Portsmouth 6 City 1 (League- 23.9.10)
First the facts:
Leicester stayed on the South Coast after winning the identical fixture Carling Cup tie on Tuesday evening last. Portsmouth started bottom, the Foxes two places above them.
Portsmouth dominated and had nineteen shots, fourteen on target and scored six.
Leicester scored one in the second half from nine shots – a prod in from eight yards right footed by Howard.
This was Portsmouth’s first win of the season; Leicester failed to score again in the first half as they have not all season thus far in the league.
On the 606 site before the season Swansea fans noted that last season they passed the ball well, let in not many and scored the fewest of all teams in 2009/10. So far we are replicated that except for the defence which was our foundation last season but is conceding a lot this.
The crowd was 13,700…..
Second a very biased report:
· Morrison gave away the softest penalty via a raised arm hand ball at a corner after nine minutes for Lawrence to score easily low inside the right post
· The referee Mr Hill, a good Championship referee on past experience, sent off Vidor on his Foxes debut in very questionable circumstances mid first half for a “professional” foul on the central edge of the penalty area – compounded by Portsmouth going 2 – 0 up with a massive deflection off Burner’s arm in the defensive wall, from the resulting free kick taken by Lawrence again. Portsmouth were having all the breaks at this stage.
· As well as the sending off Burner, Oakley, Morrison and Neilson were also booked during the game. Portsmouth had three players carded.
· Abi was substitute sacrificed by Hobbs to re balance the defence (35 mins) at the red card; a later second half sub was Fryatt (59 mins).
· Other Pompey goals came from: Nugent, Brown, Kitson (2) – continuing the ex-Stoke theme. It was 2 – 0 at half time.
· Andy King again had an “equalising goal” ruled out at 0 -1 for a questionable offside (shades of Middlesborough at home earlier in August?)
· Our Chairman was welcomed by the chanting home fans
· It was hard not to draw a comparison between an animated Portsmouth manager Cotterill and a passive seemingly resigned Sousa
Now some personal questions / statements:
Last season we had a compact team where all knew their roles and tasks – we got to the play-offs and a set of penalties away from The Championship final. The same personnel are at still at the club and available, less Weale injured and Brown / Campbell transferred although the latter did not figure.
· Why were Hobbs and Wellens on the subs bench? Why is Morrison centre back when he wasn’t played there much season? Our new signings (Moreno etc) are not figuring at all.
· Only Dyer and King are playing really well this year. The defence is unsettled in personnel and uncertain on the pitch – they seem to lack Brown’s organisation.
· Why can we not decide what to do with Fryatt? – sell him or pick him, he remains a fans favourite and the best goal scorer at the club. Albeit he was injured half of last year.
· We pick Howard and then can only play in a “direct” way – SKY commentators often praise this but it is so one dimensional
· So what was the real story about Pearson’s departure? The whisper we heard last Saturday v QPR was a fall out with the new owners
· Is Mandaric going or not? Uncertainty at the top of any organisation is never good
· Why have we gone backwards at such an alarming rate? The idea of a Cardiff Hangover doesn’t work for me
· A nearly Premiership team is playing like a Division One team – three years ago we learnt you are not too good for relegation and just when we hoped for a season like last!
City: Logan, Neilson, Vitor, Morrison, Berner, Oakley(c), King, Abe, Dyer, Waghorn, Howard Subs: Ikeme, Hobbs, Teixeira, Wellens, Moussa, Gallagher, Fryatt
Bookings: Morrison, Berner, Oakley, Neilson, Red: Vitor
Portsmouth: Ashdown, Dickinson, Mokoena (c), Lawrence, Mullins, Nugent, Brown, Utaka, Kitson, Ward, Rocha. Subs: Flahavan, Ciftci, Sonko, Kanu.
Bookings: McKenna, Mokoena, Utaka
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation