Pompey crashed out of the FA Cup in this third round encounter at the Withdean Stadium.
After Pompey's magnificent achievements and heroics in last season's FA Cup, eventually losing 1-0 in the Final to double winners Chelsea, this result brought Pompey's fans right back down to earth with a nasty bump.
What a contrast: from playing in front of over 85,000 at the majestic Wembley back in May to just under 8,000 at the municipal Withdean eight months later.
To be fair to the Sussex club they've done a super job making the most of their lot, sitting on top of League One, playing some very good football, their staff are helpful and friendly and they have the shiny new Amex Stadium at Falmer to move into next season when they will surely be in the Championship.
I arrived early at Brighton, a bit too early to be honest as the Mill Road Park and Ride hadn't opened! But once it was up-and-running, getting in and getting to and from the ground was plain sailing, very straightforward.
If you're up for a good walk, and you've got time, I'd go for it. It took me about 15 minutes each way at a brisk pace, especially good on the way back as I don't recall being overtaken by any buses but there were plenty of fans queuing to get on them. I made a fast getaway and was back on the A27 in no time.
The Withdean is essentially an athletics stadium, positioned in a small valley, that has had 'temporary' stands, open to the elements, positioned around three sides, quite a way from the match action. The green seating would not look out-of-place at The Open or The Ryder Cup.
On the fourth side there is a permanent structure with cover and behind that is a collection of buildings, including The Sportsman's Bar. They reminded me a bit of the sports hall at my old secondary school.
The teams and officials emerged from one corner of the ground, serenaded by the Brighton cheerleaders (Gully's Girls I think they were called named after the club mascot) from what looks like some portacabins and down a tarmac slope. Clop, clop, clop clop.
You may be asking why all this description of the scenery and the experience? Where is the match report? Well...it's actually not easy to write about a match where you can see little of the action in detail. The viewing lines are not conducive to creating good match reports.
A friend who is an AFC Bournemouth fan had advised me I should take binoculars to the game to keep an eye on the action which I did. Despite Pompey's fans being given the East Stand, normally used by the home fans and the steward who advised me I wouldn't need them, I think the Cherries' man was probably correct.
Funny thing is I had no inclination to use them.
Pompey made a bright start to the game with Kanu, Nugent, Utaka and Lawrence all looking lively. Unfortunately, just as Lawrence was poised to send a free kick from the right flank, there was a roar from the bank of home fans on the far side of the pitch, one of the Brighton players (El-Abd) was on the ground in a heap and with little hesitation and no apparent consultation with the linesman the red card was flashed by the referee (Mr Scott) and off trudged Dave Kitson across the fields far, far away and up the tarmac to the portacabin. Clop, clop, clop. That was the turning point of the game, just fifteen minutes in.
That was when the binoculars were destined never to see daylight.
In his post match interview Steve Cotterill informed the gathered media that Kitson had admitted, perhaps foolishly, to striking the Brighton player in the chest; it was surprising therefore that he'd gone down holding his face.
The point is whether he struck the Brighton player with an elbow in the face or slapped him or struck him in the chest he did something and it gave him enough 'justification' to go down and trigger events.
It was naivety from Kitson; it could have been gamesmanship from the Brighton player. We may never know. With ITV's brief match highlights on Saturday evening missing this crucial moment there was no opportunity to clear the matter up conclusively. However, news emerging on Sunday would suggest that Pompey may appeal the red card, which of course sees Kitson out of action for three games, a ban they can ill afford at a time when the squad is stretched to the limit. We shall see.
The sending off knocked the stuffing out of Pompey, confidence drained away as Brighton rallied and started to play some really nice football exploiting the man advantage and extra space by playing balls wide and down both flanks.
It was no surprise when Brighton took the lead through Chris Wood following a Brighton corner that the Pompey defence failed to clear, a familiar story this season.
With the home crowd rubbing salt in to the wounds with cries of 'Ole! Ole!' as Brighton strung together a long series of passes, Pompey lost their discipline and composure. Following poor fouls and too many verbals the referee started to dish out yellow cards as if they were smarties, including three in the space of a minute a sign of weakness and lack of control. The tally at half time was five by the end of the game it was seven something that is sure to receive some attention from the football authorities.
