Kranjcar pounces to save Pompey blushes
FA Cup Fourth Round Portsmouth 2 (Diarra 35, Kranjcar 45) Plymouth Argyle 1 (Clark 5)
by Stuart Barnes at Fratton Park The Observer, Sunday January 27 2008
Portsmouth prevailed but Plymouth played a huge part in a rattling good tie and can count themselves unlucky। It was a measure of their performance that against a less secure goalkeeper than David James, the Championship side would have been looking forward to at least a second chance. What made their contribution even more impressive was the manner in which it was conceived. There was no question of trying to frustrate with massed defence and sneak success on the break. They took the initiative from the start, could have established a clear lead in the first 20 minutes and responded to what could have been a killer goal conceded on the stroke of half time with more fluent, attacking play which merited something tangible.
Certainly Portsmouth were never able to establish any genuine grip on the game। They were handicapped by a groin injury that ruled out David Nugent for the second half, but Harry Redknapp recognised fully how far they had been stretched.
'It was every bit as tough as we expected,' said Redknapp। 'If David James had not been in such fine form, we could have been in real trouble. Losing Nugent meant we were short of forward running in midfield and that invited pressure. We were hanging on a bit.'
'It's not often you get a standing ovation after losing, or when the Premier League team's goalkeeper has to make so many fine saves,' said Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock। 'He won the day for them. We were solid at the back, kept our shape and it was a couple of zany moments that cost us. The team could have caved in after the second goal. Heads were down at half time and we had to convince them they were still in the game.
'They showed great mettle and did all the things asked of them। If we continue to play like this we can cause a lot of mayhem in the League. It's disappointing, but there are plenty of positives to take away with us.'
Portsmouth quickly knew the size of the task facing them। Sylvain Distin and David Norris contested possession just outside the penalty area and, when the ball came loose, Chris Clark marked his debut after moving from Aberdeen with a shot that took a big deflection off Hermann Hreidarsson and flew beyond the reach of James.
Three thousand travelling fans greeted the goal and they nearly celebrated again when Rory Fallon angled a low shot towards the far corner। This time the goalkeeper made an excellent one-handed save. When James was forced to head clear beyond his penalty area as Jermaine Easter closed in, Plymouth were threatening to go clear.
Instead, Pedro Mendes collected a short corner to set up Lassana Diarra, who struck his first goal for the club from 25 yards with a deflection off Mathias Doumbé। Then, in quick succession, Plymouth's hopes dived. Easter hit the outside of the post, while Niko Kranjcar was on the mark from close range after Paul Connolly failed to deal with Glen Johnson's centre.
Nugent's injury offered them renewed hope and James made saves from Norris, Peter Halmosi and Easter, the latter at full stretch। Diarra drifted past three men in an attempt to restore Portsmouth's edge, but the angle defeated him and Luke McCormick saved. Another delivery from the impressive Halmosi prompted appeals for hands against Distin and replays suggested the ball may have struck the defender on the elbow.
'Some you get, some you don't - I'm not going to cry over it,' said Sturrock, who felt that a tug of the shirt on substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz may have been more deserving of a spot-kick.
Mendes had the chance to ease the pressure on Portsmouth, but shot weakly at McCormick from a dozen yards, ensuring a nervous finish for his side who had their backs to the wall at the end।
Redknapp enthused about the qualities Diarra has introduced - 'He has everything in his locker to be a top-class player' - and prepares to welcome Milan Baros to a squad hard-hit by the demands of the African Cup of Nations।
A good Cup run? 'It would be nice - it's been a long time since anyone outside the big four has won it। Baros will sign on Monday, Diarra will make a real impact and things are looking good. We would be in a position to have a strong end to the season.'
Man of the मैच: Peter Halmosi Lassana Diarra looked another sound signing by Harry Redknapp, but the Hungarian's contribution for Plymouth showed why he is so coveted. His positioning and use of the ball were spot-on and he almost grabbed an equaliser in the last minute.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jan/28/match.portsmouthPompey dream of Wembley as Redknapp adds Baros to squad
FA Cup Fourth Round, Portsmouth 2 (Diarra 35, Kranjcar 45) Plymouth Argyle 1 (Clark 5)
Portsmouth completed the loan signing of Milan Baros from the French champions, Lyon, last night and, while the Czech has been absent from the Premier League for only a year, he will quickly discover that Pompey have pedigree these days। This was a club punching above its weight 12 months ago. Now encouraging league form has been allied to a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
As top-flight clubs continue to fall by the wayside, there is belief on the south coast that this could be Harry Redknapp's year। Awkward opponents were edged out on Saturday, David James excelling in the home goal to keep Plymouth at bay, but a side shorn of key personnel has squeezed into the next phase. "We can win it, especially when the Champions League kicks off again," said the midfielder Nico Kranjcar. "I don't see the top four playing their full squad in this competition when they've got a big European game in the week. With the squad we have, we can get to Wembley."
