Pompey have already spent plenty of time on the road this season and that continues with a midweek clash at Burton tonight (7.45pm kick-off). Danny Cowley’s side have produced much improved displays in their past couple of games and yet only collected two points. It has been a similar story for the Blues and Brewers this term, with both winning their opening three League One contests, but not tasting victory since. And the hosts go into this evening’s fixture on the back of successive defeats to Crewe and Lincoln – the latter on home soil. Pompey in 10th position are five places higher than Albion, although it is only goal difference that separates them. They form part of a bunch of eight clubs packed together on 12 points, with success for either possibly taking them into the play-off places. The Blues have never beaten Burton at Fratton Park, but it is a different story at the Pirelli Stadium, where they have won on three of their previous four visits. One of the most memorable came towards the start of last season, where Marcus Harness netted a hat-trick against his former side in a 4-2 triumph. TEAM NEWS Skipper Clark Robertson (hip) has recently joined Jayden Reid (knee) and Liam Vincent (shin) on the long-term injury list. Michael Mancienne (hamstring) and Louis Moult (ankle) are both missing for the home side, but Charlie Lakin is available again after serving a one-match ban. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 3 wins Burton: 2 wins 4 draws At Pirelli Stadium Pompey: 3 wins Burton: 1 win 0 draws OFFICIALS Referee: Tom Nield Assistants: Kenwyn Hughes and Richard Woodward Fourth Official: Simon Mather BETTING Burton are the 31/20 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 2/1.
Half time score - 1-0 to Burton, with a goal from Tom O'Connor in the 32nd minute. Yellow card for Burton's Smith for two consecutive nasty fouls on Joe Morrell, in the 36th minute. Poor first half for us, due to the home side's high pressing game. Burton are a very aggressive side!!
Half Time Match Stats:- Home Team: Burton ...........Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 26% Away 74% Shots: Home 8 Away 4 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 1 Corners: Home 3 Away 3 Fouls: Home 10 Away 3
Could Jacobs coming on result in a turn around in our fortunes? This was the game we were due a win. If not, it will be Sunderland.on Saturday.
Interesting. We have rested a few of our normal first team starters tonight. So we should be nice and fresh for the game at your place.
Why are we so **** nowadays? Win three games in a row to start the season, then don't win for a month and counting
First and foremost it is our goalshy forwards. As the winless run continues, anxiety begins to creep in to the team;s play so it is likely they are misplacing passes, not seeing movements, and when a chance comes, snapping at it.. I think the Cowleys are good, bright young managers and I hope they can turn it around. We must not panic and call for everyone's head. We need to build confidence in the club at all levels. So fat this season we have taken a bit of a knock. I think we will see a gradual return to confidence and more productive performances from November onwards. It is not a bad squad, and personally I feel there is very little between the teams in terms of pure ability. At the moment Sunderland are the most cohesive. but this is exaclty the kind of match where Pompey could pull off a stunning win.
Final whistle. 2-1 to Burton. We pulled a goal back in the 64th minute, from a superb free kick by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (his first for the club). In the 61st minute Pompey made a triple substitution, replacing Tunnicliffe/Marquis/Freeman, with Harrison/Hackett-Fairchild/Thompson. Quite a few bookings in the second half, the most amusing of which was the sight of skipper Lee Brown helping an "injured" Burton player off the pitch by getting hold of his feet and dragging him off the pitch. That summed up Burton's play completely with their non-stop time wasting, and nasty niggly fouls and shoves on Pompey players whenever we had the ball. Six minutes were added on, of which at least half must have been for their time wasting. Every time they won a throw in, their player would be handed a black towel to dry the ball, which took at least 30 seconds each time ! 21 Burton fouls to Pompey's 5 says everything
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Burton ............Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 32% Away 68% Shots: Home 14 Away 9 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 2 Corners: Home 6 Away 5 Fouls: Home 21 Away 5
We SAFC are a different proposition this season mate, we are playing better than 2 seasons ago and after Bolton(the best team we have played in 3 years in league 1 by the way) how they are playing like that from a league 2 side is amazing 5-2 at Ipswich 4-1 at Charlton they won no surprise, you lot better be wary when they play you. This Is going to be out season even without Wyke as Stewart, O Brien etc are clicking,
I am delighted for you guys. If you get promotion, I hope the momentum propels you to the top of the Championship a la SFC .
Potentially yes, but the club have never maximised the resources available - still awaiting ground redevelopment to raise the capacity closer to 30,000 and thus increase revenue streams, so consequently more can be spent on improving the first team squad. The youth system has been reformed during the summer but that takes time to bear fruit, while it is taking time for the players to get used to the Cowleys demands.
Cowley has said that you have to expect to be caught now and then when you play out from the back and they were caught twice in this game. Will this test their resolve? I thought some of he criticism was harsh after this match ( including Cowley's own implied criticism). The first half was good to watch and could have gone either way. The really bad spell was after Burton's 2nd goal when three simultaneous substitutions were made and the team found no sustained pattern of play from that point on. Despite a great Reece Hackett freekick and Thompson again contributing some touches that demonstrated he may have some potential, the substitutions were a gamble that did not payoff and Cowley must take some responsibility for that. I must say I have enjoyed watching the games since adopting the more attacking three at the back formation. The football has been more exciting. However, in statistical terms it is questionable that the tactic has produced more goals whilst it is apparent that the they concede more. If the trend continues they must inevitably revert to four at the back. In the mean time I do not think they can continue with two out of three makeshift centre backs while while Downing sits on the bench. It is as if they are playing their eleven best and then finding positions for them rather than playing the best man for each position. I think Williams must return to mid field where he had played well before dropping back. The last two games have been a big positive with regard to Morrel's form and I am not sure that I have seen a goalkeeper better than Bazulu with regard to distribution and contributing while in possession at any level of the game.
