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| Premier League 2008-2009. News and Reviews of Pompeys Previous Premiership Campaign...... Sunday 20th May 2009 15:00pm Wigan 1 Portsmouth 0 
Rodallega taps in Wigans winner.......... | A disappointing end of season game was played out at the JJB stadium and Wigan won at a canter. Paul Hart blamed a virus on Pompey's abject showing but you could tell many were just gald the season was over, as were many of the fans. Campbell seemed to have his mind already on pastures new when he misjudged a header from a cross to allow Rodallega to tap in at the far post and apart from a couple of smart saves from Begovic that was the sum of the first half action. Utaka showed a couple of flashes of his returning form in the second half but he couldn't beat Kingson when clean through and from another break his cross found absolutely no-one in the box supporting him, to his frustration. So, Pompey finished in 14th and several points clear of relegation in the end, but a lot of work would have to be done before next season to improve the meagre talent in the squad that had kept Pompey up. Paul Harts BBC Interview Wigan: Kingson, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, N'Zogbia (McManaman 78), De Ridder (Routledge 90), Rodallega.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Edman, Cho, Watson, Kupisz. Goals: Rodallega 26. Portsmouth: Begovic, Kaboul (Kanu 72), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Thomas 72), Hughes, Mullins, Traore, Utaka, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Primus, Pamarot, Cranie, Basinas. Booked: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Crouch, Thomas. Att: 17,696 Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). | Monday 18th May 2009 20:00pm Portsmouth 3 Sunderland 1 
A jubilant Utaka scores his first of the season..... | Pompey finally claimed the points to seem them safe from relegation and Paul Hart and Brian Kidd had fulfilled their briefs in keeping Pompey up. Crouch almost scored in an even first half, his header hitting the post and his flick hit Ferdinand and ran across the line to safety. Jones did the same at the other end when poor defending allowed him to meet a cross but his header hit the post and rebounded just clear. Pompey shuffled things at half time and changed to a 4-4-2 with Traore returning to a Pompey line-up on the left allowing Utaka to play as a striker. Despite Pompey forcing things it was Sunderland who scored first, hitting on the counter with Davenport racing away on the right and crossing over the back-tracking Campbell for Jones to poke a shot in the corner. This stung Pompey into life and they replied immediately with a rebound putting Utaka in and he held off Davenport to slot home to wild celebrations from him and the home crowd. It was Utaka again minutes later who took advantage of poor defending to round the keeper and forcing Bardsley into a last ditch tackle which only diverted the ball into the Sunderland net. Sunderland pressed for an equaliser, but they were hit on the counter when Utaka broke away and laid the ball off to Traore to smash a shot across Fulop and in the far corner. The crowd bayed for Linvoy Primus to come on and, with the game won, they got their wish 2 minutes from time and his name was cheered everytime he touched the ball. The celebrations could begin in earnest in the pubs around Fratton. Paul Harts BBC Interview Goal Highlights Portsmouth: Begovic, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Mullins, Hughes (Traore 46), Kanu (Kaboul 46), Crouch (Primus 90).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Basinas, Belhadj. Booked: Utaka. Goals: Utaka 60, Bardsley 68 og, Traore 88. Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins, Tainio (Cisse 80), Malbranque (Edwards 54), Whitehead, Leadbitter (Murphy 85), Richardson, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Reid, Healy, McShane. Goals: Jones 59. Att: 20,398 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire). | Saturday 9th May 2009 15:00pm Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 0 
Samba clatters James yet again....... | A win for either side would see them definately safe from the drop and it was Blackburn who claimed it to see Pompey sweat on other results prior to their game against Sunderland. Blackburn were using Samba up front as a battering ram and he caused Campbell and Distin trouble all game on a slick surface. It was his endeavour that brought the first goal, Steven Warnock's cross was chested down by Samba and the giant makeshift striker's ominous forward lunge clearly struck fear into goalkeeper David James. The England keeper made a timid attempt to block Samba and could only parry the ball into the path of Pedersen, who gratefully poked the ball past Sylvain Distin on the line. Things got worse for Pompey on the hour mark when Hreidarsson inexplicably handled when under no pressure, the spot kick was well taken by McCarthy. Pompey rallied after that, Crouch set up Pennant for a cross-shot which looked certain to be turned in at the far post by Hreidarsson, only for the defender to make contact with the woodwork, but not the ball. Utaka was then set free by Kanu, he rounded the keeper but his scuffed effort was blocked by Nelson. Utaka then missed a chance to setup a grandstand finish when Pompey were awarded a penalty themselves for handball, the Nigerian blazing high and wide. Paul Harts BBC Interview Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Nelsen, Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Grella, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Samba, McCarthy (Mokoena 83).
Subs not used: Bunn, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Treacy, Olsson, Doran. Booked: McCarthy, Andrews. Goals: Pedersen 31, McCarthy 58 pen. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Pennant 64), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Hughes (Kanu 53), Davis, Mullins, Belhadj (Utaka 53), Crouch.
Subs not used: Begovic, Nugent, Basinas, Cranie. Booked: Johnson Attendance: 24,234 Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire) | Saturday 2nd May 2009 15:00pm Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 3 
Bendtner beats James from the spot........ | Arsenal cruised to victory despite playing a second string side for most of the match, Pompey just couldn't get a grip and restrict the Gunners free-flowing passing. An early penalty shout for Arsenal resulted in a corner instead of a porbable spot-kick, but Pompey paid for slack defending and Arshavins cross was met by Bendtner who's header was held then dropped by James. A poor howler from Englands No:1 Keeper. Pompey had their own chances though, most notably Crouch, who made a couple of one-twos into a great chance but his stabbed shot fell wide. Then the game was dumped into controversy as Davis challenged Arshavin in the box, the Pompey man clearly got the ball and even Arshavin wagged his finger at Lee Mason when he pointed to the spot. Both Pompey players and crowd were incensed, Bendtner ignored the furore to beat James. The second half started excellent for the home side after a major reshuffle and they spurned several chances to get back into the match in a 10 minute spell, Utaka screwed wide from a glorious position before Crouch and Kanu went close with driven efforts and Utaka failed to get a shot away having rounded Lucasz Fabianski. Vela then killed the game with a drilled shot and the game seemed to wander to a finish with only Pamarot disturbing the peace with a late Red card for hauling back Arshavin when he was clean through. Paul Harts BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson (Kanu 46), Pennant (Utaka 46), Davis, Hughes, Mullins, Belhadj, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Primus, Nugent, Basinas, Cranie. Sent Off: Pamarot (78). Booked: Campbell, Kanu, Davis. Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Song Billong, Djourou, Eboue, Walcott (Bischoff 64), Denilson, Ramsey (Randall 82), Arshavin, Bendtner (Merida 77), Vela.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Coquelin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Frimpong. Booked: Arshavin. Goals: Bendtner 13, 41 pen, Vela 56. Att: 20,418 Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire). | Monday 27th April 2009 20:00pm Newcastle 0 Portsmouth 0 