This club has not managed that since winning the Cup in 1939 and, while Redknapp was more guarded in his optimism - "The big four are still there, that's the problem" - this side will boast rare quality once those personnel currently absent at the African Cup of Nations come back next month। They will return to find their ranks bolstered by Baros, whom Portsmouth have an option to buy, and, just as significantly, a £5.5m midfielder relishing an opportunity to play. Lassana Diarra is 22 but has already been good enough to sign for both Chelsea and Arsenal. Those clubs' loss is already proving Portsmouth's gain.
The France international was outstanding, slamming in an equaliser just after the half-hour mark which flicked off Mathias Kouo-Doumbé and in beyond Luke McCormick। He was also instrumental in the hosts' winning goal, surging upfield on the break before spreading the play, Kranjcar prodding in from close range after Plymouth had abandoned their shape.
"Chelsea and Arsenal don't go for players who lack quality," said the Croatian of Diarra। "We're lucky to have him." "He is brilliant, a young Claude Makelele with pace," offered Glen Johnson, who suffered similar frustration on the fringes at Chelsea before finding his niche on the south coast. The Frenchman will have opportunities in the week to come, with league games against Manchester United and Chelsea, to prove a point.
Plymouth crave to belong among such exulted company। They were excellent here, their performance perhaps not entirely reflective of recent inconsistent league form, and led early through their debutant Chris Clark. James expressed a desire to play for Argyle - with Devon his adopted county - in the matchday programme, but he denied them a second with fine saves from David Norris, Peter Halmosi and Jermaine Easter.
"I'm pleased to hear he wants to play for us, but he could have let one in and it might have happened a lot sooner," said Plymouth's manager, Paul Sturrock।
Quite how the officials failed to spot Sylvain Distin's handball was a mystery though Argyle can now concentrate efforts on reviving their promotion campaign with the promise of more wheeling and dealing in the week ahead।
Redknapp may do likewise, though his squad already looks impressive. "We have two players who have won the Champions League [in Nwankwo Kanu and Pedro Mendes], so the club has come a long way," added Kranjcar. Baros' arrival will make it three, with talks also under way to offer Benjani Mwaruwari a new deal. Avoid one of the sides which have monopolised this competition in today's draw, and Pompey may just believe this season could be laced with silverware.
Man of the match David James (Portsmouth)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3257192.eceJanuary 27, 2008
David James saves Pompey as Plymouth rise to the occasion
Portsmouth 2 Plymouth 1 by Andrew Longmore at Fratton Park
MOST of the south coast had decamped to Anfield with Havant & Waterlooville and the spirit of the Cup seemed to have travelled north as well। To their credit, Plymouth brought a vociferous contingent of fans and out-sang the home crowd as soundly as their team outplayed the Premier League side। How Plymouth lost, after taking an early lead through Chris Clark and dominating large swathes of the match, was a mystery।But for David James, who made a series of fine saves including three in as many minutes just after half-time, it would be the Championship side representing the dockyard cities in the fifth round of the FA Cup. “If the Premier League side’s goal-keeper is the man of the match, that tells the story of our performance,” said Paul Sturrock, the Plymouth manager. “It’s not often you get a standing ovation from your fans when you lose.”To compound Plymouth’s sense of injustice, referee Andre Marriner turned down clear claims for a penalty in the closing minutes after Sylvain Distin appeared to handle the ball. Sturrock also thought Lukas Jutkiewicz was tugged down in the box as Plymouth pressed forward to try to gain some reward for their industry.Plymouth’s preparations had included a visit to HMS Albion in Devonport and they came to Fratton Park looking refreshed by a new shipment of players. But not even Sturrock could have envisaged the impact made by one of them, Chris Clark, a £200,000 buy from Aberdeen, who marked his debut with a goal inside four minutes.Aberdeen to Plymouth must be one of the longer journeys in the domestic transfer market, but Clark had barely introduced himself to his teammates before he was being feted as a potential hero. His powerful right foot shot took a deflection