@PompeyChicken provides another match report ‘mash-up’ combining tweets from (mainly) Pompey fans, Official Portsmouth FC on Twitter and the BBC Radio Solent commentary with former Pompey defender Andy Awford and Lawrence Herdman.
Second half goals from Dave Kitson and Greg Halford, from the penalty spot, in front of a crowd of 25,215 including Stephen Fry saw Pompey take all three points in this Championship encounter against high-flying Norwich City.
@officialpompey: Norwich director Stephen Fry on pitch before kick-off for a charity cheque presentation #pompey
Over 1,000 fans made the trip to Carrow Road a ground where Pompey had not seen victory for twenty-three years.
@tomc_1984: On Route 2 Norwich, hopefully a good win 4 the blues, Play Up Pompey! #Pompey
@paulpfcgarner: Off too Norwich, cmon you blues!!!!!! Bring it on. @officialpaompey @Greg_Halford #pompey #ncfc
@PompeyGoat: Have made it to Norwich, not feeling too tip top it has to be said, to risk a pint? #Pompey
Pompey went in to the game with the same starting line-up as against Swansea City, although only five substitutes were named, Richard Hughes missing out to avoid a contract clause kicking-in. Perhaps a worrying reminder as to how tight things are financially at the Club? Apparently, Michael Brown is in a similar situation. Goodness knows how that will all pan out as Pompey enter the busy Christmas fixture period and the January transfer window.
@wordsfailme: #pompey unchanged from Swansea - only five subs though, sad times.
@solentsport: #Pompey #PFC boss S Cotterill reveals that R Hughes left out today due to appearance clause in contract. M Brown approaching similar problem
Pompey made a bright start to the game and created some good pressure during the opening few minutes. Liam Lawrence hit a free kick in to the side netting, which had the radio commentators on the edge of celebrating, as it hit the advertising hoardings and rippled the wrong side of the back of the net. It was to be one of the few good chances Pompey had in the first half and Jamie Ashdown was the busier of the two goalkeepers as chances fell to Jackson, Martin and Barnett for the home team.
@officialpompey: Simeon Jackson goes through on goal but rolls shot tamely into Ashdown's arms (18 mins) #pompey
@officialpompey: Ashdown fumbles a cross but Halford manages to bundle the ball behind (29 mins) #pompey
@officialpompey: Ashdown makes a good save to keep out Martin's fierce strike (32 minutes) #pompey
@officialpompey: Martin's close-range header hits Ward to divert the ball wide (43 mins) #pompey
Norwich were playing in their diamond formation, which Steve Cotterill had referenced in his pre-match radio interview, and this led to plenty of possession for the home team. Andy Awford commented it was 65%/35% in their favour based on what he observed in the first half. There was no official stat available so he used The Awfordator to determine those numbers (or ‘gut feel’ in other words).
Pompey’s back four, especially their two international centre backs South African Aaron Mokoena and Portugeuse Ricardo Rocha, held strong; they needed to as Norwich piled on the pressure in search of the opening goal.
Pompey were trying to play an up-tempo, passing game but as Awford noted they needed to be a bit more patient in their build-up play – slow it down, take an extra touch and use a bit more time - because moves kept breaking down giving Norwich back possession. For example, Pompey were caught offside a number of times giving the momentum straight back to the home team.
@Liamatron: #Pompey players apparently don't understand the offside rule....
@Pompey_Pages: What's with all these offsides? Nugent then Utaka! #pompey
Thankfully, Pompey survived the Canaries’ onslaught and went in level at half time.
@jamesdemellow: 0-0 half time, although #Norwich could've scored six. #Pompey
HT Norwich City 0-0 Portsmouth
Pompey kicked-off the second half with a change of formation to 4-5-1 which was noted by Andy Awford, something he had suggested in the first half.
@officialpompey: Nugent and Utaka are now playing out wide with Lawrence tucked in just behind Kitson #pompey
Once again they started brightly with Liam Lawrence having two good chances. The first was an effort from 20 yards after Mullins won the ball in midfield, it was a great strike but whizzed past the upright. The second from a free-kick that hit the post.
@Pompey_Pages: Lawrence hits the post with a free-kick! #pompey
It was turning into a more open game, almost like a cup-tie, as both teams tried to force the opening. Pompey were playing much better than they did in the first half although Norwich were still dangerous.
Both Joel Ward and Greg Halford were finding room to get forward down the flanks. Ward in particular was having an excellent match in the unfamiliar left back position and Halford made some telling crosses with good work down right.
Norwich gradually started to come back into the game but were thwarted again by the excellent Ashdown in the Pompey goal, reveling in his return to the ground where he spent some time on loan a few years ago.
@officialpompey: Acrobatic save from Ashdown to deny Hoolahan (54 mins) #pompey
His opposite number didn’t appear to be quite as secure.
@officialpompey: Ruddy comes off his line to unconvincingly punch clear Lawrence's corner (58 mins) #pompey
Despite the game being exciting, with the crowd on the edge of their seats, there weren’t too many clear cut chances as both defences held strong. One former Norwich star, now plying his trade in North America, commented:
@hucks6dh6: Pompey really don't deserve anything from this game
Andy Awford noted that Pompey were showing a little bit more patience when they had the ball, taking a bit more time with their passing and this eventually paid off, the opening goal came in the 73rd minute following great work by Nugent down the right who crossed for Dave Kitson to score and end his barren run without a goal.
