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Colby Bishop’s scrappy goal
was enough for Pompey to see off Watford at Fratton Park and guarantee
their Championship status for next season. The in-form striker found the target from close range, but the hosts could not find a second to kill their opponents off. However, Kévin Keben’s dismissal after the break – the Hornets’ third in two games – did make the job more comfortable. And the final whistle brought a mixture of joy and relief from the Fratton faithful, who can enjoy the final two fixtures safe in the knowledge that survival had been secured. John Mousinho stuck with the same side that won on the road at Norwich in emphatic fashion on Good Friday. But there were welcome returns to the bench for the fit-again duo of Conor Shaughnessy and Callum Lang. Pompey started on the front foot and their positive play was almost rewarded with an early goal when Bishop hooked on a Connor Ogilvie throw. The ball fell for Matt Ritchie to hit a fierce shot that was beaten away by Egil Selvik, who recovered to keep out the same player’s follow-up header. It was a dominant opening from the hosts and they continued to probe away patiently in search of an opener. And it arrived on 25 minutes after Josh Murphy fired in a cross from the left that Selvik was unable to hold. He did manage to keep out the close-range effort from BISHOP, only for the ball to go straight back for the striker to bundle over the line. But the Blues were unable to build on that bright opening and gradually began to invite Watford back into the contest. Imrân Louza almost took advantage, letting fly with a 30-yard rocket that Nicolas Schmid’s fingertips turned against the crossbar, which was still rattling several seconds later. Despite the hosts being guilty of some sloppy play, however, they comfortably took their slender advantage into the interval. Half Time: Pompey 1 Watford 0 It had been a quiet first period for Adil Aouchiche, with the Frenchman replaced by Christian Saydee at the break. And Mousinho was soon forced to make another change, as Jordan Williams hurt his hamstring and made way for Terry Devlin. The hosts were soon on the attack and after Murphy’s corner was only partially cleared, Freddie Potts sent the ball back in and Bishop’s header was kept out at point-blank range by Selvik. They soon had another chance after Rob Atkinson had thrown himself bravely into the path of Tom Ince’s effort. Murphy stole possession and looked to race away from well inside his own half, but eventually ran out of steam and his shot was easily dealt with. Pompey were given another boost moments later, as Murphy again caught the visitors napping to steal the ball from Keben. But he was dragged to the turf by the Watford defender, who was the last man and shown a red card by referee Sam Allison. Murphy looked to make immediate use of the numerical advantage, hitting a low free-kick that Selvik did well to palm away. The hosts still had to remain alert at the other end and Schmid got down to make a regulation save from Tom Dele-Bashiru. Bishop then seemed to collect a knock and walked gingerly from the turf on 76 minutes, with Kusini Yengi on to lead the line. And there were big cheers for the final couple of changes, as the returning Shaughnessy and Lang emerged to replaced Regan Poole and Murphy. The display of 10 additional minutes was greeted by a chorus of groans from most of those inside Fratton Park. They almost turned to cheers when Saydee released a pass for Lang to race onto inside the area, but his shot was beaten away by Selvik. And although Watford tried to launch the ball into the box as the seconds ticked down, the Blues held on for the win that meant they could not be caught by the bottom three. |
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