off Her-mann Hreidarsson before hitting the underside of the bar, but he must have blinked at the time and space he was allowed.Moments later, Plymouth could have gone futher ahead as Rory Fallon turned Noe Pamarot and forced James to tip away his low shot. From the corner, Jermaine Easter’s volley brought another excellent save from the Portsmouth goal-keeper. The drum-and-bass brigade at the Milton End were stunned into silence by the side ranked 23 places below them in the league ladder. At least, having allowed neighbours, Havant & Waterlooville, to borrow their data on Liverpool, they could claim an assist in the nonleague side’s heroics at Anfield.Slowly, the Premier League side began to find their rhythm, with Benjani Mwaruwari the main threat and Glen Johnson pressing forward down the right, but their passing was still laboured, their workrate dismal. Of David Nugent, little was seen, and of Nico Kranjcar, Portsmouth’s player of December, even less. In contrast, the experienced Fallon was a constant concern for a Portsmouth defence that was missing the solidifying presence of their captain, Sol Campbell.When Portsmouth did draw level, in the 34th minute, it was rather less than the home team deserved. There was a touch of good fortune about the goal as recent signing Lassana Diarra’s 25-yard strike took at least one deflection off a Plymouth defender before flying low past Luke McCormick’s left hand and into the bottom corner of the net. If Nugent, who was withdrawn at half-time with a groin injury, is proof of Harry Redknapp’s fallibility in the transfer market, Diarra, brought from Arsenal. looks like another stolen gem.Plymouth still looked the more purposeful and Fallon volleyed at James from the edge of the penalty area, just to remind the home side that the tie was far from over. It seemed that way when Kranjcar took advantage of a momentary lapse in the Plymouth defence to poke home what proved to be the winner on the stroke of half-time.Plymouth stuck to their guns in the second half, James saving from Clark, Peter Halmosi and Easter in quick succession. Only then did Portsmouth begin to add some urgency to their passing game and pen Plymouth back into their own half. Pedro Mendes curled a shot weakly at McCormick and Kranjcar’s long-range effort looped over the bar after a deflection. Yet, by the end, it was Plymouth who looked most likely to score. “We were hanging on for long periods,” admitted Redknapp later. “If Jamo hadn’t been in such good form, we could have found ourselves in real trouble.”Star man: David James (Portsmouth)
Player ratings: Portsmouth: James 8, Johnson 4, Pamarot 4, Distin 6, Hreidarsson 5, Lau-ren 4 (Davis 66min), Mendes 5 (Hughes 90min), Diarra 7, Kranjcar 6, Nugent 3 (Mvuemba ht, 6), Benjani 6
Plymouth: McCormick 6, Connolly 5, Doumbe 6, Timar 6, Sawyer 7, Clark 7 (Folly 81min), Nalis 6, Norris 7, Halmosi 7, Easter 8 (Jutkiewicz 75min), Fallon 7
Yellow cards: Portsmouth: Pamarot Plymouth: Halmosi, Doumbe
Scorers: Plymouth: Clark 5
Portsmouth: Diarra 34, Kranjcar 45
Referee: A Marriner
Attendance: 19,612
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/01/27/sfgpor127.xml
Portsmouth survive stern test from Plymouth By Duncan White
Portsmouth (2) 2 Plymouth Argyle (1) 1
Navigating their way past Plymouth proved a far more perilous proposition than Portsmouth had anticipated and while they did eventually land on the shore of the FA Cup fifth round, they were taking water and would have foundered if David James' manful efforts had not bailed them out. "It was every bit as tough as I'd anticipated," said Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp. "They went one up and it could have been two up. If James hadn't been in such good form we could have found ourselves in real trouble. He was outstanding today and we needed him to be at times."
On target: Chris Clark puts Plymouth ahead after five minutes at Fratton Park
Portsmouth were not the robust unit that has intimidated opponents this season। Deprived of some of their African players on international duty and missing the influential Sol Campbell because of a back injury, there was a fragility to Portsmouth that became evident as early as the fifth minute, when Plymouth took the lead.
Sylvain Distin rushed out to block the advance of David Norris on the edge of the box and the ball squirmed out to the right and straight to Chris Clark। The Plymouth midfielder, just signed from Aberdeen for £200,000, had plenty of room and despite being only minutes into his debut, took his time. His eventual shot deflected off Hermann Hreidarsson and into the net.
