A (2-1) Crawley Town

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Jul 292017
 

Match Report

Highlights

Friendly


Crawley Town 1 2 Portsmouth


Pitman bags brace as Blues end pre-season with victory

Pompey go into the new campaign on a high after ending their pre-season programme with victory at Crawley.

But they had to come from behind, with Thomas Verheydt giving the hosts an early lead at a wet Broadfield Stadium.

Skipper Brett Pitman led the turnaround, levelling with a fine second half free-kick before snatching the winner.

It was the League Two side who were quickest from the blocks and Josh Lelan headed narrowly wide from Mark Randall’s corner.

And the hosts did break the deadlock from another flag-kick just seconds later, with Verheydt converting Randall’s delivery.

There was not too much else to excite the Sussex crowd in a drab first half played out in unseasonable conditions.

Kyle Bennett and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis were the two Blues players to impress going forward and a teasing low cross from the former had to be cleared behind by Josh Yorwerth.

A skewed clearance from Tom Davies at the other end led to Randall firing wide with Luke McGee off his line.

Bennett then had one shot comfortably saved by Glenn Morris, while another was blocked following some fancy footwork.

Crawley were creating the better openings, however, and Enzio Boldewijn flashed a shot narrowly over after cutting inside from the right.

Then, after Jordan Roberts had just about beaten McGee to the ball, Holmes-Dennis made a superb clearance from the line.

And, from the resulting corner, McGee was forced to claw away another Verheydt effort that was heading for the net.

Pompey started to look more threatening as the interval beckoned and with Pitman lurking at the far post, Mark Connolly had to intercept Holmes-Dennis’ low cross.

Bennett’s incisive pass then picked out Conor Chaplin in the box, but the striker could not get the ball untangled from his feet.

Half Time

Crawley Town 1

Portsmouth 0

Chaplin thought he should have been awarded a penalty early in the second half when his surge into the area was abruptly halted, but referee Carl Brook was not interested.

But the Blues were level on 55 minutes after Pitman had been crudely challenged by Connolly in a central position outside the box.

It was PITMAN who stepped up to take the free-kick and curl a fantastic effort right into the top corner of the net.

The striker was then involved in a clash with Yorwerth on the edge of the Crawley area, but perhaps with the fact it was a friendly in mind, Brook just gave the pair a stern telling off.

It was otherwise typical friendly fare on the pitch, with the game starting to lag as the second half progressed.

Kal Naismith angled a shot into the side netting for Pompey, while Boldewijn fired wide at the other end.

But the Blues found themselves ahead on 75 minutes, as PITMAN collected a neat pass from substitute Milan Lalkovic and coolly lifted the ball over Morris.

The lead should have been strengthened further, only for Naismith to slot wide when it seemed far easier to score.

And the Blues comfortably passed the ball around among themselves to see out the final few minutes and secure the win.

Crawley (5-4-1): Morris; Young, Lelan, Yorwerth, Connolly, Evina; Boldewijn, Bulman (c), Randall (Payne 68), Roberts (Lewis 80); Verheydt (Harrold 70)
Goals: Verheydt 3
Subs not used: Mersin, Arthur, Cox, Blackman, Djalo, Clifford, Tajbakash, Sanoh, Camara

Pompey (4-4-1-1): McGee; Evans, Davies, Whatmough, Holmes-Dennis; Naismith, Baker, Rose, Bennett; Pitman (c); Chaplin (Lalkovic 62)
Goals: Pitman 55, 75
Subs not used: Bass, Talbot, Haunstrup, Close, May, Lowe, Main, Kabamba

Referee: Carl Brook

Attendance: 1,603 (778 Pompey fans)

Portsmouth FC

H (1-2) AFC Bournemouth

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Jul 222017
 

Match Report

Highlights

Friendly


Portsmouth 1 2 AFC Bournemouth


Chaplin on target in friendly defeat

Conor Chaplin was on target as Pompey were narrowly beaten by top-flight Bournemouth at Fratton Park.

