Saturday 3 May 2008

Broadsheet views: FA Cup Third Round, 5th January 2008: Ipswich Town versus Pompey

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jan/06/match.portsmouth
Nugent profits after Trotter's harsh dismissal
FA Cup Third Round Ipswich Town 0 Portsmouth 1
Nugent 51
By Stuart Barnes at Portman Road The Observer, Sunday January 6 2008
For Portsmouth, a place in the fourth round and a continuation of their formidable form away from Fratton Park. For Ipswich, an end to an unbeaten home record stretching back to March. For the neutral, a tie that offered the promise of an intriguing afternoon but rarely delivered in a largely mundane match.

A goal by substitute David Nugent put his side in the driving seat. Had a second effort from him been inches lower, they would probably have won with plenty to spare. Instead, 10-man Ipswich plugged away, piled on the pressure at the end and can consider themselves unfortunate that David James in the Portsmouth goal was on top of his game during that spell.

The main talking point, however, was Mark Halsey's dismissal of 19-year-old midfielder Liam Trotter midway through the first half for what the referee deemed an unacceptable challenge on Pedro Mendes. From high up in the stand, it looked the correct decision, particularly in the light of the recent clampdown on two-footed tackles. However, Jim Magilton and Harry Redknapp voiced a different view, with the Ipswich manager scathing in his criticism.

Magilton, who claimed that Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan had influenced the fourth official in favour of red when Halsey was favouring yellow, said: 'The lad is inconsolable. He feels he has let everyone down. But he has done nothing to be ashamed of.

'It was a very dubious sending off. We can thank Joe for that,' Magilton added. 'Liam was a little bit late and such an experienced referee should have dealt with it with a yellow card.
'To be fair it probably took the edge off Portsmouth. Maybe one or two switched off, thinking it would be an easy day. But I'm still proud of my team. Their keeper made three world-class saves.'

Redknapp said: 'I was surprised when the red came out. It looked a bit harsh. The challenge was a little late and probably worth a yellow.

'I would be lying if I said Nugent had done enough with us,' he admitted. 'But he will get some games in the next few weeks and hopefully this will have done his confidence good.'
When Trotter dived in on Mendes, there looked to be little chance of Ipswich causing an upset. Portsmouth, despite looking happy enough to work through the low gears, did enough to control proceedings.

Nugent, who will get his chance because of several Pompey players leaving for the African Nations Cup, replaced Mendes and, after Danny Haynes demanded a save low down from James, made his mark when Sol Campbell pumped the ball down the middle. Nugent got goal-side of Alex Bruce and went on to beat Ipswich goalkeeper Neil Alexander with a tidy finish.
Later Nugent, meeting John Utaka's cross, fired against the bar. Then he played the ball into the path of Nwankwo Kanu, who from just outside the penalty area blazed over when he should have done much better.

Pape Bouba Diop was at least on target with a firm header, but Alexander saved comfortably. Another chance went begging when Utaka failed to convert a deflected cross from Hermann Hreidarsson at the far post. After that it was all Ipswich. Pablo Counago failed to control the ball in a goalmouth scramble and the chance was lost. Substitute Alan Lee's header was saved at full stretch by James, who then denied Haynes with an excellent one-handed stop.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jan/07/match.portsmouth
Nugent seizes chance to repay Redknapp faith
FA Cup Third Round Ipswich Town 0 Portsmouth 1
Nugent 51

By Mark Tallentire at Portman Road, The Guardian, Monday January 7 2008

It's January and Harry Redknapp should be in his element, but after a week of getting nowhere in the transfer market and with four first-teamers heading to Ghana for the African Cup of Nations, Portsmouth's manager is at least grateful that one of the duds from his last spending spree has finally begun to pay his way.