It was positive stuff from Plymouth and they continued to attack where other teams might have fallen back। That left them vulnerable, though, and Portsmouth took advantage of some fairly inept defending to score twice before the break.
Plymouth failed to react to the home side's short corner, allowing Pedro Mendes to stroll towards the box and tee-up the outstanding Lassana Diarra। The French midfielder unleashed a powerful shot that, with the aid of a deflection, levelled the score. "Inspired," was Redknapp's verdict on the former Arsenal player who chose Portsmouth ahead of Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle. When Glen Johnson - as clever going forward as he was inept at the back - chipped a cross in from the right, Niko Kranjcar should have nodded in a straightforward header, but he mistimed it, surprising Paul Connolly behind him. The ball bounced off the Plymouth defender and back to Kranjcar to convert.
Plymouth remained defiant and thrice tested James early in the second half but the goalkeeper was equal to it all।
When James was finally beaten, he was rescued by the post; Johnson had been caught by Jermaine Easter while trying to shepherd the ball out and the striker's poked shot from a tight angle came back off the near post।
Even the referee seemed to be against them, with Distin's late handball in the box going unpunished।
"I was very pleased," said Paul Sturrock, the Plymouth manager.
"It's not often you get a standing ovation from your own fans when you lose। The players were fantastic from start to finish. Only their superior finishing and some superb goalkeeping won the day for Portsmouth."
If they are to progress deep into this competition then Portsmouth will have to improve। With David Nugent succumbing to a groin injury at half-time and likely to be out for several weeks, Redknapp will need to press Milan Baros straight into service when he arrives from Lyon tomorrow.
Man of the match Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth)Passed crisply, dribbled well, scored one – not bad for a holding midfielder
Match details
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson, Lauren (Davis 67), Pedro Mendes (Hughes 90), Diarra, Kranjcar, Nugent (Mvuemba 46), Mwaruwari. Subs: Begovic, Aubey Booked: Pamarot. Goals: Diarra 34, Kranjcar 45.Plymouth Argyle: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Doumbe, Sawyer, Clark (Folly 82), Nalis, Norris, Halmosi, Fallon, Easter (Jutkiewicz 75). Subs: Larrieu, Hodges, Summerfield. Booked: Halmosi, Doumbe. Goals: Clark 5. Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/01/28/sfnpor128.xml
Lassana Diarra tilts battle Redknapp's way By Stewart Jackson
Portsmouth (2) 2 Plymouth Argyle (1) 1
For all the talk of this being a battle of the Navy dockyards, it was a Cup tussle won in the midfield trenches by the newest recruit to Portsmouth's foreign legion, Lassana Diarra.
At today's prices, the 22-year-old France international looks a snip at £5.5 million from Arsenal. Supposedly lining up in the midfield holding role, he was everywhere - tackling, closing down, counter-attacking, dribbling, playing 40-yard passes and, of course, scoring. Has Arsene Wenger made a rare mistake in letting him slip?
Glen Johnson, who was Diarra's team-mate at Chelsea, said: "He is brilliant. It is a shame that he didn't get given a chance at Chelsea. He is like a young Claude Makelele with pace. He doesn't look that strong but he is probably one of the strongest players we have."
Indeed, earlier in his career Diarra was rejected by Nantes for being too lightweight, and his 5ft 10in frame looks far from imposing। But then Makelele is no giant, either, and he had made a significant mark on European football.
Although the opposition on Saturday came in the form of a mid-table Championship side, they were no pushovers। And against a midfield comprising Lilian Nalis and David Norris, that could politely be described as "solid", it was Diarra who threw his weight around. "Diarra will make a massive difference to this team," said Portsmouth manager Harry Redeknapp. "He can do everything. People liken him to Makelele because he uses his body so well to hold people off, but he's got much more in his locker."
The midfielder had rubbed a few people up the wrong way on his arrival by describing his move to Fratton Park as a "stepping stone" to बिग्गेर things .
Now they have seen him, one suspects, the fans will be happy to sit back and enjoy him while he is around। And if a trip to Wembley comes with it, all the better.
Redknapp, who revealed he had tied up a loan deal for Lyon striker Milan Baros until the end of the season, said: "I've never got anywhere near in the FA Cup - the quarter-finals, I think, a few years ago. We have got a chance, but the Big Four are still there. It does get a bit monotonous when one of them wins it every year."
