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Pompey fought from behind to
blow Peterborough away with an ultimately comfortable victory at Fratton
Park. Their defence was finally breached for the first time in 445 minutes of league football by Ricky-Jade Jones midway through the first half. Colby Bishop and Abu Kamara both struck before the break, however, to turn the contest completely on its head. And the Blues launched wave after wave of attack in the second half, with Regan Poole’s strike enough to wrap up the points before a late Joe Morrell dismissal. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that drew at Stevenage in the last league fixture seven days earlier. Christian Saydee and Zak Swanson both came into the starting line-up, with Jack Sparkes dropping to the bench and Joe Rafferty missing out through suspension. There was no sign of the prolific Jonson Clarke-Harris in the opposition ranks after a deadline day move away from the club broke down just before the window closed. In an open half of football, it was the visitors who were the first side to threaten to break the deadlock. Jones broke quickly after intercepting Poole’s clearance, but was unable to beat Will Norris at the keeper’s near post. Pompey were looking bright in possession meanwhile and just looking for a route through to test Nicholas Bilokapic. It was the visitors who went ahead on 20 minutes, however, as Jones collected Kwame Poku’s pass, made himself space to shoot and bent home a neat finish. Things might have got worse for the Blues moments later, although this time Jones was unable to guide Poku’s delivery on target. The hosts tried to pick up the pace and Kamara almost capitalised on Romoney Crichlow’s pass back to Bilokapic, but the keeper just about managed to clear the danger. Meanwhile, Bishop was getting fed up with referee David Rock ignoring a series of clear fouls on him by Ronnie Edwards. He did manage to shake one of them off to meet Morrell’s cross and send a header narrowly off target. And the striker levelled the scores on 38 minutes, with BISHOP meeting a pin-point delivery from Marlon Pack to head home. Pompey then took advantage of some extremely generous defending to take the lead just a few minutes later. Gavin Whyte collected a short corner and although his centre was not the best, Crichlow sliced his clearance straight into the path of KAMARA. The forward was only a few yards out, but still showed composure to tuck the ball into the net and open his Blues account. Half Time: Pompey 2 Peterborough 1 After a spell of Posh pressure at the start of the second half, the hosts had three chances in quick succession to extend their advantage. Morrell burst through the middle and after playing the ball out wide, got into the box to meet Swanson’s cross. Archie Collins tried to clear his header away from the target and instead sent it bouncing against the bar. Saydee then tried his luck from the edge of the box and Bilokapic just about got his fingertips to the ball to flick it around the post. And when Bishop lifted the ball into the mixer, a leaping Conor Shaughnessy nodded it inches past the post. Peterborough were hanging on and it took another fine save from Bilokapic to keep out Kamara’s thumping near-post drive. But Pompey did make their pressure count on 59 minutes after Morrell picked out skipper Pack inside the box. He flicked it on for Kamara, who controlled the ball and fired it across goal for POOLE to convert at the back stick. Mousinho made his first change when Whyte appeared to pick up a knock and fellow Northern Irishman Paddy Lane was on to replace him. Fratton Park was rocking, but the points were not safe yet and it took a fine clearance from Poole to stop Ephron Mason-Clark getting on the end of Peter Kioso’s cross. Pompey were not done attacking themselves, though, and a back-pedalling Bilokapic just about managed to turn Swanson’s dipping effort over the bar. Kamara was given a warm reception when he made his way off the pitch on 83 minutes, as Sparkes was brought on. But the Blues were forced to see out the closing stages with just 10 men after Morrell was shown a second booking for a foul on Collins in the middle of the pitch. The display of nine additional minutes drew groans from the Fratton faithful and Posh should have reduced their deficit. Kioso found Zak Sturge in the box and with the goal gaping, the substitute somehow managed to fire off target. And the hosts managed to see out the remainder of the contest to head into the international break on a high. |
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Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris;
Swanson (Raggett 90), Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Morrell, Pack (c);
Whyte (Lane 68), Saydee (Robertson 90), Kamara (Sparkes 83); Bishop |
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Updated - 19/04/2024 |