@princessclairin: Go on kitson!!!!#pompey
@wordsfailme: get in, play up #pompey - well done dave kitson
@chalkface2009: #pompey yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh
@crablin: Get in Dave #pompey
@PompeyChicken: Goal! Pompey take the lead at Carrow Road, Kitson after good work by Nugent. #Pompey
@solentsport: #pompeyfc - GOAL at Carrow Road - Dave Kitson scores for #pompey on the 73rd minute. Norwich 0 Pompey 1
@RyanCHutchings: GET IN! We are going up, I said we are going up! #pompey
@officialpompey: Nugent showed great energy to burst into the box and square for Kitson to convert from close range #pompey
@Sheeep: COME ON POMPEY! P.U.P! #Pompey
@mjtarry: KITSON!!! Get in! #PUP #pompey
@Pompey_Pages: GET IN!!!!!! DAVE KITSON STRIKES POMPEY IN TO THE LEAD! #pompey
@HappyHepz: gooooooooooooooooooollllllllll 1-0 #pompey yeiiiii kitsooooooonnnn #pompey
@MattDaveDavies: Dave Kitson is officially the worlds greatest ginger person. #pompey
Following the goal Pompey had a good period of play. They held the ball well when in possession and when they didn’t have the ball they maintained a good shape to frustrate a Norwich side that had dominated the game for long periods without taking their chances.
Paul Lambert tried to freshen things up by bringing on three substitutes in quick succession before the end of the game but Pompey’s defence held strong and closed down the opposition well.
Andy Awford commented that Rocha was clearly a ‘Premier League’ player. Lawrence Herdman (or Loz as Awford likes to call him in his ex-footballer, give everybody a nickname, way) noted that he was only playing Champions League football for Benfica a couple of seasons ago.
Pompey were surviving and running the clock down well and doing their best to keep the ball in the Norwich half and down in the corners. Nugent used his pace and energy to counter-attack when he could and was rewarded with some mock-bowing from the travelling Pompey fans who clearly recognized the importance of this: ‘‘Nu-gent, Nu-gent!’’ they chanted.
Steve Cotterill started to make his own late substitutions to break up the play and waste a bit more time as the fourth official signaled four extra minutes were to be added. Initially it was the teenager Ciftci who came on for Utaka.
Norwich continued to press for an equalizer as you would expect from the home team and Kitson, back helping his defence, headed over one effort that resulted from a corner, putting the ball away to safety over the bar. It was all hands to the pump in the Pompey defence.
@wordsfailme: JUST. HANG. ON. #pompey
Pompey brought on two more substitutions Kanu for goalscorer Kitson and Sonko for Lawrence to further stop the flow of the play as Norwich continued to look dangerous.
Then with time running out Nugent and Kanu found themselves free on the break. Nugent entered the box and was brought down by Barnett for a clear cut penalty! Barnett was sent off for his second yellow of the match and reacted badly, stupidly throwing the ball at the referee as he departed.
With regular penalty taker Liam Lawrence already substituted it was left to on loan Greg Halford to step up and slot the ball away to make it 2-0 to Pompey, game over! It was just about the final kick of the game and Pompey had secured their second consecutive away win against opposition sitting in the play off positions. Pompey fans on Twitter joined the celebrations of those who’d made the long trip to Norfolk. An excellent win!
FT Norwich City 0-2 Portsmouth
@PompeyChicken: Goal! Greg Halford penalty! Pompey make it 2-0. Nugent brought down. The final action of the match. #Pompey win 2-0. WooooHooooo!
@HappyHepz: yihaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa RT @officialpompey: GOAL!!! Norwich 0 #Pompey 2 (Halford (pen) 90)
@stuart_matthews: #pompey two-nil!!! wow
@mjtarry: #Pompey win 2-0! Get in Halford with the last kick of the game!!! :D PUP!
@wordsfailme: #pompey chimes ringing round Carrow Road. Great work lads. #ncfc
@Sheeep: THATS MY BOYS! 2-0! P.U.P! #Pompey
@Liamatron: I can honestly say it doesn't get any sweeter than that!!! Cracking performance from #Pompey. Now off into Norwich to celebrate :)
@Rourkey76: Yes @Greg_Halford! 2 nil, another away win, another 3 points play offs here we come! #pompey Let's be havin you! @deliasmith
@WillDxnnPFC: Super #Pompey marching on! GET IN! X
@crawmo: Colmans mustard, #Stephen Fry, Delia your boys took a hell of a Beating #pompey Play up Pompey
@MoffyRayner: #Pompey #NCFC #Robbedblindbyabunchofsailors Never mind, Ipswich Town got a stuffing prior to Christmas too!
@donaldvass: the #Pompey defence was outstanding today, great stuff from Rocha, Moks, @Greg_Halford and Wardy
@Millso: Play up Pompey!! Nice work fellas! #Pompey
@stevepompey: @Greg_Halford: Game day! 3 points for us and me scoring!" Mystic Greg ! Lottery numbers for tonight please ?! PuP #Pompey #PFC
@officialpompey: "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see #Pompey win away," sang away fans as they left ground
Portsmouth team versus Norwich City: Ashdown; Halford, Mokoena, Rocha, Ward; Lawrence, Mullins, Brown, Utaka; Nugent, Kitson. Subs: Flahavan, Sonko, Hreidarsson, Ciftci, Kanu
Pompey Man Of The Match: Ricardo Rocha
For a list of Pompey fans using Twitter that @PompeyChicken has identified to date see this link: http://twitter.com/#!/PompeyChicken/pompeyfans
The BBC Radio Solent page can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/solent/
@PompeyChicken 12/12/2010