Just before half-time Pompey inflicted more self-harm when Ibrahimo Sonko clearly handled the ball in the box from a cross. Ashley Barnes put the penalty away for the home team and it was effectively game over.
HT Brighton 2-0 Portsmouth
The Pompey fans were shell shocked.
Very sadly a moronic element started-up a fair few nasty, cretinous, ignorant chants which everyone should be totally ashamed of. It was embarrassing, uncalled for and a disgraceful slur on the good name of the majority. Despite some steward intervention in the area I was in there was a horrible under current throughout the rest of the game. Do these idiots not remember the outcry and subsequent action there was when Spurs fans targetted Sol Campbell a couple of seasons ago at Fratton Park? A few people need to take a close look at themselves in the mirror.
At half-time Hreidarsson replaced Kanu and Pompey set themselves up in a more solid formation for the second half although chances were few and far between, the best one falling to Hreidarsson whose header went wide of the post.
With Pompey attacking the far end of the ground it was quite difficult at times to see the detail of the action and Brighton were limited to fewer opportunities, a strike over the bar and a shot into the side netting the two best chances for the home team.
Steve Cotterill made a couple of late substitutions the first enforced. Following a challenge in the middle of the park Liam Lawrence, who once again looked Pompey's best player, started to limp badly and went down needing treatment. He was eventually replaced by Tom Kilbey. Shortly afterwards Ciftci replaced Nugent who'd once again worked tirelessly up front but without any joy.
Suddenly, the introduction of fresh legs led to a minor Pompey revival. As well as Kilby and Ciftci, Joel Ward continued to run his heart out down the right flank. With a few minutes to go Pompey managed to pull a goal back following a corner, the ball falling to Kilby in the box who swivelled nicely and put the ball in to the back of the net for his first senior goal.
With five minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official those Pompey's fans left in the stadium, who'd earlier been amusing themselves by pogoing up-and-down, sparked into life; the improbable wasn't going to happen was it? Another Pompey FA Cup fairytale like in the Third Round last season? Sadly, no.
Any hope Pompey had of salvaging a draw from the match disappeared when Brighton added a third goal through Sandaza after Ashdown had made the initial save.
The referee blew the final whistle a couple of minutes later and Pompey's FA Cup for 2011 was over.
FT Brighton 3-1 Portsmouth
To be frank this was no more than the home team deserved. Despite the controversial sending off Brighton had looked the brighter team for much of the game playing by the far the better football. Their reward in Sunday's Fourth Round draw was an away tie to Watford at Vicarage Road.
It was the fourth consecutive game that Pompey had conceded three goals, the defensive frailties have become very worrying.
At times in the first half Pompey looked woeful and although things did improve after the break they were never really in this match.
The players looked off colour and the lack of squad numbers is starting to have an impact on performances. There was no sparkle, no creativity, no real threat.
Yes, being down to ten men did make things difficult, to some teams that can act as inspiration. But Pompey went the other way, losing their composure and giving a poor referee plenty of scope to punish them. Pompey racked up the yellow cards as if it was a badge of honour and were fortunate not to see another red (Dickinson the culprit).
There were some positives surprisingly, Ashdown made a couple of good saves during the game and the youthful endeavour of Ward, Ciftci and Kilbey continues to offer hope for the future.
Steve Cotterill continues to impress. Here is a man who has remained positive throughout. He was open and honest in his post-match interview (heard on Radio Solent) recognizing the limitations and constraints he is operating under but refusing to blame them for defeat.
As far as he is concerned Michael Brown and Richard Hughes have effectively gone and won't play again for Pompey. The midfield is poorer without Brown and Mullins cannot do everything on his own. Hughes is always a useful player to have available.
It's not clear if any replacements will be coming in although Cotterill has given three names to the Chief Executive Mr Lampitt to work on in this transfer window, presumably in addition to the return of Greg Halford on loan although that wasn't totally clear from his comments.
If Cotterill was a poker player he might have folded by now but despite the weaknesses (e.g. small squad, defensive frailty, post-admin. constraints) he knows he's still got some good cards to play (e.g. Lawrence, Nugent). He needs to be dealt an improved hand by Mr Chanrai before the end of January, if the Hong Kong businessman gambles otherwise by not investing in the squad Pompey might not have an away game at the new Amex Stadium for quite some time. That's a gamble he cannot afford to take.
BlueThruAndThru
