25/02/2012 Portsmouth 0-0 Leeds United: Hard Times, the Sun Shines and Pompey Chimes.

Introduction.
Pompey and Leeds fought out a goalless draw in this Championship encounter at Fratton Park.

Unfortunately, Coventry City's win against Barnsley saw Pompey drop one place in the table with only Doncaster Rovers now below them.

With problems off the field dominating the Pompey headlines it was good to focus on the football and I make no apologies for mainly doing that with this blog article.

Pompey's line-up reflected the impact of injuries (Liam Lawrence, Luke Varney and Kelvin Etuhu were all missing) and a suspension (Kitson following his sending off at Barnsley).

Norwegian international Erik Huseklepp had been loaned-out to Birmingham City during the week, one of the necessary measures taken by the administrator Trevor Birch to address the financial predicament the Club finds itself in.

West Brom loanees George Thorne and Scott Allan were in the starting line-up.

Greg Halford made a welcome return from injury and David Norris joined Adam Webster and Ashley Harris on the bench for the first time since his hernia operation.

Jason Pearce retained the skipper's armband in Lawrence's absence.

Pictures taken before the game
Here are some pictures I took.

Frogmore Road entrance to Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon before kick-off. There were beautiful blue skies over the ground as a touch of early Spring sunshine emerged on the South Coast.

The Pompey Trust bus had some good levels of interest. Volunteers were handing out leaflets around the ground to fans before the game to encourage people to sign-up to the Trust, join the 12th Man Campaign and to 'Pack The Park'.

A group of former Pompey professionals came on to the pitch for a photo opportunity following their good work raising money for charity.

The Pompey players have a pre-match huddle. They kicked towards the Fratton End in the first half.

Match action pictures.

First half action in front of the Fratton End, Jason Pearce fighting for position at the near post, fans in the Fratton End in shade.

Robert Sonodgrass fires in a free-kick for Leeeds during the first half which takes a big deflection of the Pompey wall.

Aaron Mokoena fires in a free-kick during the first-half in front of the fans on the North Terrace, bathed in sunshine. Mokoena played at right back.

First-half action from a Pompey set-piece as Aaron Mokoena prepares to receive the ball in the box.

First half action in front of the travelling fans on the Milton End. Sun still causing a problem for the fans shielding their eyes. Lots of jostling for position going on in the danger zone!

HT: Portsmouth 0-0 Leeds United

The match officials leave the pitch at half-time to a chorus of boos. They had just missed a clear handball in the penalty area by a Leeds defender. Later they were to feel the wrath of Neil Warnock after a 'goal' was disallowed for offside although the ball had already crossed the line according to the Leeds manager before it was tapped home from close-range.

Second half action as Halford, Pearce and Futacs all jostle for position in the Leeds penalty area. Halford played in midfield for this game. Later in the match one of his long-distance throw-ins found its way all the way to the back of the net but for the second home game in a row was disallowed for no touch on the way through (correctly on this occasion it has to be said).

The impressive George Thorne fires in a free-kick during the second half.

The Leeds defender heads the ball away to safety in the second half.

Greg Halford fires in a free-kick during the second half.

Leeds defend another Pompey set-piece in the second half.

Scott Allan fires in a free-kick which was well saved by Andy Lonergan in the Leeds goal. This was Allan's last action before being substituted and replaced by David Norris, returning from injury. Allan got a standing ovation for a fine debut, like Thorne he is on loan from WBA. He worked really hard throughout and closed opposition players down quickly things the Pompey fans appreciated.

FT: Portsmouth 0-0 Leeds United

Final comments
Overall, a share of the spoils was the right outcome although the managers of both sides might feel aggrieved at not taking all three points with some of the match officials' decisions.

For Pompey, Stephen Henderson made a couple of excellent saves including one from Becchio one-one-one. He made himself big and overall continues to impress.

Jason Pearce looked his normal solid self alongside the experienced Rocha and Mokoena, playing out of position, generally did what he needed to playing at right back. Tal Ben Haim continued to show good form.

Greg Halford, pushed forward in to the midfield, showed his versatility and willingness to be flexible for the cause.

With the impressive Thorne and Allan alongside him Hayden Mullins was free to get forward more and he had a couple of good long range efforts on goal during the first half.

If there was one negative from the game it was the isolation of Marko Futacs up-front. He worked hard as he always does winning plenty of balls but he had very few opportunities in the danger zone.

Financial woes to one side, if Pompey are to get themselves out of the mess they find themselves in terms of league position following the ten point deduction, scoring goals is going to be vitally important; at the back they generally look solid.

Unfortunately, nil-nil results are not going to secure Championship survival however admirable this result was against a Leeds team pushing on in an attempt to make the play-offs.

With eight of the fourteen games left at home and three others local the Pompey fans will have a huge part to play in the Club's survival and will need to turnout in their numbers and be at their passionate, vociferous best. March will be the key month with eight games, five of them at Fratton Park.

The players were bouyed by the atmosphere created during this match. It's clear everyone is now in this together; never has the description The Pompey Family been more apt e.g. fans buying tickets for those unable to afford them e.g. players helping to sell tickets.

Let's hope the atmosphere had the same impact on those off the pitch who we need to help bring the Club back from the financial brink.

Play Up Pompey!

Portsmouth versus Leeds United: Stephen Henderson, Aaron Mokoena, Ricardo Rocha, Jason Pearce, Tal Ben Haim, Greg Halford, George Thorne, Hayden Mullins, Joel Ward, Scott Allan (replaced by David Norris in the 76th minute), Marko Futacs (replaced by Benjani in the 76th minute). Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown, Adam Webster and Ashley Harris.

Attendance: 17,571, this was the third highest attendance of the season after the matches against Southampton (19,879) and West Ham United (17,761).

Pompey MOTM: Henderson, Pearce and Thorne all had fine games but for me Scott Allan clinches it - a fine debut from the West Browm loanee.

Next up for Pompey: Middlesbrough at home on Saturday 3rd March at Fratton Park, kick Off 3PM.

BlueThruAndThru