Pompey began their 2012-13 League One campaign at a hot and sunny Fratton Park with a draw against AFC Bournemouth.
Izale McLeod's first half opener was cancelled out in the second period by Lee Barnard, on-loan at Dean Court from Southampton.
Following
the off-season activities to shed big wage earners and the frenetic
signing of players on short term contracts and loan deals during the
previous 48 hours, Pompey fielded an entire team of debutants with two
more on the bench joined by youngsters Adam Webster and Ashley Harris.
The
eclectic band of free agents, loanees and inexperienced locals did
themselves, Pompey, manager Michael Appleton and the fans proud, raising
their game and playing on the adrenelin of the occasion in response to
an emotional and passionate Fratton Park crowd.
AFC Bournemouth players warm-up with some co-ordinated big rubber band activity.
Pompey players warm-up by introducing themselves to each other.
Although the dark shadow of administration continues to hang over the Club it was great to focus on onfield matters something that looked uncertain at times during the Summer.
Even before the match started the atmosphere at Fratton Park was electric - the Pompey players received a tremendous greeting in front of the Fratton End as they completed their pre-match warm-ups.
If any of the players needed reminding how important a day this was to the fans that welcome was it and Michael Appleton's final dressing room words before the teams emerged can only have topped up the expectation levels a bit more.
Playing towards the Fratton End Pompey stormed through the opening 30 minutes of the match urged on by the raucous home crowd.
With captain Brian Howard and Lee Williamson bossing the midfield Pompey made the stronger start of the two teams using the width provided by Kieran Djilali, Jack Compton and the occasional forray forward by Mustapha Dumbuya.
Despite winning a number of corners in the opening few minutes, through some excellent play, Pompey couldn't force the breakthrough they deserved a Paul Connolly header that went over the bar from a Compton cross the closest they came.
It was a frenetic start to the match and it was Bournemouth who went closest to taking the lead when a Wes Thomas shot hit the upright in front of the travelling 2,500 Cherries fans on the Milton End.
Compton, who offered width down the right hand side, was seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages and was able to get off a couple of decent on-target shots.
Pompey's endeavours were rewarded in the 18th minute when a strike from distance by Izale McLeod squirmed through the hands and legs of Bournemouth goalkeeper Shwan Jalal. With the Fratton End goal in shade and the shot starting in sunshine perhaps it was harder to judge than it looked but it was an embarrasing mistake. The Pompey fans took great glee in reminding him of his error for the remainder of the half.
Although they were not firing on all cylinders Bournemouth carved out a couple of decent chances before the half-hour firstly through a Thomas header that went wide and then from a Marc Pugh free-kick that was weakly struck and easily dealt with by Pompey's defensive wall.
Former New York Red Bulls player Luke Rodgers, experienced and clever but not the quickest on this showing, found himself in the thick of the action towards the end of the half. He just failed to reach an underhit back pass by Bournemouth's Tommy Elphick and was later unable to get on the end of a low cross by Dumbuya that was fired in to the box.
Rodgers then saw Jalal drop his cross in to the box in to the path of the advancing McLeod only for the striker to blaze over the cross bar, it was a poor miss and in the context of the match as a whole a crucial one.
In a sign of things to come, the half ended with Bournemouth the stronger team as the hot weather, the early pace of the game and the lack of game time for some of Pompey's players started to take their toll.
HT: Portsmouth 1-0 AFC Bournemouth
McLeod had two good opportunities to increase Pompey's lead within 5 minutes of the restart but couldn't take either. He created the first himself but his shot was a weak one and went wide. The second was created by a sublime pass from Rodgers to set him free on a powerful run only to see his effort to chip the ball over the keeper saved by Jalal, thereby atoning for his earlier error.
The play became fragmented as Bournemouth closed down Howard and Williamson in the second half and gave them less room to control the play. Williamson, who had taken a knock in the first half, was all spent by the hour mark and was replaced by on loan Chelsea midfielder Connor Clifford.
The visitors also put in a number of strong challenges on Pompey players that would have received less leniancy in a higher division. However, it was an effective tactic and allowed the Cherries to gain more of a foothold in the game as the match wore on.
Barnard, Thomas and Grabban all had good chances for the visitors, the latter's deflected shot forcing on loan Reading goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen in to a fine save, tipping the goal bound ball over the cross bar.
With pressure building it was no surprise when Barnard popped up in the six yard box unmarked to head home a cross for Bournemouth. Nobody could argue they didn't deserve it.
With 8 minutes of normal time left Michael Appleton brought on Ashley Harris for Jack Compton to liven things up a bit up front. Compton had a fine game. Shortly afterwards Adam Webster replaced Djilali just to shore things up a bit more in the middle of the park. Dijlali had faded in the second half but had put in a shift.
The local 18-year-old Harris had a positive impact on proceedings firing in a low cross that Rodgers just failed to get on the end of and then in added time hitting a long distance, right footed shot from the left hand side of the field that hit the post and bounced away to safety.
With four added minutes played referee Mr Taylor brought proceedings to a halt, a draw being a fair reflection of the match overall. The Pompey players and fans offered mutual applause on what had been a tough afternoon.
A few words on Pompey's hastily cobbled together defence: Kevin Long, celebrated his 22nd birthday, having arrived on the South Coast late the previous evening on loan from Burnley. He had a fine match alongside Paul Connolly another loanee this time from Leeds United. Connolly is a more natural full-back but he did a fine job at centre back on this occasion. Both full-backs had spent the pre-season with Pompey, Mustapha Dumbuya has a great engine on him and loves to run up-and-down the right hand flank, he offered plenty of support to Compton and Djillali. Jon Harley played at left back and proved what a good acquisition he is at this level with a solid performance that highlighted his experience. Finally, Mikkel Andersen in the Pompey goal, another loanee this time from Reading, didn't have too much to do but certainly gave the back four plenty of confidence. That understanding can only improve as the season progresses.
Unfortunately, Pompey once again find themselves finishing their pre-season preparations during the first few competitive matches of the season. But there were enough positives for Michael Appleton to take away and work on before Tuesday night and beyond.
There is still much to do off the pitch of course, let nobody be in any doubt about that, and this story may still have a very unhappy ending. But those who was there on Saturday will never forget this special occasion and just what it meant for the fans, the Club and the City: they had got their team back and it felt good.
FT: Portsmouth 1-1 AFC Bournemouth
Portsmouth versus AFC Bournemouth: Mikkel Andersen,
Mustapha Dumbuya, Paul Connolly, Kevin Long, Jon Harley, Jack Compton (replaced by Ashley Harris in the 82nd minute), Lee Williamson
(replaced by Clifford in the 62nd minute), Howard, Kieran Djilali (replaced by Adam Webster in the 89th minute), Luke Rodgers and Izale McLeod.
MOTM: skipper Brian Howard gets my vote, for his first half performance in particular. He was the stand out player on the pitch.
Referee: Mr A Taylor
Attendance: 17,703, interestingly this was just 4 short of the last home league game of the 2011-12 Championship season against Derby County on April 21st.
Attendance: 17,703, interestingly this was just 4 short of the last home league game of the 2011-12 Championship season against Derby County on April 21st.
Next Up: Pompey travel to Colchester United for a League One fixture on Tuesday 21st August.
Reference source: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk
Match Action Pictures From Fratton Park
BlueThruAndThru
