There will be plenty of Pompey fans who will use this defeat against Peterborough United as another stick with which to beat Steve Cotterill and his tactics.
They'd be wrong to do so.
Sure, losing is disappointing, especially late on in a game. I hate losing and I hated this result. However, Pompey played well in this game, especially in the second half, and this defeat had more to do with individual errors, Peterborough's ability to capitalise on them as well as the power and pace they demonstrated when getting forward on the break.
The opening goal came after Jamie Ashdown failed to deal with a fierce shot from Lee Frecklington. Placing both hands in front of him the ball bounced off his gloves and up on to the crossbar before nestling in the net. He should have done better...it wasn't even foggy in the first five minutes.
Frecklington's second goal, a powerful shot, came about because of a defensive error and an inability to clear the ball away from the dangerzone. Ashdown had no chance with the second.
Frecklington's goals came either side of an own goal, Gabriel Zakuani putting the ball in to his own net at the Fratton End following a cross by Erik Huseklepp. The Norwegian claimed it and celebrated, the tannoy announcer declared the goal his, only to withdraw the statement and declare it an own goal at half time. I guess some people were done out some betting winnings as a result. The ball was clearly going wide though before being deflected in to the net.
Ashdown made two other errors during the first half. The first came when he was unable to hold on to a powerful shot from the impressive George Boyd, the ball was spilled and fell to a Peterborough player who was unable to capitalise. The second error came when Ashdown mis-calculated the weight of a pass out of the penalty area. The intention was to pass to a defender but he underhit it giving away possession. There was a noticeable drop of the shoulders at this point, a "What have I done?" moment. Fortunately, the away team could not capitalise.
Ashdown wasn't the only Pompey player playing below par. Joel Ward, playing at right back in place of the injured Aaron Mokoena was getting forward but his crosses were often of poor quality, being hit too long. His surges forward also left the defence exposed at times, especially if he lost the ball, which Peterborough were able to exploit. Right back is his best position but he must balance his eagerness to get forward with his defensive duties until he has settled down in to the role. This was only his second start at right back this season. Once he's played there regularly things will improve. He's a powerful player with a big engine, he will get it right and he started to do so in the second half.
It was an open first half and Pompey had a number of opportunities to add to their tally but couldn't do so. Norris and Huseklepp in particular had good chances, the Norwegian lifted a shot over the cross bar just before half time when it looked easier to hit the target.
HT: Portsmouth 1-2 Peterborough United
As the mist rolled in off the sea and engulfed Fratton Park, at one point during the the second half making visibility poor, there were some ironic chants from the Fratton End faitful of "We can't see you anymore!". Definitely the best chant since "You only sing when you're farming!" at Ashton Gate.
Pompey looked the more likely to score in the second half and go on and win the game. Mullins, Lawrence, Huseklepp and Norris were working together very well in the midfield. It was Liam Lawrence's best game this season. Hayden Mullins was running the midfield and David Norris was getting forward at every opportunity. With both Joel Ward, down the right, and Tal Ben Haim, down the left, able to get forward regularly to supply balls in to the box it was only a matter of time before Pompey got their equaliser.
It came following a cross by Huseklepp who found Benjani in the penalty box. He got ahead of his marker and clipped the ball past the keeper and in to the net with his right foot. He celebrated with the Pompey fans sitting in the Milton End with his now trademark goal celebration: "That one was for you, you and you!"
With plenty of time left in the game, the home fans' expectations were raised accordingly and Pompey had a period where they looked very strong. They were just unable to get the third goal. There was one very exciting period of play where a series of four shots in rapid succession pinged around in the penalty box but were blocked by defenders, including off the goal line to deny the home team.
Peterborough had always looked at their most dangerous on the break and it was no surprise that their winning goal came about that way. With Pompey players rushing forward to support a corner for the winner in added time the defence was left exposed. With Marko Futacs on the pitch, making his home debut, what harm could it do to get the ball in to the box? He is a big unit and would surely have a great opportunity to score. The alternative of closing the game out, playing it short and taking the point never crossed anyone's mind in the stadium.
It's so easy to get carried away with the moment.
Unfortunately, for Pompey the corner was quickly cleared and Peterborough unleashed 18 year old Ryan Tunnicliffe on loan from none other than Manchester United. Look out for him, he's some player. As soon as he'd been brought on as substitute Cotterill had reminded his players about him - they'd obviously done some homework, but perhaps that wasn't enough. His powerful run down the left hand side wasn't dealt with by a tiring defence, he crossed low and hard in to the penalty box where the ball was turned in to the net by the onrushing Huseklepp. If he hadn't got there then the attacker behind him surely would have done. It was a killer blow, 94th minute, Erik hitting the back of the net in front of the Fratton End. Dejavu? You bet.
Whereas on Saturday against Blackpool there had been elation now there was despair. It was hard to take - having played so well and to get nothing from the game was galling. But that's football, it's full of irony, full of twists and turns and Pompey will surely bounce back from this defeat very quickly. They certainly showed enough on the night to make those shaking the sticks seem out of touch. Afterall, it could be worse: we could all support Nottingham Forest who at this point of the season could not have envisgaed being where they are.
FT: Portsmouth 2-3 Peterborough United
Some Blurry Match Action Pictures And One Or Two Of The Fog
The mist rolls in over the Milton End
Tal Ben Haim and Jason Pearce get set to defend.
The mist turned to fog in the second half. Here is the view of the Fratton End, you can just make out Jamie Ashdown in the goal and Greg Halford in the foreground.
The next three pictures are just a little bit blurry, but I quite like them anyway, especially the second one! Something different, eh?! They're almost arty!
Portsmouth versus Peterborough United: Jamie Ashdown, Joel Ward, Greg Halford, Jason Pearce, Tal Ben Haim, Liam Lawrence, Hayden Mullins, David Norris, Riise, Erik Huseklepp, Benjani. Substitutes: Stephen Henderson, Ricardo Rocha, Kanu, Marko Futacs, Ryan Williams.
Attendance: 12,102 this is a worrying figure - the lowest League crowd at home since February 2001. Admittedly there was a low turnout from the away fans with about 75% of one Milton End block of seats taken up. However, not enough Pompey fans are turning out to see their team. Match ticket prices are a hot issue at present - it's an expensive business in tough economic times - but there is clearly some disillusionment in the football being played translating into 'stay away' fans.
Pompey MOTM: the official award went to Erik Huseklepp. However, I would have given it to Hayden Mullins.
Next up for Pompey: Leeds United away at Elland Road on Saturday October 1st, kick-off 3PM.
BlueThruAndThru