The striker levelled in the second half after Lys Mousset had earlier fired the visitors into the lead.

But Benik Afobe almost immediately netted for the Cherries and, despite a spirited display, the Blues could not find another goal.

Pre-season conjures up images of baking hot days with plenty of drinks breaks.

But coats and umbrellas were needed at Fratton Park, as the rain fell steadily throughout the only home friendly of the summer.

Recent Bournemouth signings Asmir Begovic and Jermain Defoe returned to their former club, while ex-Cherry Brett Pitman skippered the hosts.

It was the Premier League side that made the brighter start, with Luke McGee doing well to keep out Tyrone Mings’ deflected drive.

Mousset then met Ryan Fraser’s cross with a firm header that had to be cleared by a well-placed Pitman.

And Bournemouth broke the deadlock on nine minutes, as Afobe got down the right and cut the ball back for Mousset to fire home.

But the Blues grew into the game as the first half progressed and a left-footed attempt by Kyle Bennett from outside of the box narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Pitman then had a shot inadvertently blocked by Chaplin before heading Kal Naismith’s cross just over the bar.

The Cherries still threatened, though, and when McGee could not get a strong enough hand to Afobe’s angled drive, Carl Baker had to hack the ball from the line.

But Pompey were not looking over-awed and both Baker and Naismith were not too far away with efforts from distance.

Half Time

Portsmouth 0

AFC Bournemouth 1

There was almost a leveller early in the second half, but Begovic showed his class by keeping out Pitman’s drive.

Pompey did grab an equaliser on 52 minutes, however, as Pitman cushioned a header into the path of CHAPLIN, who coolly slotted home.

But they were not on level terms for long, with Afobe’s neat back-heel almost immediately restoring Bournemouth’s lead.

The visitors then made a host of substitutions just before the hour mark and Defoe was among those introduced.

There were soon cries for a penalty when Bennett’s cross appeared to strike the arm of Cherries skipper Simon Francis, but referee Andy Davies was not interested.

The raft of changes ultimately took the sting out of the game and it started to meander towards a conclusion.

But Chaplin got everyone off their seats late on by drilling a left-footed shot against the base of the post.

Tareiq Holmes-Dennis’ cross then had to be cleared behind, while the impressive Christian Burgess headed over from the resulting corner.

Pompey were ultimately unable to find a second leveller, but it was certainly a performance to take comfort from against Premier League opposition.

Pompey (4-4-1-1): McGee; Evans, Davies, Burgess, Holmes-Dennis; Bennett, Baker, Rose, Naismith (Lalkovic 69); Pitman; Chaplin
Goals: Chaplin 52
Subs not used: Bass, Talbot, Whatmough, Haunstrup, May, Close, Lowe, Main, Kabamba

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Begovic (Federici 59); Francis (c), S.Cook (Worthington 46), Cargill (Ake 59), Mings (Daniels 46); Surman (L.Cook 59), Arter (Gosling 59); Fraser (Ibe 59), Mousset (King 59), Gradel (Pugh 59); Afobe (Defoe 59)
Goals: Mousset 9, Afobe 54
Subs not used: Mahoney, Simpson, Whitfield

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 7,182 (988 away fans)

Portsmouth FC

A (2-0) Bognor Regis Town

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Jul 152017
 

Match Report

Highlights

Friendly


Bognor Regis Town 0 2 Portsmouth


Pitman nets twice in pre-season victory

Brett Pitman bagged a brace in his first Pompey appearance to secure another pre-season victory for Kenny Jackett’s side at Bognor.

He netted at both ends of a contest that often drifted along, although fellow debutant Luke McGee made a fine stop in the second half.

The Rocks were certainly not over-awed against their higher-level opponents, but they rarely threatened to secure a share of the spoils.

The visitors made a bright start and Conor Chaplin hit a clean effort from 25 yards that flew narrowly past the post.

And the diminutive striker was involved in the goal that saw them break the deadlock with just five minutes on the clock.