Shearer and Dowie really had nothing to shout about...... | Alan Shearer as caretaker of Newcastle until the end of the season deemed this a must-win game and despite a couple of good chances it was Pompey who really should have won the game with a great 2nd Half display. Roared on by the Geordie faithful the home side put pressure on Pompey from the kick-off, but lacked the final pass. Viduka and Martins were guilty of bad misses when they had chances, Martins especially smashing a volley way over the bar when he should have hit the target. Pompey had a couple of chances themselves, but both Crouch and Johnson scuffed shots. Newcastle again stepped it up in the 2nd Half, with Martins and Owen both clean through and being foiled by James. Pompey were hitting on the counter-attack with the impressive Crouch and Belhadj along with Johnson increasingly making ground as Newcastle pushed on. Crouch had a good shout for a penalty after he turned Coloccini and the Argentine dived in to send Crouch sprawling, but no Penalty was given. Pompey hit the post late on from a corner, Hughes heading back across goal and the ball limply hitting the base of the upright. A great point for Pompey against a committed but poor Newcastle. Paul Harts BBC Interview Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique (Guthrie 28), Smith, Butt (Gutierrez 71), Duff, Viduka (Carroll 64), Martins, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Barton, Lovenkrands, Edgar. Booked: Bassong, Carroll. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Belhadj, Hughes, Mullins, Nugent (Pennant 65), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Cranie, Kanu, Basinas. Booked: Hreidarsson, Johnson. Att: 47,481 Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire). | Saturday 18th April 2009 15:00pm Portsmouth 1 Bolton 0 | Pompey deserved this win on their 1st Half display alone, with Glen Johnson in a right midfield role having a hat-trick of chances. One surging run saw a stinging shot beaten away by the Bolton keeper, the next was a golden opportunity as Krancjar put him in one-on-one but he shot tamely. The best chance saw a great save again from Jaaskelainen who tipped onto the post. In the 2nd Half the paced dipped a little and the only action of note was Nicky Hunt being booked and he wasn't even on the pitch, cautioned for giving out instructions. Kanu came on for Nugent and Pompey pressed for a winner that would see them almost safe from Relegation and Kanu it was who broke the deadlock. He was standing in front of the Bolton keeper when Belhadj swung in a wicked corner which evaded near post cover and went in off Kanus knee virtually on the line. So Pompey recovered from the disappontment of not beating West Brom and went to Tyneside in great spirits. Paul Harts BBC Interview Goal Highlights Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Pennant 90), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Davis, Mullins, Nugent (Kanu 71), Kranjcar (Belhadj 77), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes. Booked: Kranjcar, Distin. Goals: Kanu 78. Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Basham, McCann, Gardner (Muamba 12), Kevin Davies, Elmander, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Smolarek, Puygrenier, Makukula, Cohen. Booked: Kevin Davies, Andrew O'Brien, Hunt, McCann. Att: 20,158 Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). | Saturday 11th April 2009 15:00pm Portsmouth 2 West Brom 2 | Pompey gained another point, but really they should have had the ambition to kill off West Brom's survival hopes and boost their own with a vital win. West Brom started the better, but Pompey soon were creatng chances with Pennant and Kaboul regularly getting space on the right flank. Krancjar hit a post with a shot and Kaboul falshed a shot wide with the pressure on the Baggies increasing. This pressure told when Kaboul scored a wonderful goal after good work from Pennant, his pass finding kaboul who cut inside on his left and curled a great shot into the top corner. West Brom started the second half in determined mood and equalised in bizarre fashion, Mullins dinking a backpass to James who hit it straight to Morrison, his shot falling to Greening who tucked it away. It was 1-2 soon after, a Brunt freekick deflecting through James and in, a bad 10 minutes for Englands No1. Luckily Krancjar replied minutes after with a delightful freekick of his own, but with West Brom's hearts broken Pompey didn't apply enough pressure to score the winner and the game petered out to a draw. Paul Harts BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Gekas 90), Mullins, Hughes, Nugent (Belhadj 64), Kranjcar, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Kanu, Utaka, Basinas. Booked: Hreidarsson, Kranjcar, Kaboul. Goals: Kaboul 33, Kranjcar 65. West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon (Hoefkens 77), Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison (Chris Woods 75), Greening, Koren, Dorrans, Brunt (Mulumbu 81), Fortune.
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Menseguez, Borja Valero, Simpson. Booked: Dorrans. Goals: Greening 48, Brunt 62. Att: 20,376 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral). | Saturday 4th April 2009 15:00pm Hull 0 Portsmouth 0 
Mullins and Marney fight for the ball..... | A difficult day for both teams with neither creating much of note will be remembered only for Glen Johnsons dismissal, mainly as it was deserved but not for the non tackle which produced the second yellow. Johnson has been booked early on in the first half and possibly should have gone minutes after for a reckless tackle, but the referee was lenient. Neither side really fashioned any chances of note, James making one good save from a header and Crouch tamely put the ball in Dukes' hands from a good position. In the second half Johnson was dismissed with 10 to go, but Hull rarely attacked and it was Pompey who could have nicked it at the death, a Belhadj freekick was met by Hreidarsson and his header bounced off the foot of the post. A drab draw which suited neither side. Hull: Duke, Ricketts (Folan 85), Zayatte, Turner, Dawson, Mendy, Ashbee, Barmby (Marney 74), Geovanni, Manucho, Fagan (Kilbane 71).
Subs: Myhill, Garcia, Halmosi, Featherstone. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Mullins, Hughes, Nugent (Kanu 64), Kranjcar (Belhadj 76), Crouch.
Subs: Begovic, Pennant, Belhadj, Basinas, Pamarot, Utaka. Sent Off: Johnson. Booked: Johnson, Crouch. Att: 24,802 Ref: Chris Foy (Liverpool) | Saturday 21st March 2009 12:45pm Portsmouth 2 Everton 1 
Crouch nods in the winnner to everyones relief.... | On a balmy sunny day which finally heralded the start of Spring (and with the return of the white ball) Pompey took a giant step towards safety against pre-match favourites Everton. The Toffees has been on a 13 match unbeaten run and looked set to extend that when Baines curled in a delightful freekick off the post minutes into the game. But Pompey rallied and played some good football to put Everton under sustained pressure. Everton themselves are notorious for making the best of set pieces but they were undone from two corners, the first bringing pompey's equaliser when a clearance found Krancjar who picked out Johnson at the far post who intelligently nodded the ball across goal for Crouch to pounce. Right at the start of the 2nd half Pompey should have taken the lead when Nugent found space out wide after a tricky run and crossed for Crouch to flick his header straight at Howard. Everton were fading and with 15 mins to go Pompey found the breakthrough they deserved, another corner being despatched directly in at the far post by Crouch. Pompey had already taken off Nugent for Kanu and the big man helped to see out the game with his expert touch, something that Hart agreed himself he should have done the week before. Pompey were now 4 points clear with winnable games coming up in April. Paul Hart BBC Interview ESPN Highlights Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Davis, Mullins, Nugent (Kanu 74), Kranjcar, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes, Basinas, Belhadj. Booked: Hreidarsson, Kaboul. Goals: Crouch 22, 75. Everton: Howard, Jacobsen (Gosling 86), Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Fellaini, Neville, Pienaar, Saha, Jo (Rodwell 90).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Castillo, Agard, Baxter, Wallace. Booked: Osman. Goals: Baines 4. Att: 20,388 Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). | Saturday 14th March 2009 15:00pm Middlesbrough 1 Portsmouth 1 
Tuncay forces a header goalwards..... | Yet again Pompey had a vital win within their grasp, and yet again they let a beaten side snatch a share of the points. Against the backdrop of a baying Riverside crowd that quickly turned against the home side, Pompey played some good football and hit the post with a great effort from Nugent before they took a deserved lead from a corner. The kick was played short with a Boro defence falling asleep and Johnson took full advantage by running at goal before flicking the ball to Crouch who hit a volley through a crowd of players and into the net. The booing intensified from the home crowd and would have been justified if Crouch had manged to connect with a header from a Belhadj freekick, but the striker flicked it straight to Jones. The 2nd half saw Pompey content to sit on their lead but still created chances on the break, Krancjar firing a freekick narrowly over. But Boro continued to press in desperation and that desperation saw Bates sent off when he dived in the area to get his second yellow of the day. This should have seen Pompey wrap up the points but right at the death Boro won a corner which was overhit but knocked back into the area where James pulled off a stunning point blank save from McMahon and King pounced on the rebound to save Boro. Another wasted opportunity by Harts men but they were out of the bottom 3. Paul Harts BBC Interview Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz (Taylor 46), Aliadiere (Adam Johnson 58), Arca (Alves 71), Bates, Downing, Sanli, King. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Emnes, Shawky, Walker. Sent Off: Bates (77). Booked: Bates. Goals: King 90. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Belhadj 36), Davis, Mullins, Kranjcar (Pamarot 90), Crouch, Nugent (Hughes 70). Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kaboul, Utaka, Kanu. Booked: Belhadj, Nugent, Johnson. Goals: Crouch 30. Att: 24,281 Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire). | Tuesday 3rd March 2009 19:45pm Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 1 