Portsmouth are in the hat for today's fifth-round draw, but they had to work for it - particularly goalkeeper David James, who made a string of crucial second-half saves.
Plymouth took a fifth-minute lead when Chris Clark, on his debut after a £200,000 move from Aberdeen, saw his shot deflect past James. Diarra fired home from 25 yards when Plymouth went to sleep at a corner, and Niko Kranjcar gave the scoreline a more predictable look when he finished Johnson's cross at the second attempt.
Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock said: "It was just the finishing and their goalkeeper that made the difference in the end." And the small matter of Diarra.
Match details
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson, Lauren (Davis 67), Pedro Mendes (Hughes 90), Diarra, Kranjcar, Nugent (Mvuemba 46), Mwaruwari. Subs: Begovic, Aubey Booked: Pamarot. Goals: Diarra 34, Kranjcar 45.Plymouth Argyle: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Doumbe, Sawyer, Clark (Folly 82), Nalis, Norris, Halmosi, Fallon, Easter (Jutkiewicz 75). Subs: Larrieu, Hodges, Summerfield. Booked: Halmosi, Doumbe. Goals: Clark 5. Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Man of the match
Lassana Diarra (Portsmouth)
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/portsmouth-2-plymouth-argyle-1-james-keeps-pompeys-hopes-afloat-774911.html
Portsmouth 2 Plymouth Argyle 1: James keeps Pompey's hopes afloat By Evan Fanning, Monday, 28 January 2008
The Dockyard Derby may not rank among the world's great footballing rivalries. In fact, with 10 different nationalities on display among the two starting line-ups, it is fair to assume that most of the players on show would not even have been aware that this is the title given to the game they were taking part in.
As a resident of Devon, the Portsmouth goalkeeper David James will have been in the minority in appreciating the geographical significance of this Cup tie and, had the England international not been at his best, then Plymouth would have been joining another club from the region, Havant & Waterlooville, in making the fourth- round headlines.
James made a string of saves in the second half as Portsmouth hung on to a lead they scarcely deserved, but Portsmouth remain many people's dark horses to win the Cup outright.
"We've got a chance," said the Portsmouth manager, Harry Redknapp, after Saturday's win. "But the big four are still there, that's the problem. You wouldn't bet against them, but I think when everyone's back from the African Nations we'll be strong and capable of giving anyone a game."
Portsmouth will get even stronger today when the Lyons striker Milan Baros arrives at Fratton Park for a medical before signing a loan deal until the end of the season, but it is Redknapp's other transfer window purchase, the £5m signing of Lassana Diarra from Arsenal, which offers the most evidence that Portsmouth are able to take on more illustrious rivals.
The French international scored Portsmouth's equaliser and was easily their most accomplished outfield performer. His goal got Portsmouth back in the game after they had fallen behind to Chris Clark's fifth-minute deflected strike. Diarra's equaliser came in the 34th minute when his low 25-yard shot took a deflection passing Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick.
"Diarra is brilliant," said Portsmouth's Glen Johnson. "I know him from when we were together at Chelsea. It's a shame that he really didn't get given a chance there. He's like a young Claude Makelele with pace. We are happy to have him here."
Portsmouth got their winner on the stroke of half-time after Plymouth failed to clear a Johnson cross. The ball fell to Niko Kranjcar, who slotted the ball past McCormick.
The second half was about survival for Portsmouth, with James keeping Plymouth at bay time and time again. The visitors 6,000 travelling fans gave their defeated side a standing ovation on the final whistle, before departing back down the coast to Devon. James was the only one making that journey who could be entirely satisfied.
Goals: Clark (5) 0-1; Diarra (34) 1-1; Kranjcar (45) 2-1.
Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson; Lauren (Davis, 67), Diarra, Mendes (Hughes, 90), Kranjcar; Nugent (Mvuemba, 46), Mwaruwari. Substitutes not used: Begovic (gk), Aubey.
Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): McCormick; Connolly, Timar, Doumbe, Sawyer; Clark (Folly, 82), Nalis, Norris, Halmosi; Fallon, Easter (Jutkiewicz, 75). Substitutes not used: Larrieu (gk), Hodges, Summerfield.
Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).
Booked: Portsmouth Pamarot; Plymouth Halmosi, Doumbe.
Man of the match: James.
Attendance: 19,612.
