but consecutive home games without scoring and two points from them when we were looking for more. We have no choice other than to take it and concentrate on the positives, including being two points off the top after seven games with just one defeat (albeit a bad one) rather than four games without a win and just one goal score.
The most important issue for the team was whether or not Leaburn would be available (or risked) after his early departure on Wednesday night, and how Jones would cope if he was not. And the good news was that he did make the team, while Jones made just two changes from QPR. McNamara returned from suspension and at left-back Mesik was chosen over Bell, who took a rest on the bench. Jones and Bindon would continue as the central pairing. Coventry and Skip would start as the defensive midfield pairing while in the three further forward Carey was back among the subs with Grant given the central spot, Campbell and Alli the two wider positions. With Mbick missing out through injury, Kelman was back as a substitute, along with Brooks, Bell, Ouma, Mwamba, Rankin-Costello, Knibbs, Carey and Nkeng.
As in other recent games we started the brighter of the teams. Alli forced their keeper into a rushed clearance which dropped to TC, but he couldn’t bring it under control, Coventry and Skipp played in Campbell but his low cross was gathered by their keeper, Mesik won the ball and Grant played it on for Leaburn, whose shot from a wide angle was saved, and Leaburn tussled for the ball and got it out to Campbell, whose cross was cleared at the near post – all in the first 10 minutes. To be fair Portsmouth had one early moment, when a pass into our box found one of theirs inexplicably on his own, but he miscontrolled it and the chance was gone.
After that opening Portsmouth did enjoy a better spell. Okonkwu was forced to block a low cross from their right, a forward waiting behind. But we continued to create openings. From a short free-kick TC lifted a cross to beyond the far post. It was headed back by Bindon but nobody was on hand to get a final decisive touch. And on 30 minutes Alli played the ball on to Grant, who took a good first touch and got in a decent shot from a tight angle which their keeper saved. And the real chance came from the resulting corner as a TC cross dropped for Alli alone at the far post but he lifted his effort over the bar. That one should have been us ahead.
At the break we were winning on points but that doesn’t count for much. Seven efforts on goal, three on target, against two and one for them. We simply hadn’t scored and you felt that the first goal for either side would prove crucial.
That goal very nearly came for them as we started the second half sloppily. We failed to clear our lines and from the edge of the area their guy put in a very good shot headed for inside the far post. Okonkwu got down to his left to make an excellent one-handed save, and get up again in time to prevent a corner. After that for some time it was a case of nearly but not quite for both sides. With the hour up we were looking tired and Portsmouth were putting us under the cosh, but for some reason there were no substitutions from Jones, while Portsmouth were introducing fresh legs.
Biden slipped and lost the ball, to be bailed out by Skipp with a very timely tackle. Finally, on 74 minutes we did have a change, with Kelman replacing a spent Alli. No change of formation as Grant moved wider right. A poor McNamara ball inside was intercepted and Portsmouth broke, Okonkwu eventually making a decent save. And on 80 minutes a Portsmouth low cross from their right went just beyond their lunging forward. Just needed a touch.
After that we did finish strongly as perhaps we were chasing the game. A corner taken short to TC, who played it square for Skipp, who in turn passed left for Coventry, but his shot went over the bar. And the big moment of the final stages came on 86 minutes as Grant had a shot blocked and with the ball up in the air Leaburn was waiting, only to be bundled over from behind before it dropped. Just how Ouma could be penalised as he was against Stoke and nothing was given this time can only be explained by crap refereeing. And after three minutes of stoppage time that was indeed that.
No doubt Jones will accentuate the positives, quite rightly point to the fixture list and injuries, and poor decisions by the officials. My only quibble would be we made just one substitution despite players being exhausted. Bell was an option in defence, Mwamba, and why Carey wasn’t introduced I don’t know. We had Carey, Knibbs and Rankin-Costello unused (while Apter isn’t making the squad), while if Nkeng wasn’t ready to replace Alli what was he doing on the bench? Jones is paid to make these decisions and of course will have had his reasons. I just don’t yet know what they are.
Nevertheless, on to Cardiff and one more game before the extended break – although that can’t be the mindset for it, we will be against a team yet to record a win. Once that’s out of the way hopefully we will have more players back when it all resumes and can move up a gear.
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