Drogba breaks Pompeys resistance...... | Despite playing well in horrid conditions Pompey came up pointless in a match they may well have won. Both sides had good chances to open the scoring in the first half with Drogba just failing to convert a great cross by Lampard and Davis denied by a sharp one-handed save by Cech after a good move. The rain was lashing down all game and neither side could control or shoot well enough to trouble either goalkeeper otherwise. In the second half it was Pompey who created the first chance with Nugent latching onto a flicked header by Crouch that put him through on goal, but his shot was too near Cech and he saved well. Chelsea were being held at arms length well by a well drilled defence and Chelsea commited numbers forward. From a Chelsea freekick just outside the box they bizarrely left no-one back and when Lampards shot was blocked Campbell cleared the ball to Crouch who had ran to the Halfway line and was away. He carried the ball with Chelsea players chasing hard and he spotted Krancjar and picked him out with a great ball but after controlling well the Croat fluffed the finish. Then with 10 mins to go Chelsea struck the winner, some poor marking allowed Queresma to lay the ball off to Boswinga and his cross found Drogba at the back post who controlled well and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. Pompey continued to press but Chelsea defended well in numbers and the win was assured for the West London Club. Paul Harts BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Utaka 70), Mullins, Davis, Kranjcar, Crouch, Nugent.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kanu, Kaboul, Pamarot, Basinas, Belhadj. Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel (Belletti 56), Ballack (Mancienne 90), Lampard, Kalou (Quaresma 60), Drogba, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Ferreira. Goals: Drogba 79. Att: 20,326 Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). | Saturday 21st February 2009 15:00pm Stoke 2 Portsmouth 2 
Herman is a last gasp hero again..... | An awful game sprang to life in the final twenty minutes with Pompey scoring a last gasp equaliser to claim a point. It may have been a win but for awful officiating from Mr Jones and his assistants. Both teams failed to pass the ball with any quality during the first hour, mainly due to a pitch that looked bumpy and uncut and neither side produced a shot on target. But out of the two sides Pompey looked to have the quality and this told to produce the first goal almost from nothing. Krancjar it was who scored when he went on a bustling run from midfield, the ball was tackled from him but fell to Nugent who spotted the Croats' continuing run into the box and the ball was neatly tucked past Sorensen. Less than a minute later though Stoke were awarded a shocking penalty. Glen Johnson dealt with a ball that bouced awkwardly but clearly played it with his chest, Mike Jones decided otherwise and pointed to the spot depite furious protests from Johnson. Beattie sent James the wrong way to score. Straight from the kickoff with Pompey still reeling from the penalty, a cross came in to the far post and was knocked back to Beattie again to finish from two yards out. He looked offside but that was debunked later on Match of the Day. Pompey surged forward to save the game and were rewarded in injury time when Hreidarsson popped up in space to power a ball into the box which Shawcross hacked into the net. A point apiece which helped neither team too much in the relegation battle, but until Krancjars goal that was always the likely result. Paul Harts BBC Interview. Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence (Tonge 66), Diao, Amdy Faye, Pugh, Sidibe (Cresswell 84), Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Kitson, Camara, Sonko. Booked: Lawrence. Goals: Beattie 78 pen, 80. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Basinas (Mullins 71), Davis, Kranjcar (Kanu 89), Crouch, Nugent (Belhadj 89).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kaboul, Pamarot, Utaka. Booked: Hreidarsson, Johnson, Davis. Goals: Kranjcar 75, Shawcross 90 og. Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire). | Saturday 14th February 2009 15:00pm Portsmouth 2 Man City 0 
The Hermanator just loves scoring..... | With Adams gone, Paul Hart was promoted from the youth setup to run the side, he called on the experience of Brian Kidd to help him to Pompey's first league win in 10 games. Manchester City were poor throughout, but Pompey looked a different side under the directions of Hart and Kidd with a solid looking 4-5-1 wearing City down. City were not without talent on the pitch but that talent seemed to go missing for large swathes of the game which allowed Pompey to build confidence. Crouch fired a shot straight at Given and Nugent ran too wide when put through to fire his shot wide of goal from a very tight angle. Citys only reply was a wild shot from Elano. The second period saw Pompey run the game, Nugent was again put through but fired his shot well wide. The breakthrough came from the revitalised Johnson who bustled past Bridge and fired a shot into the box which Given parried, the rebound fell to him again and with a quick shimmy fired a left foot shot into the roof of the net. The lead was extended when Pompey won a corner, with only 3 Players in the box against 7 City markers, somehow Hreidarsson lost his man and powered a header into the top corner. City briefly rallied and may have got back into the match but for a fantastic save from James, his left hand clawing a bullet header past the post with five minutes to go. Paul Harts BBC interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Belhadj 86), Basinas (Mullins 67), Davis, Kranjcar, Crouch, Nugent. Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Kanu, Gekas. Booked: Hreidarsson. Goals: Johnson 70, Hreidarsson 75. Man City: Given, Logan, Kompany, Onuoha, Bridge, Zabaleta (Evans 78), De Jong, Ireland, Elano, Bellamy, Robinho (Caicedo 66). Subs Not Used: Hart, Garrido, Fernandes, Berti, Weiss. Booked: De Jong, Ireland, Bellamy. Att: 20,018 Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire). | Saturday 7th February 2009 17:30pm Portsmouth 2 Liverpool 3 
Nugent finshes well after being put through by Crouch.... | A fighting display from Portsmouth who gave a debut to Basinas in midfield was undone by some tactical niavety by Adams in what proved to be his final match in charge of the Blues. The first half was a dour affair with a Liverpool side shorn of Gerrard, Alonso and Torres (with Keane sold to Spurs) never really making any impact on a bustling pompey side. Both lacked quality though and only a Crouch side foot over the bar and an Aurelio free-kick that skimmed the post were the chances of note. The second half saw Pompey attack the Fratton End and they were rewarded when Crouch stabbed a ball through to Nugent who fired under Reina to put the home side ahead. But disaster struck when Crouch in a deep position played a poor backpass to James who had to handle in his area. From 12 yards, Aurelio smacked in the freekick with the whole Pompey team on the line. Pompey then took a fortunate lead when a Belhadj freekick was flicked towards goal by Hreidarsson and the muddy bounce beat Reina. Liverpool had already introduced Kuyt and Alonso with Torres warmng up and Liverpool snatched the game in the final five minutes. Distin missed a throughball and Liverpool were through with Kuyt finally smacking the ball home from a tight angle and at the death the newly introduced Torres headed in at the near post with two minutes on injury time gone to complete a stunning comeback. Adams was left to take his frustration out on a water bottle in the dugout. Tony Adams BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Basinas, Davis, Mullins (Kranjcar 46), Belhadj, Crouch, Nugent.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Lauren, Mvuemba, Pamarot, Kanu, Gekas. Booked: Hreidarsson. Goals: Nugent 62, Hreidarsson 78. Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Dossena (Alonso 67), Arbeloa, Mascherano, Aurelio, Babel (Torres 76), Ngog (Kuyt 56), Benayoun.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Riera, El Zhar. Goals: Aurelio 69, Kuyt 85, Torres 90. Att: 20,524 Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire). | Saturday 31st January 2009 15:00pm
Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1 
