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Callum Paterson’s superb
stoppage-time volley cruelly denied Pompey a valuable Championship point
at play-off chasing Coventry. They looked to have done enough to earn a deserved point, only to concede right at the death to depart empty-handed. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that were narrowly beaten at Millwall at the weekend. Thomas Waddingham was handed a first start, while Adil Aouchiche returned, as Terry Devlin and Matt Ritchie dropped to the bench. Pompey started brightly and caused their opponents plenty of problems in the opening stages, with a low Aouchiche attempt kept out by Brad Collins. Josh Murphy also had a couple of early efforts blocked after receiving nice passes from Jordan Williams and Connor Ogilvie. But Coventry thought they should have had a penalty when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s effort struck the arm of Andre Dozzell, with referee Gavin Ward ignoring the appeals. It was the visits who almost broke the deadlock on 29 minutes, however, when Murphy swung in a corner. Waddingham and Regan Poole both went for the ball and the defender got there first, with his header striking the underside of the bar. The Sky Blues soon went close themselves and a Ben Sheaf delivery was nodded wastefully wide by Bobby Thomas. Colby Bishop then had a good chance blocked as the action continued to switch from one end of the pitch to the other. Pompey were perhaps grateful to go in level at the break, though, as their opponents had two fine opportunities in quick succession. Both fell to Jack Rudoni, whose first attempt was brilliantly blocked by Ogilvie, while the second was nodded wide. Half Time: Coventry 0 Pompey 0 The Blues once again looked bright at the start of the second half, although could not turn promising moments into clear-cut chances. Mousinho made a double switch on 55 minutes, as Waddingham and Williams made way for Mark O’Mahony and Devlin. The first decent opportunity since the restart fell to the hosts, as Sheaf headed a Rudoni corner over at the back post. And Ogilvie then made another fine block after Ephron Mason-Clark squared the ball for the waiting Haji Wright. The action was unfolding at a breathless pace, with both teams quickly launching attacks and then breaks as the contest turned frantic. Ritchie replaced Aouchiche as Mousinho looked to add some fresh legs to his forward line for the closing stages. Skipper Poole was next to come to the rescue with a key block on 78 minutes after Milan van Ewijk had advanced into the area. Pompey then had a spell of possession to relieve some pressure, without making any inroads in the final third. The visitors’ final change was like-for-like in the midfield engine room, as Isaac Hayden came on for Dozzell. Coventry thought they had netted a winner late on, when Liam Kitching met a corner and saw his header, possibly with the help of Nicolas Schmid’s fingertips, strike the post. They launched plenty of stoppage-time pressure and it finally paid off when Rudoni picked out substitute Paterson to superbly arrow into the net on the volley and break Blues hearts. |
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