He beat Rocks keeper Dan Lincoln to a poor Sami El-Abd back-pass and squared for PITMAN to slot home his first goal for the club.

The advantage was almost doubled moments later, but Lincoln got down to palm clear Carl Baker’s angled drive.

After that early flurry, however, the match soon settled into more traditional pre-season fare, with fans more interested in visiting the bar than watching what was unfolding on the pitch.

Bognor started to enjoy more possession as the half progressed and Ollie Pearce was let down by a poor touch after latching onto a ball over the top.

There was also a Baker corner at the other end that Christian Burgess was unable to divert on target.

But it was pretty slow going until Pompey finally started to show more attacking intent just before the break.

Adam May should have strengthened their lead, but fired a shot straight at Lincoln from inside the box.

Bognor’s keeper then made sure he was not beaten at his near post from Gareth Evans’ drilled effort.

Half Time

Bognor Regis Town 0

Portsmouth 1

The second half got off to a sedate start, although Kyle Bennett flashed a long-range attempt narrowly wide.

There was not much else to excite a healthy Nyewood Lane crowd, though, with clear-cut openings at a premium.

Tom Davies headed a free-kick wide, while a shot from May was blocked by his former team-mate Chad Field.

And an effort from Danny Rose just past the hour mark took a deflection and looped just wide of the post.

It was certainly Pompey looking more likely to add to the scoring and a lunging Pitman could not quite connect with Bennett’s low delivery from the left.

Bognor were left perturbed on 70 minutes when they tried to bring subbed defender El-Abd back on, only to be denied by the officials.

They almost levelled soon after, though, when Davies’ slip let in Tommy Scutt, but McGee came to the rescue with a fine save.

That was then matched by Lincoln at the other end, with the stopper keeping out Pitman’s acrobatic close-range flick after Davies had headed the ball towards goal.

But PITMAN did wrap things up on 86 minutes, neatly controlling Baker’s dinked pass over the defence and slotting home his second of the afternoon.

Bognor (4-2-3-1): Lincoln; Whyte (Davies 46), Field (Block 71), El-Abd (c) (Heath 46), Bird; Tuck, Lee (Beck 46); Parsons (Muitt 46), Suraci (Scutt 63), Pearce (Dolcetti 82); Wild (Rowlatt 46)

Pompey (4-2-3-1): McGee; Evans, Burgess, Davies, Holmes-Dennis; May, Rose; Baker, Pitman (c), Bennett; Chaplin
Goals: Pitman 5, 86
Subs not used: Bass, Talbot, Whatmough, Close, Lalkovic, Naismith, Main

Referee: Gary Parsons

Attendance: 1,800

Portsmouth FC

Portsmouth FC
Transfer News – Brett Pitman

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Jul 142017
 

Brett Pitman

Player Stats

Transfer : Ipswich Town – Portsmouth


Striker pens three-year deal.


Pompey have signed striker Brett Pitman from Ipswich for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old former Bournemouth and Bristol City star has penned a three-year deal at Fratton Park.

Pitman turned professional with the Cherries and netted a 16-minute hat-trick against Peterborough at the start of the 2010/11 campaign.

He then spent two-and-a-half years at Bristol City before returning to Dean Court and helping the Dorest outfit reach the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Jersey-born Pitman scored more than 100 goals during his two spells with Bournemouth and joined Ipswich in the summer of 2015.

Portsmouth FC

Portsmouth FC
Transfer News – Luke McGee

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Jul 122017
 

Luke McGee

Player Stats

Transfer : Tottenham Hotspur – Portsmouth


Keeper pens three-year deal with Blues


Pompey have signed goalkeeper Luke McGee from Tottenham for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old has penned a three-year deal at Fratton Park, having spent the majority of last season on loan at fellow League One side Peterborough.

McGee made 45 appearances for Peterborough last season and appeared for Tottenham in front of 70,000 fans in a friendly against AC Milan in 2015.