Nevland celebrates his double from the subs bench..... | Another woeful display of defending saw Pompey slip to another defeat and saw the pressure on Manager Tony Adams intensify. Fulham took the lead after a slick 1-2 saw Andy Johnson played onside by Distin and he was through on goal. beating James off a post. Pompey responded well though and a couple of chances for Davis and Mullins was followed by Kaboul hitting the bar from a corner. After the break Pompey pressed again and were unlucky not to be given a stonewall penalty when Nugent was stopped from shooting from a few yards out after a great turn. Crouch also possibly should have penalty when he was blocked off from a header with the goal gaping. Pompey then shot themselves in the foot when Distin allowed a long through ball past him and Nevland was through on goal finishing well. Nevland also added a third when he was allowed to turn in the box and fire past James. Still Pompey pressed and Utaka turned well and fired just over before Nugent was rewarded for a bustling display with a flicked a header late on to restore some pride to Pompey. Tony Adams BBC Interview Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey (Gera 90), Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Zamora (Nevland 63), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Teymourian, Gray, Stoor, Kallio. Goals: Johnson 14, Nevland 71, 80. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul (Pamarot 76), Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Mullins, Armand Traore (Utaka 63), Kanu (Nugent 46), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Lauren, Mvuemba, Little. Booked: Mullins. Goals: Nugent 84. Att: 23,722 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire). | Tuesday 27th January 2009 20:00pm Portsmouth 0
Aston Villa 1 | With the capture of Hayden Mullins and Pele the previous day, Adams had identified that midfield was his greatest problem for the rest of the season. Sadly it was the defence, and Sol Campbell, who let him down in this latest defeat. Pompey started the first quarter of the game playing well and probing at Villas defence, but disaster struck when Campbell failed to beat Heskey in the air and then let his man run on from Agbonlahors' flick to score. Pompey were limited, despite good pressure, to two chances for Mullins in the first half but didn't test Friedel. Frustration reigned and Belhadj was lucky to stay on the pitch after a wild hack, his luck was soon to run out though. Pompey kept up the pressure on the Villa backline but shots and corners came and went, Crouch missing the clearest chance from only a few yards out. Just minutes later Belhadj left the pitch for his second yellow for petulantly kicking the ball away after arguing with a linesman. Despite that Pompey had one more golden chance to salvage a point, Utaka beat three defenders but a heavy touch took the ball away from him and Friedel smothered the ball. Pompey went to Fulham badly needing 3 points to avoid dropping into the bottom 3, the relegation battle is well and truely on. Tony Adams BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell (Kaboul 46), Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Davis, Mullins, Belhadj, Crouch, Kanu (Utaka 74).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Armand Traore. Sent Off: Belhadj (71). Booked: Belhadj, Johnson. Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Luke Young, Gardner (Sidwell 65), Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Heskey (Shorey 83).
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Delfouneso, Salifou, Osbourne. Booked: Petrov, Milner. Goals: Heskey 21. Att: 19,073 Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). | Sunday 18th January 2009 16:00pm Tottenham 1 Portsmouth 1 
Nugent finally breaks his Premiership duck..... | David Nugent scored his first ever league goal for Pompey but the Blues could not hold out to gain an important win at White Hart Lane. In fact it was Pompey's first ever point in the Premiership at the Lane and Tony Adams was much the happier manager compared to his old Boss. David James won the Man of the Match award for his plethora of saves that helped Pompey stay in the match. In the first half he pushed shots from Lennon and Defoe wide and tipped over a close range header from Defoe wide then blocking the rebound. Nugent, playing on the right wing, burst past Spurs back line and cut back for Traore, but Corluka saved a certain tap in with a great tackle. The best chance of the half fell to Nugent, he was played in behind a limping King and only had Gomes to beat, but he tamely prodded his shot against the keeper. The much maligned striker made amends in the 2nd half, a blistering counter attack starting with a save and throw out from James released Traore, he ran 60 yards to the edge of the Spurs box where he was tackled but the ball squirmed to Nugent who blasted a shot in off the post. Spurs were stung by this and took a while to regroup, but they peppered Pompey's box with balls and eventually one move paid off, the ball being laid off to Defoe by Modric who smacked the ball home. Bent then missed a golden chance to win the game for Spurs and Redknapps face said it all, the ball was looped up to him by Bentley but with the goal at his mercy, he nodded it wide. Redknapp exploded with dismay, much to the delight of the travelling fans. Tony Adams BBC Interview Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King (Dawson 44), Bale (Bentley 68), Lennon, Zokora, O'Hara, Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 28), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Huddlestone, Campbell, Taarabt. Goals: Defoe 70. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent (Utaka 73), Davis, Kaboul (Wilson 88), Kranjcar (Hreidarsson 90), Armand Traore, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Little, Kanu. Booked: Davis, Kaboul. Goals: Nugent 59. Att: 36,011 Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent). | Sunday 28th December 2008 14:00pm Arsenal 1 Portsmouth 0 
Gallas nips infont of James to nod home...... | Adams returned to his former club despertaley needing a point to halt his sides slide down the Premiership table. He set Pompey up in a 4-5-1 formation that worked so well last season and Pompey almost came away with the desired result. It was Pompey who had the best chance of the first 45 minutes when Wilson crossed for Crouch to flick the ball onto the post with Almunia scrambling to save. Adebayor did latch onto a through ball to round James but Distin and Campbell made last ditch tackles to stop him scoring. The 2nd half continued in much the same vein, Arsenal playing a lot of possesion football and not getting behind the Pompey back line. When Arsenal swung crosses in though, Pompey and especially James looked vulnerable and after flapping at a couple of fairly easy chances he was finally undone from a whipped in freekick that Gallas beat him to. A poor goal and James could argue that Gallas should have been marked prior to the delivery of the free-kick. Pompey slumped to thier 4th league defeat in a row and looked to the FA Cup to provide some respite. Tony Adams BBC interview Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Eboue (Vela 66), Denilson, Diaby (Ramsey 75), Nasri, Adebayor, Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Toure, Van Persie, Wilshere, Gibbs. Goals: Gallas 81. Portsmouth: James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent (Defoe 88), Diop (Pamarot 90), Davis, Hughes (Mvuemba 50), Kranjcar, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Little, Kanu. Booked: Hughes. Att: 60,092 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire). | Friday 26th December 2008 13:00pm Portsmouth 1 West Ham 4 
Bellamy ran riot in the second half........ | A woeful last half hour from Pompey saw them slump to a record home defeat in the Premier League. It started well with Belhadj tucking away a goal after playing a 1-2 with Crouch, but Pompey failed to turn that early lead into dominance. Wilson, who was making his Premiership debut, was not helped by Little as they both fell asleep from a dangerous free-kick and allowed Collison in to fire home from 12 yards. Crouch was being held by Upson all half and right at the end of the first 45 referee Bennet finally gave a penalty. Defoe, looking subdued all game, stepped up and put it wide of the keepers right hand post. Pompey came out for the 2nd half and battered the Hammers goal, Green making 2 point blank saves. Pompey were then hit on the counter, Wilson hit the post from a corner and Bellamy broke to tee up Collison who hit the post with Cole knocking in the rebound. Pompey collapsed and West Ham ran riot, scoring two more through Bellamy, the first another break when he tapped in after James had saved at his feet and the second from a Boa-Morte pass. Boo's rang out from the Fratton Park crowd at the final whistle, worrying times indeed for Pompey and Tony Adams. Tony Adams BBC interview Portsmouth: James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Armand Traore 71), Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe (Kanu 73).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Diop, Nugent, Pamarot. Booked: Wilson. Goals: Belhadj 8. West Ham: Green, Neill (Faubert 46), Davenport, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Noble (Boa Morte 73), Parker, Behrami, Cole (Tristan 87), Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Mullins, Collins, Di Michele. Booked: Noble, Behrami, Parker. Goals: Collison 20, Cole 67, Bellamy 70, 83. Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent). | Saturday 20th Decmber 2008 15:00pm Bolton 2 Portsmouth 1 