David Nugent arrived from Preston for £6m last summer with a one-goal-in-three record but failed to impress in his two league starts and could have been on his way to Derby within weeks. He stayed and, needs must, was sent on as a second-half replacement for Pedro Mendes - more of him later - and scored the goal which ended Ipswich's undefeated home run at 17 games. With Nwankwo Kanu one of the Ghana quartet, and Benjani absent nursing a tight hamstring, Nugent will be hoping for a run.

"David's become more professional in his training and outlook since he's been here," Redknapp said. "He's been around better players and realises what's needed at this level. When I took him I checked with the under-21s and they said he's not the best trainer in the world. But he's worked on his game and in the last month or so he's improved. Nobody wants him to do well any more than I do. It's up to him."

"I have got 14 outfield players left, there's not a spare body anywhere," he added, although the club have accepted £3m bids from Bolton and Sunderland for Matt Taylor, which should give him a bit more room to manoeuvre. "I need 14 every week. I've tried to loan one or two from clubs like Tottenham who have got too many players, but they don't want to loan you anyone. They see us as competition now, who might be pushing for Uefa Cup places the same as them."
Portsmouth got a bit of help here from the referee Mark Halsey, who dismissed Liam Trotter after 25 minutes for a slightly late tackle on Mendes, who leapt in the air and rolled around holding his face as if he had been hit by one of Ben Thatcher's elbows. Both managers felt it merited a yellow, if anything. "The referee was very pally with the Premiership players in the tunnel before the game," said Ipswich's Alex Bruce. "He didn't know too many of our lads, and you could tell by his decision." Three great saves from David James spared Pompey a replay, the best of them when he turned a low shot from Danny Haynes wide in injury time.
Man of the match: David James (Portsmouth)



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3142323.ece
From The Times
January 7, 2008
Forgotten man David Nugent pops up for Pompey
Ipswich 0 Portsmouth 1 by Tom Dart at Portman Road
Last year was odd for David Nugent: England scorer in March, Portsmouth reserve since August. He has made only four starts since joining from Preston North End for £6 million last summer – a victim of Benjani Mwaruwari’s form and his own failings.

“When I took him I checked him out with the people at [England] under-21s and they said he’s not the best trainer in the world,” Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, said. “He’s become more professional in his outlook. He’s working hard.”

Nugent came on at half-time on Saturday and scored the only goal. He looked effective, albeit against a ten-man Coca-Cola Championship team, and will be given more chances this month because Portsmouth will lose four players to the African Cup of Nations. “I have only got 14 outfield players fit and there is not a spare body anywhere,” Redknapp said. The transfer market? “I cannot say I have got anybody lined up.”

The most decisive departure on Saturday was that of Liam Trotter, the Ipswich Town midfield player, who mistimed a tackle on Pedro Mendes in the first half. Although not two-footed, he was sent off by Mark Halsey, the referee, and Ipswich slumped to their first defeat at Portman Road since March.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): N Alexander 6 – L Castro Sito 6 (sub: R Naylor, 90min), A Bruce 6, F Wilnis 6, D Wright 5 – D Haynes 7, G Williams 6 (sub: A Lee, 79), O Garvan 6, L Trotter 6 – P Couñago 6, B Clarke 6 (sub: J Peters, 59 7).Substitutes not used:S Supple, T Miller.Booked:Lee, Couñago. Sent off: Trotter.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): D James 8 – G Johnson 7, S Campbell 7, S Distin 4, H Hreidarsson 6 – P Mendes 5 (sub: D Nugent, 46 7) – J Utaka 3, A Mvuemba 5, P Bouba Diop 6, N Kranjcar 5 – N Kanu 3. Substitutes not used: Lauren, D Traoré, N Pamarot, A Begovic. Booked: Hreidarsson.
Referee M Halsey Attendance 23,446



By Jon Culley Monday, 7 January 2008
Harry Redknapp will challenge David Nugent to prove he was right after all to pay 6m for the former Preston striker last summer after his shot took Portsmouth into the fourth round at the expense of their Championship opponents Ipswich.

