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TEAMS and STATS |
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| Pompey
brought 2022 to a close with a respectable draw against high-flying
Ipswich at a packed Fratton Park. But it might have been so much more, with the Blues twice taking the lead and conceding a late equaliser. Marlon Pack’s superb free-kick was befitting of such a big contest, but Cameron Burgess immediately levelled. Colby Bishop restored the home side’s advantage after the break and it looked like they had done enough to secure all three points, only for Conor Chaplin to haunt his former club. Danny Cowley made four changes from the side that were held to a goalless draw at Exeter on Boxing Day. Connor Ogilvie and Joe Morrell had recovered from their illnesses, while Zak Swanson was fit enough to start and there was also a return for Josh Koroma. Denver Hume, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Reeco Hackett all dropped to the bench, but Joe Pigott could not feature against his parent club. There were a couple of familiar faces in the opposition forward line, with Chaplin and Marcus Harness both included. Pompey came charging out of the blocks and so it came as no surprise to see them take the lead after just four minutes. Koroma was brought down by Sam Morsy and PACK stepped up to bend a fine free-kick off the post and into the net to open his account for the club. But it did not take an in-form Ipswich outfit long to hit back and they found themselves level on 10 minutes. Lee Evans swung a fine free-kick into the box from the right and Burgess got on the end of it to poke home from just a few yards out. It was certainly proving to be a lively contest and both sides looked more than capable of adding to the scoring. A corner from Pack made its way across to Koroma on the left side of the area, but his shot was blocked on the line by Luke Woolfenden. Evans hit a sizzling shot at the other end of the pitch and Josh Griffiths adjusted his body superbly to make the save. The Fratton faithful were left frustrated by some bizarre decisions from referee Sam Allison, who somehow failed to spot clear fouls on both Morrell and Pack. But the tempo continued to remain high and Owen Dale embarked on a run from inside his own half, leaving two opposition players crumpled on the turf before eventually being crowded out. |
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Portsmouth 1 Ipswich Town 1 |
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Skipper Clark Robertson had
appeared to be struggling towards the end of the first half and did not
emerge after the break, replaced by Hume. The hosts were being penned back in the period immediately following the restart, but were remaining resolute at the back. They started to show more ambition as the half progressed, however, and were rewarded on the hour mark. It came after Morrell was bundled over by Wes Burns on the left and the free-kick was eventually worked to Hume. Sean Raggett made sure to get on the end of the substitute’s cross, nodding the ball down for BISHOP to flick home. The Tractor Boys tried to grab another immediate leveller, but Freddie Ladapo dragged an angled effort narrowly past the post. Ronan Curtis then replaced Koroma and soon embarked on a quick break down the right, cutting the ball back for Morrell to hit a goal-bound effort that was blocked by the head of Janoi Donacien. Morrell soon made way to a standing ovation along with Bishop, as Tunnicliffe and Dane Scarlett entered the fray. Ipswich were committing forward in search of an equaliser and Ogilvie typified the determination of the Blues with a couple of firm – but fair – challenges. But the visitors made their pressure count late on, as Morsy’s fierce low strike was parried out by Griffiths and Chaplin was quickest to the loose ball. Referee: Sam Allison |
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Updated - 09/12/2023 |
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