Gardner tucks away what proved to be the winner...... | A horrific start for Pompey saw them go two goals down inside 3 minutes and they struggled to get back into the match for the other 87 minutes. The first goal was scored by ex-Pompey man Taylor who is in his best run of scoring form in the Premiership. This was matched by Gardner who was put through by shocking defending and he beat James from close range. The game was end to end throughout both halves and Pompey survived Steinsson hittnig a post and two goal line clearances in the first half. Crouch did get Pompey back in the game when he nodded in at the far post after a great cross from Krancjar. Boltons high tempo pressing game was playing havoc with Pompey and more chances came thier way, Nolan prodded the ball wide after a knock down by Davies and Gardner should have had another but he was thwarted by James who also saved from Elmander. Bolton were well worth the win and the scoreline flattered Pompey who were again having an off day with the defence looking very suspect even after Adams' call for the team to defend better. Tony Adams BBC Interview Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Davies, Nolan, McCann, Taylor, Gardner (Muamba 83), Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Smolarek, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi. Booked: Steinsson. Goals: Taylor 1, Gardner 3. Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop (Nugent 75), Davis, Hughes (Diarra 63), Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Little, Kanu, Armand Traore, Wilson. Booked: Defoe. Goals: Crouch 20. Att: 19,884 Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire). | Sunday 14th December 2008 13:30pm Portsmouth 0 Newcastle 3 
Owen supplied a cool finish for the Toons first....... | Newcastle took full advantage of an off day in front of goal by Pompey to inflict their biggest home defeat in 10 years. A bad day at the office even saw the Referee play his part as he twice failed to give a penalty, for a foul on Defoe by Bassong and a handball in the box by Nicky Butt. At the other end Martins smacked a shot against the post from 25 yards and Beye nodded wide from a corner when he really should have hit the target. Defoe tested Given twice once from range and once with a lob that drifted over and just before the half ended he smacked a first time volley from a Belhadj cross narrowly over. But it was the Magpies that who broke the deadlock, a terrible pass by Mvuemba was picked off by Gutierrez and he found Owen who cooly lifted the ball over the advancing James. Pompey stepped up the pace getting corner after corner and from one of these Pamarot headed wide from a great position. Defoe continued to squander chances his best was a neat turn in the box but he dragged his shot wide to howls of frustration from the Fratton End. Another defensive lapse saw Enrique slip in Martins who tapped past a stranded James and just before the end with Pompey throwing everything forward to chase the game, Ameobi was realesed down the left and he cut back for Guthrie to slam home a third, again James should have done better. A poor day for Pompey and a day to forget. Tony Adams BBC Interview. Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Mvuemba (Armand Traore 58), Davis, Hughes (Kanu 70), Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Wilson. Booked: Distin, James, Davis, Defoe. Newcastle: Given, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Martins (Ameobi 79), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Duff, Geremi, Taylor, Viduka. Booked: Gutierrez. Goals: Owen 52, Martins 77, Guthrie 89. Att: 19,416 Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside). | Sunday 7th December 2008 15:00pm West Brom 1 Portsmouth 1 
Crouch salutes the crowd after levelling......... | A poor first half showing by Pompey allowed the leagues bottom club to take a 1 goal lead but a second half fightback, which should have seen Pompey take all 3 points, was enough to satisfy Tony Adams. West Brom spurned a couple of great chances before they scored, Brunt missing the best chance when put through by Miller he was 1-on-1 with James but curled his shot the wrong side of the post. It was his free-kick though that the Baggies scored from, teh shot smacking against the bar and Greening tapping in the rebound with a Pompey defence static. The first half continued with Pompey conceding possesion far too much and Adams had plenty to say at Half Time. Whatever was said worked as Pompey looked a far better prospect and they equalised when Crouch advanced on goal and instead of playing in Defoe who had pulled off his man, he hit a 25 yard shot that flicked off a defender and over the standed Carson. Carson then nearly let Pompey equalise when he fumbled a cross from Johnson back towards his goal and then had to flick it off the goalline. Johnson also had a great opportunity to equalise when he played a one-two with Defoe but blzed his shot over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the target. A chance for 3 points missed maybe, but Pompey remain unbeaten in their last 4 games. Tony Adams BBC Interview. Goal highlights. West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Borja Valero (Bednar 67), Greening, Koren, Brunt, Miller (Moore 76).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Barnett, Kim, Filipe Teixeira. Booked: Olsson. Goals: Greening 39. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Davis, Diop, Belhadj (Little 46), Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch (Kanu 90).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Wilson. Booked: Diop, Johnson. Goals: Crouch 58. Att: 24,964 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral). | Sunday 30th November 2008 15:00pm Portsmouth 3 Blackburn 2 
Davis snatches the winner with a fine finish..... | Portsmouth let slip a two goal lead yet again before finding a winner to give Tony Adams his first home win at Fratton Park. A tight first half saw a lethargic Pompey hand the intiative to the visitors through poor passing, but Blackburn could not find an opening to test James in the Pompey goal. Crouch opened the scoring in the first half nodding in a Johnson cross, an opening which had a lot to do with the introduction of Krancjar on the right at half time. It was he who hit the probing pass to Defoe who beat his man on the edge of the box and cooly slotted past Robinson. But Adams' men have a habit lately of letting leads slip and with the introduction of Derbyshire Blackburn hit back, a lofted cross into the box was nodded over James by the forward. Pompey went into full panic mode and backed off Blackburn alarmingly, this gave Tugay the time and space to run to the edge of the box and fire a shot into the corner. The home crowd, nervous already howled at their team to sort themselves out but it was Blackburn who had the ball in the net next, Derbyshire poaching after a cross fell to him but it was ruled out for a foul on James as he came to collect the ball. This let off fired Pompey and a driving Diop run from midfield saw him crack a shot from 20 yards that Robinson could only parry out, it bounced off Kanu and Davis ran in from nowhere to control the ball and lift it over the advancing keeper. At last Pompey held on for the remaining minutes to record a well overdue win. Goal Highlights Tony Adams BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Distin, Pamarot, Belhadj, Little (Kranjcar 46), Diop, Hughes, Armand Traore (Davis 76), Crouch (Kanu 69), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Nugent. Goals: Crouch 49, Defoe 53, Davis 79. Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Andrews, Kerimoglu, Pedersen (Villanueva 87), Roque Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Derbyshire 61).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Simpson, Fowler, Roberts. Booked: Ooijer. Goals: Derbyshire 62, Kerimoglu 67. Att: 18,111 Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire). | Saturday 22nd November 2008 15:00pm Portsmouth 2 Hull City 2 
Turner looks pleased after his equaliser..... | Glen Johnsons stunning second half strike looked to have given Pompey all three points at home for the first time under Tony Adams, but an 89th minute equaliser from either Windass or Pamarot (depending on your point of view) gave Hull a point. Pompey started very well, with Doip hitting the bar after 2 mins and then hooking a shot wide from 6 yards after being well setup by a nod from Crouch. Crouch it was who opened the scoring on 20 mins when a cleared corner was crossed back in by Kaboul and Crouch nodded in from close range. Hulls one real chance came from the boot of Geovanni who crashed a dipping 30 yard effort off the crossbar. The second half saw Pompey drop a gear and Hull took advantage, equalising from a corner with Turner heading in at the far post. James then saved well from Marney and Adams was doing his nut on the touchline. Despite Adams bringing on two subs, it was Johnson who thrust Pompey back into the lead when he collected a cleared corner 30 yards out and cracked a looping shot out of the reach of Myhill. Goal of the Month, surely. Pompey, it seems, cannot close out games and once again they conceded a late goal from another corner. The Pompey fans were incensed it was given at all, Pamarot clearly striking the ball against the forward when clearing, for a goal kick. The linesman thought otherwise and the ball was floated into the box and poked towards goal by Windass and crossing the line off the unlucky Pamarot. Tony Adams BBC interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Hughes (Nugent 58), Belhadj (Armand Traore 58), Crouch, Utaka (Kanu 74).