The 22-year-old started on the bench and his 51st-minute goal was only his third since his move. Once regarded as the best striker outside the top flight, Nugent has made only four Premier League appearances and Portsmouth manager Redknapp admits he has been disappointed.

"I'd be lying if I said I was happy with him because if I was he would be in the team," Redknapp said. "But with four lads going to the African Nations Cup and another couple with long-term injuries I'm down to 14 players so there is a chance for him now and it is up to him to take it."
Redknapp conceded he had taken a risk in signing the former England under-21 player. "I was warned that he was not the best of trainers," he added. "But being around better players he has realised what it takes at this level and he has worked hard and improved his training in the last month or so. It has been hard for him because we play one up front and Benjani has been fantastic but no one wants him to succeed more than me."

Ipswich's chances diminished when 19-year-old Liam Trotter was sent off after 24 minutes, the teenager falling victim to the clamp-down on so-called "jump tackles" after a challenge on Pedro Mendes. The referee, Mark Halsey, in radio contact with his fourth official, appeared to change his mind about which card to show, infuriating manager Jim Magilton. "The tackle was a bit late but he is a young lad and from an experienced referee I would have expected a yellow," Magilton said. Redknapp agreed the decision was "a bit harsh".

But the home side rallied and it took two brilliant saves from David James to deny Alan Lee and Danny Haynes in a rousing finish.
Goal: Nugent (51) 0-1.
Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Alexander; Sito(Naylor, 89), Bruce, Wilnis, Wright; Haynes, Williams (Lee, 79), Garvan, Trotter; Counago, Clarke (Peters, 59). Substitutes not used: Supple (gk), Miller.
Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson; Mendes (Nugent, h-t); Utaka, Mvuemba, Diop, Kranjcar; Kanu. Substitutes not used: Lauren, Traor, Pamarot, Begovic (gk).
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Booked: Ipswich Counago, Lee; Portsmouth Hreidarsson.
Sent-off: Ipswich Trotter (24).
Man of the match: James.
Attendance: 23,446.
Call from Capello?
David James (Portsmouth)
Portsmouth's 37-year-old goalkeeper proved that he is still capable of adding to his 35 caps after producing two brilliant, match-winning saves.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/01/07/sfnips107.xml
Harry Redknapp: Red card harsh on Ipswich By David Miller
Ipswich (0) 0 Portsmouth (0) 1
Not so much the tractor boys, more a platoon of crusading 4 x 4s. Jim Magilton's team, harshly reduced to 10 men after 24 minutes, vigorously demonstrated their promotion credentials.
History books will not record the sterling but so narrowly defied performance that almost floored Premier League Portsmouth.

Harry Redknapp, the visitors' manager, his team surviving thanks to David James' display in goal, could not have been more complimentary. "They played some terrific football," he said. "Liam Trotter's sending-off looked a bit harsh, more like a yellow card, and in the last seven or eight minutes they put us under real pressure."

And some. Ipswich answered disadvantage with relentless energy, a refusal to lie down against supposed superiors, who came with their regular away formation, 4-1-4-1, designed to shut out the Championship side.

Then came the turning point. Referee Mark Halsey, under advice from his assistant, switched yellow, following long delay, to red, to the astonishment of young midfielder Trotter and the dismay of the crowd.

Courageously, Ipswich persisted in attack, though inevitably more vulnerable to Portsmouth's counter-attack, pivoted around lone striker Kanu. Pedro Mendes, the victim of Trotter's rash but less than vicious tackle, nonetheless ran around seemingly unimpeded until substituted at half-time.

Despite their numerical handicap, Ipswich often forced Portsmouth on to the back foot. Three minutes into the second half, Danny Haynes raced clear on the right and his fierce cross-shot forced James to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Three minutes later David Nugent, having replaced Mendes, caught Ipswich off guard, out-sprinting central defender Alex Bruce to seize on to Sol Campbell's lofted clearance and beat Neil Alexander low to his right.

Portsmouth could have padlocked victory, Nugent striking the bar, Alexander saving superbly from Papa Bouba Diop and John Utaka swiping only air when four yards out.

Undeterred, Ipswich surged and James needed to exhibit international calibre when keeping out Alan Lee then Haynes in the final minute.

Both crowd and team stood proud amid misfortune.

Match details
Ipswich: Alexander, Wright, Wilnis, Bruce, Sito (Naylor 89), Haynes, Williams (Lee 79), Garvan, Trotter, Counago, Clarke (Peters 59). Subs: Supple, Miller.Booked: Counago, Lee.Sent off: Trotter (24). Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop, Pedro Mendes (Nugent 46), Mvuemba, Utaka, Kranjcar, Kanu.Subs: Lauren, Traore, Pamarot, Begovic. Booked: Hreidarsson. Goals: Nugent 51. Referee: Mark Halsey.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/01/06/sfgips106.xml
Liam Trotter red card harsh on Ipswich By Wilfred Milne

Ipswich (0) 0 Portsmouth (0) 1
For 24 minutes there was the absorbing prospect of a thrilling cup tie between adolescent David and middleweight Goliath, as promotion candidates Ipswich attempted to bring down the Premier League's surprise package. Then Liam Trotter, Ipswich's bustling young midfielder, lunged at Pedro Mendes, the Portsmouth playmaker. It was late but not vicious, one-footed, not two, but after prompting by his assistant, referee Mark Halsey decided Trotter had to go. By any rational judgment, that was game over.

Yet with what heart, with what valiant determination did Ipswich throw themselves into the remainder of the match. Had it not been for David James in Portsmouth's goal, with three world-class saves in the second half - from Danny Haynes in the 51st minute, then from substitute Alan Lee, and best of all Haynes again in the 90th minute - Ipswich might not merely have survived, but won.

It was wretched that for the second successive year, as against Watford in the fourth round last year, they should be victims of a controversial sending-off.
Mendes made a meal of the tackle, then ran around as sprightly as a spring chicken before being substituted at half-time.

From the moment they were reduced to 10 men Ipswich, still insistent on attack, were increasingly vulnerable to breakaways by Portsmouth's 4-1-4-1 formation, where Kanu was the lone attacker, Benjani being rested because of a suspect hamstring.

Yet, while Portsmouth had comfortably controlled the early stages, now it was the team a man short who, through sheer vigour, determination and at times skill, threatened to take over.
Initially, Haynes, Gavin Williams and Owen Garvan had been shut down as they attempted to create the openings for subtle Pablo Counago, but they gamely stuck at it, and it was Haynes, racing through on the right three minutes into the second half who all but claimed the lead, James deflecting his fierce shot for a corner.

Another three minutes, and one misfortune for Ipswich was overtaken by another. Their former defender, Hermann Hreidarsson, inadvertently trod on Haynes's heel, causing a hold-up for treatment.

Ipswich courteously gave Portsmouth the ball from the throw-in, only for Sol Campbell to hit a huge clearance up field. David Nugent, having replaced Mendes, outsprinted Alex Bruce to place the ball wide of Neil Alexander, and now Ipswich's hill was steeper than ever.
Portsmouth should have extended their lead, but Alexander splendidly saved Papa Bouba Diop's header and John Utaka, four yards out, had an air shot with the goal at his mercy.

Man of the match David James (Portsmouth) Three world-class saves denied Ipswich

Match details
Ipswich: Alexander, Wright, Wilnis, Bruce, Sito (Naylor 89), Haynes, Williams (Lee 79), Garvan, Trotter, Counago, Clarke (Peters 59). Subs: Supple, Miller.Booked: Counago, Lee.Sent off: Trotter (24).

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop, Pedro Mendes (Nugent 46), Mvuemba, Utaka, Kranjcar, Kanu.Subs: Lauren, Traore, Pamarot, Begovic. Booked: Hreidarsson. Goals: Nugent 51. Referee: Mark Halsey.
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