Subs Not Used:Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Little. Booked: Diop, Davis. Goals: Crouch 20, Johnson 63. Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Marney (Giannakopoulos 82), Ashbee, Boateng (Halmosi 72), Geovanni, King (Windass 72), Cousin.
Subs Not Used:Duke, Doyle, Barmby, Garcia. Booked: Windass. Goals: Turner 54, Pamarot 89 og. Att: 20,240 Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). | Saturday 15th November 2008 15:00pm West Ham 0 Portsmouth 0 
Distin and Cole battle in the scoreless draw..... | Jermain Defoe was unlucky not to grab all 3 points for Pompey on their second away trip in a row, but he was up against Robert Green who was in fine form for the Hammers. Despite the blank scoreline there was plenty of action. Defoe had three great chances to score, but even though he gots his shots on target, Green was there to save, the best chance was when Defoe was clean through but he couldn't lift a high bouncing ball over the on-rushing keeper. At the other end, West Hams best effort was a free-kick from Bellamy that hit the bar with James gathering the rebound at the second attempt. Both Managers could be happy with a point though, the Hammers because it stopped a losing run and Pompey because it continued the momentum under Adams new management. Highlights West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami, Parker (Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Diarra (Armand Traore 19), Belhadj, Crouch (Kanu 75), Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes. Booked: Pamarot. Att: 32,328 Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire). | Saturday 8th November 2008 15:00pm Sunderland 1 Portsmouth 2 
Belhadj is congratulated on his excellent strike..... | Finally the luck was with Pompey who won despite a very poor performance especially in the 1st half. The game was only 4 mins old when Cisse latched onto a through ball and raced away from Campbell to slot the ball under the advancing James' legs. The home side dominated the first 45 easily, with Pompey never really holding onto the ball long enough to produce and attacks and the midfield looked increasingly adrift from the two front men. At the other end the post denied Richardson and James saved twice from Cisse to keep the away side in the match. After the break Pompey immediately looked a different side and equalised in short order, Belhadj collecting Krancjars pass 35 yards out and advanced several strides before crashing in a left foot shot. Cisse was continuing his one man assault at the other end but kept straying offside and had one headed goal disallowed for it. Adams changed things by removing Crouch and adding Kanu to the Midfield which worked a treat as Pompey were lively on the break with Defoe outstanding. With time ticking away, one such break saw Johnson dance into the box and was clumsily felled by Diouf for a clear Penalty. Defoe made no mistake and the 3 points were in the bag. Tony Adams BBC Interview Goal Highlights Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque (Leadbitter 80), Whitehead, Reid (Healy 80), Richardson, Cisse, Murphy (Diouf 46).
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Tainio, Miller, Henderson. Booked: Collins, Whitehead. Goals: Cisse 4. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Pamarot, Davis, Diarra, Kranjcar (Utaka 75), Defoe (Hughes 90), Crouch (Kanu 69).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Diop, Armand Traore. Booked: Diarra. Goals: Belhadj 51, Defoe 90 pen. Att: 37,712 Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent). | Saturday 1st November 2008 15:00pm Portsmouth 1 Wigan Athletic 2 | A late Krancjar equaliser after Pompey had peppered Wigans goal was to no avail as Emile Heskey scored in injury time to snatch a 3 points. The South Coast side had hit the woodork 3 times and had 3 shots cleared off the line before they equalised Wigans first half Penalty. Diop semed to pull out of his challenge on Bramble in the box, but the ref gave Zaki the chance to score from the spot on the stroke of Half Time which he took. Krancjar replaced Traore in the second half and his free-kick was hacked off the line and this signalled more pressure from Pompey. Defoe missed his kick in the box when about to score and Crouch headed just wide and following those chances Kirkland was adjudged to have picked up a back pass and with every Wigan player on the line, Defoes shot was again blocked on the line. Finally the equaliser came with Krancjar firing a shot through masses bodies in the box this time evading all defenders. Possibly naively Pompey pushed for a winner and left gaping holes at the back which Wigan exploited, James having to bravely save twice at forwards who were clean through. He could do nothing about Heskey's winner right at the death, the striker rolling the ball under the onrushing keeper. Tony Adams BBC Interview Goal Highlights Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj (Pamarot 90), Diop (Utaka 73), Diarra, Davis, Armand Traore (Kranjcar 46), Crouch, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Hughes, Kanu. Goals: Kranjcar 82. Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Koumas, Heskey, Zaki (Camara 89). Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Scharner, Kilbane, Brown, De Ridder. Booked: Cattermole, Bramble, Figueroa. Goals: Zaki 45 pen, Heskey 90. Att: 18,416 Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). | Wednesday 29th October 20:00pm Liverpool 1 Portsmouth 0 
Gerrard slots home the winning Penalty...... | Tony Adams first game in charge saw Pompey return to the 4-5-1 that paid dividends away from home last season. Defoe was dropped to the bench and Crouch plowed a lone furrow up front, supported by Utaka and Traore. Liverpool had the best of the early exchanges, James saving well from Kuyt and Lucas heading over the bar from a corner. Pompey were hitting Liverpool on the break and had the best chance of the half when Diop found himself unmarked from a Davis cross but headed tamely straight at Reina. In the second half Pompey couldn't really get out of thier own half, but held Liverpool resolutely up until Diop handled a corner, displaying a moment of madness. Gerrard just beat James with the spot kick. Pompey responded well though and again had a great chance to earn a point but Utaka missed his unmarked header from a terrific Belhadj cross. So that's two good displays from Pompey without Redknapp, they will hope to return to winning ways against Wigan on saturday. Tony Adams BBC Interview Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Aurelio, Pennant (Benayoun 63), Alonso, Leiva Lucas, Babel (Riera 71), Gerrard (Keane 90), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Mascherano. Goals: Gerrard 76 pen. Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Utaka (Defoe 85), Davis, Diop, Diarra (Hughes 80), Armand Traore (Kranjcar 64), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kanu, Mvuemba, Hreidarsson. Booked: Diarra, Diop. Att: 43,378 Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset). | Sunday 26th October 2008 17:00pm Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1 
Tony and Joe could be moving 1 seat along....... | Portsmouth failed to put a difficult 24 hours to bed with the win that would have cheered up the Fratton faithful. It was a barnstorming game from start to finish, with the crowd rising above the late kickoff lethargy and confusion over Redknapps departure the previous night. Pompey peppered the Fulham goal throughout the first half, with Hughes and Defoe having shots save by Schwarzer. Belhadj then went on one of his barnstorming runs, beating 4 players and only seeing his goalbound flick from 10 yards out just palmed away by the keeper. It would have been one of the goals of the season had it been finished. Johnson had the ball in the net at the other end, but Gera was offside as he crossed for the striker. The second half started in much the same vein, Pompey were breaking well with the returning Diarra running the midfield again and he created two chances, the first Defoe ran at the defence and shot just wide when he should have passed, the second was correctly held up by Defoe who played in Crouch to crash home a shot. Belhadj and Traore caused mayhem all afternoon and they both had good chances to win the game, Belhadj crashing a shot against the post and Traore dancing into the area and clearly being brought down, Halsey was unmoved though. Fulham made two subs and they combined to snatch a point, Adams seemed to change to a 3-5-2 to see out the game, but Dempsey was unmarked and was well found by Nevland. Some desperate defending by Fulham saw them complete thier mugging. Lets hope Pompey play as well at Anfield, they'll need to. Joe Jordan BBC Interview Goal Highlights Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Diop, Diarra (Mvuemba 83), Hughes, Armand Traore (Kranjcar 84), Crouch, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Kanu, Djimi Traore. Goals: Crouch 61. Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil (Nevland 84), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera (Dempsey 71), Johnson, Zamora. Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Milsom, Kallio, Baird. Goals: Dempsey 87. Att: 19,233 Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire). | Saturday 18th October 2008 15:00pm Aston Villa 0 Portsmouth 0 
Defoe misses an open goal from 3 yards...... | This match had all the hallmarks of two very accomplished attack-minded Premiership sides. Both played with wingers of differing styles and both looked to score during the whole 90 mins of play. It was an entertaining match until Davis was sent from the field for his second booking, after that Pompey were just holding on and breaking on the counter. Pompey came closest to scoring in the first half, Traore smacking a shot from an angle against the post, which then rebounded towards goal and was hacked off the line, Defoe had the goal at his mercy but, impeded by Crouch, ballooned his shot over from 3 yards out. Curtis Davis did the same for Villa from a dangerous freekick, that fell to his feet in the 6 yard box, he couldn't keep his shot down. After the sending off, Villa had two good chances to win it, Carew flicked a header onto the top of the bar and Agbonlahor was clattered by James as he headed towards Goal, the Villa crowd bayed for a penalty, but it was not to be. The draw was a fair result in an entertaining match. Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Davies, Laursen (Luke Young 88), Milner, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Sidwell, Harewood, Knight, Shorey, Gardner. Booked: Ashley Young. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Armand Traore (Belhadj 78), Little (Utaka 71), Davis, Diop, Pamarot, Defoe (Mvuemba 82), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Thomas, Kanu. Sent Off: Davis (81). Booked: Johnson, Davis, Diop. Att: 37,660 Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire). | Sunday 5th October 2008 15:00pm Portsmouth 2 Stoke City 1 
Crouch flies into action with a scissor kick goal.... | Despite the enormous exertions of the team in Portugal just two and a half days previously, Redknapp named a virtually unchanged side to play against Stoke, the only change being Diop coming into midfield for Pamarot as Pompey lined up with a 4-4-2 formation. Stoke had the first real chance, James hitting a poor clearance straight to Delap who played in Kitson who bore down on goal, but hit his shot past James and wide of the post. Pompey though weer well in control and took the lead mid-way through the half when Defoe collected a loose ball in the box, turned and chipped the ball to the far post where Crouch rose and scissor kicked the ball into the far corner, a brilliant strike and almost tradmark for him. Defoe was then denied by a smart save by Simonsen with the only threat from Stoke being via the sling throw of Delap. It proved effective again when 3 minutes into the 2nd half a throw was launched which Kitson got his head to and the ball was bundled in by Fuller. Pompey were stung by that, as almost from the kickoff , Defoe worked his way to the edge of the box and blasted a shot off the post. Thankfully for Pompey, he repeated the same move a few minutes later and snuck a shot into the bottom corner with Simonsen helpless. Pompey went into overdrive with new found confidence, Simonsen saved twice from Crouch and then deflected a Traore drive wide, if it wasn't for the keeper, Stoke would have been buried under a deluge of goals. A good win against an ugly, tricky side who will struggle to stay up, Pompey have not beaten these sides regularly in the past. Harry Redknapp BBC Interview Goal Highlights Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Diop, Davis, Hughes, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 90), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Little, Kanu, Hreidarsson, Kaboul, Mvuemba, Pamarot. Goals: Crouch 25, Defoe 50. Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Delap (Cresswell 73), Olofinjana, Amdy Faye, Tonge (Soares 65), Fuller, Kitson (Sidibe 61).
Subs Not Used: Whelan, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Sonko. Goal: Fuller 48. Booked: Olofinjana 22, Simonsen 66, Amdy Faye 76. Att: 19,248. Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands). | Sunday 28th September 2008 13:30pm Portsmouth 2 Tottenham Hotspurs 0 
Defoe is overjoyed at a goal against his old club..... | A badly needed return to form for Portsmouth, who endured a wretched week, conceding 10 goals in 2 games. The visitors has recorded a 1st win of the season in mid-week in the Carling Cup, but travelled to Fratton without a league win. Defoe was put through in the 1st minute but was just offside before he fired home. Both sides played at a high tempo but chances were few, both teams easily conceding possesion. The breakthrough came out of the blue, Little spun in a free-kick from wide and inexplicably Jenas handled in the area. Defoe endured the taunts of his previous teams fans to cooly finish, noticably not celebrating in front of the Spurs fans. In the 2nd half Spurs should have had a penalty when Diarra looked to block a shot with his hands, but nothing was given. Lennon came on and imediately brough a good save from James with a curling shot, but Pompey broke soon after and won the game when Crouch nodded in after Gomes had spilled Traore's fierce shot, the big man contrasted Defoe when he celebrated his first home goal with some gusto. Diarra was sent off for his 2nd bookable offence with a couple of minutes to go, a silly challenge after losing the ball with a heavy first touch. Harry Redknapp BBC Interview Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Utaka 61), Diarra, Hughes, Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe (Kaboul 89).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Kanu. Sent Off: Diarra (88). Booked: Diarra, Belhadj, Crouch, Hughes. Goals: Defoe 34 pen, Crouch 68. Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Zokora (Giovani 58), O'Hara, Gilberto (Lennon 46), Pavlyuchenko (Bent 73).
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Huddlestone, Modric, Gunter. Booked: Woodgate, O'Hara, Lennon. Att: 20,352 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral) | Sunday 21st September 2008 15:00pm Manchester City 6 Portsmouth 0 | A shocking last 30 mins from Pompey at the back saw Pompey his for 6 goals at Eastlands. Although they gifted City a 2-0 lead after 20 mins the first half was fairly even and no hint of what was to come was evident. Jo ran onto a through ball and rounded James, who was covering for a sluggish Campbell, and slotted home with ease. Dunne then poked a spilled ball from James into the net after a wicked corner from Elano. Pompey rallied and had a couple of great chances to pull one back, first Crouch fired a Johnson cross wide then Campbell had a header cleared off the line. From the 2nd half kickoff, Defoe raced away but screwed his cross/shot wide, that then signalled the City onslaught. Distin was caught in no-mans land to play Robinho onside and he slotted home neatly, next it was Wright-Phillips who was put through and lashed the ball home from a tight angle. Those two combined to setup Evans with a Wright-Phillips back heel finding a Pompey defence in utter disarray. Fernandes rounded off the rampant City scoring with a neat close range finish after more defensive mistakes. All in all a very bad day at the office for the Pompey defence. Harry Redknapps BBC Interview Mark Hughes BBC Interview Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Gelson 77), Elano, Robinho (Sturridge 85), Jo (Evans 71).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Michael Ball, Hamann, Ben-Haim. Goals: Jo 13, Dunne 20, Robinho 57, Wright-Phillips 68, Evans 78, Gelson 83. Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Pamarot 82), Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Diarra, Davis (Diop 33), Kaboul (Utaka 46), Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Kanu. Booked: Diarra. Att: 40,238 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) | Saturday 13th September 2008 15:00pm Portsmouth 2 Middlesbrough 1 
Defoe caps an outstanding display..... | It was an entertaining come-back from Pompey, with Diarra and Defoe running Boro ragged in a scintillating 2nd half. Pompey lined up with the same side that had beaten Everton which meant the 3-5-2 was kept in place. The first 20 mins saw the home side look as if they would win quite easily, with flowing football carving out several chances to score. Boro it was that took the lead with a goal out of nothing, a long ball was flicked on by Mido and he raced onto Alves’ return pass to hold off Campbell and beat James at his near post. As the half progressed, it looked clear that the 3-5-2 was not working, with Traore in particular reluctant to push forward. Redknapp made 2 subs at half time, introducing Utaka and Belhadj to make it 4-4-2 and right from the off Pompey battered the Boro defence. They equalised when Defoe was released by Crouch and he fired a pinpoint shot into the bottom corner. The home fans had their hearts in their mouths as Belhadj bundled over Downing in the box, but the officials did nothing. Defoe then created a great chance for Davis with a backheel, but he clipped the ball high over the bar and Defoe then rattled the ball against Turnbulls legs when put through. With just minutes to go Defoe pounced on a ball that was flicked to him by mistake from Downing and the home fans went wild. He should have got his hat-trick a moment later when unselfishly set up by Belhadj but his flick was hacked off the line. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Belhadj 46), Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Diop (Utaka 46), Davis, Diarra, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 84), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Pamarot, Mvuemba. Booked: Defoe, Johnson. Goals: Defoe 59, 86. Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Huth, Riggott, Pogatetz, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Digard (Taylor 70), Downing, Alves, Mido (Adam Johnson 84).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Wheater, Porritt, Walker, Craddock. Booked: Mido. Goals: Mido 24. Att: 19,425 Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire). Harry Redknapp BBC Interview Jermain Defoe BBC Interview | Saturday 30th August 2008 15:00pm Everton 0 Portsmouth 3 
Defoe celebrates what proves to be his second... | Pompey had only won once at Goodison Park in recent years and that was via a Duncan Ferguson own goal in 2005, so history pointed to a home win. Pompey lined up with the same side that faced Manchester Utd but looked more like a 3-5-2 formation. Defoe did very well to open the scoring, picking up Crouch's flick header and then beating 3 defenders to squeze a shot into the corner. He nearly repeated that a few minutes later with Everton defending poorly, but producing a good save from the keeper. Then David James made an outstanding double save to keep out Arteta, saving point blank and pushing the shot onto the post before springing on the rebound. Kaboul then flicked the ball off Yakubu's nose on the line to save his keepers blushes as James scrambled for a far post cross and missed. Johnson had been marauding down the right in his Wing-back role, and he started and ended a move when he played a ball to Defoe on the edge of the box and a quick one-two saw him fire past Howard. At the start of the 2nd half, Everton were awarded a penalty for a Johnson shove on Vaughn but Yakubu's weak penalty was saved by the imperious James. Pompey later broke on a counter attack and Defoe fed the ball to Davis who backheeled it to the England Striker, a deft 20 yard chip seemed to bounce over the line off the underside of the bar, but as Howard picked himself up from his efforts to save the chip, Crouch nodded into a empty net. It has subsequently been given to Defoe as TV replays showed it just crossed the line. Harry Redknapp BBC Interview Match Highlights Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Rodwell, Jagielka, Osman (Baxter 71), Yakubu, Vaughan (Anichebe 58).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Jacobsen, Nuno Valente, Kissock, Wallace. Booked: Baines. Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Diop, Davis (Mvuemba 90), Diarra, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 77), Crouch, Defoe (Utaka 76).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Sahar, Djimi Traore. Goals: Defoe 12, Johnson 40, Defoe 69. Att: 34,418 Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire) | | Monday 25th August 2008 20:00pm Portsmouth 0 Manchester Utd 1 
Fletcher or Campbell? Uniteds Winner...... | The difficult start to the Premiership campaign continued with the visit of the League Champions to Fratton Park. This proved to be a closer affair than at Chelsea the week before and saw an improvement in Redknapp's side who ran United close. Pompey's best chance fell to Younes Kaboul who flicked a free header wide of the goal when unmarked from a corner. United took the lead in fortuitous circumstance though, with Evra being put free on the left and his drilled cross looked to have been clipped in by Fletcher, but replays suggest it was an own goal. Rooney should have made it 2 only minutes later with a great turn on the edge of the area, but he fired wide from 18 yards. The 2nd half saw Pompey bring on Thomas in place of the young Traore who joined on loan from Arsenal days earlier and produced aHarry Redknapp useful 60 mins. Thomas it was who produced Pompey's first shot on target, cutting inside and stinging Van Der Sar's hands from 25 yards. Diop also managed a long range effort, but Pompey never looked like scoring and United played keep ball for long periods. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Diop, Davis (Utaka 66), Diarra, Armand Traore (Thomas 56), Crouch, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Sahar. Booked: Diop, Defoe. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson (Possebon 76), Scholes, Evra, Rooney, Tevez. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson, Campbell. Booked: Brown, Fletcher. Goals: Fletcher 32. Att: 20,540 Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside) | Sunday 17th August 2008 13:30pm Chelsea 4 Portsmouth 0 
Joe Cole strikes the first of Chelseas 4....... | Portsmouth were blown away by Scolari's side, with new signing Deco capping his excellent debut with a goal 2 minutes from the end. Portsmouth handed debuts to Crouch and Kaboul, the latter being selected in a Defensive Midfield position. Chelsea were dominant from the start, their crisp passing, with Deco finding holes in Pompey's disorganised midfield, carving out chance after chance. Joe Cole was put through by a flick from Ballack to start the scoring and Anelka beat Johnson to a header on the line to make it 2-0. Just before half-time Distin blocked a cross with an outstretched arm and Lampard easily beat James from 12 yards. The 2nd half was slightly more even, but to be fair Chelsea were in cruise control and Pompey only had a couple of chances of note, once Crouch flicking a ball into Defoes path but he skewed his volley wide. Deco fired in a long range shot that James could only palm into the top corner to end the match and Redknapp's side were well beaten. Scolari's BBC Interview Redknapp's BBC Interview
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ferreira 83), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack (Malouda 38), Lampard, Obi, Deco, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 78), Anelka. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Di Santo, Bridge, Alex. Goals: Joe Cole 12, Anelka 26, Lampard 45 pen, Deco 89. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Diarra (Mvuemba 68), Diop, Kranjcar (Thomas 73), Defoe, Crouch. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Utaka, Cranie, Traore. Booked: James. Att: 41,468 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral). |
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