Portsmouth FC

A (6-0) Havant & Waterlooville

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Jul 082017
 

Match Report

Highlights

Friendly


Havant & Waterlooville 0 6 Portsmouth


Chaplin bags treble in Westleigh Park rout

Conor Chaplin hit a hat-trick as Pompey continued their prolific pre-season form with a 6-0 thrashing of Havant & Waterlooville.

The rout began with a Lee Molyneaux own-goal, while the striker then ran riot with a treble before the interval.

He also teed-up Kal Naismith to add to the advantage early in the second half, while Curits Main wrapped things up from the penalty spot.

Tareiq Holmes-Dennis made his first appearance in a Pompey shirt following his loan signing from Huddersfield earlier in the week.

The hosts named former Fratton midfielder Wes Fogden in their starting line-up, but Matt Tubbs missed out with an injury.

It was a hot and sunny afternoon at Westleigh Park, but that did not stop the first half from being played at a hectic pace.

And it was the visitors who unsurprisingly looked the more threatening side throughout the opening 45 minutes.

They had already gone close on a couple of occasions when Kyle Bennett fired against the crossbar following some fine build-up play between Chaplin and Holmes-Dennis.

The woodwork came to the Hawks’ rescue again soon after, with Bennett this time having a shot deflected against the post.

There was a blow for Kenny Jackett’s side in between those chances, however, as Matt Clarke limped off the pitch injured.

But the breakthrough did finally arrive – albeit in somewhat farcical fashion – on 26 minutes.

Naismith’s corner caused havoc in the box and the ball eventually ricocheted off the unfortunate Molyneaux and into the net.

That was the signal for the floodgates to open and Pompey doubled their advantage just a few moments later.

Holmes-Dennis swung a delightful cross into the area from wide on the left and CHAPLIN was left with a simple finish at the far post.

The Hawks then had their best chance of the half with a quick counter-attack, but Alex Bass surged from his line to brilliantly deny Alfie Rutherford.

Pompey were not quite so profligate and CHAPLIN bagged his second of the afternoon on 39 minutes, collecting a ball down the line and cutting inside before smashing home a shot.

And CHAPLIN completed his hat-trick in stoppage-time with a first time finish into the bottom corner after being teed-up by Naismith.

Half Time

Havant & Waterlloville 0

Portsmouth 4

Pompey did not sit on their lead at the start of the second half and Chaplin was once again involved in their fifth goal.

The diminutive striker sent a dangerous low ball into the box from wide on the left, leaving NAISMITH with a simple tap-in.

A flurry of substitutes soon disrupted the flow, however, with Chaplin among those taking a well-earned rest.

But it was one of the players who came on that managed to add a sixth goal for the Blues on 76 minutes.

MAIN barged his way into the box and drew a foul from Alfie Whittingham, then picked himself up to slam home from the spot.

The visitors continued to threaten and Nicke Kabamba was inches away from connecting with Drew Talbot’s cross.

Milan Lalkovic then embarked on a mazy run through the Hawks defence before being denied by a fine save from substitute keeper Alan Walker-Harris.

But Lee Bradbury’s Hawks managed to see the remaining moments out to limit the damage in front of a healthy Westleigh Park crowd.

Hawks (3-5-2): Young (Walker-Harris 72); Woodford, Molyneaux (Wakley 64), Harris; Tarbuck, Lewis (c) (Whittingham 64), Carter (Stock 64 (Yokota 79)), Fogden (Ridge 64), Williams; Prior (Odubade 46), Rutherford (Hayter 46)
Sub not used: Robinson

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; Evans (c) (Talbot 72), Burgess (Whatmough 72), Clarke (Davies 16), Holmes-Dennis (Haunstrup 46); May (Roberts 76), Rose (Close 57); Baker (Lowe 57), Naismith (Kabamba 72), Bennett (Main 72); Chaplin (Lalkovic 57)
Goals: Molyneaux 26 (og), Chaplin 30, 39, 45+1, Naismith 47, Main 74 (pen)
Sub not used: Collins

Referee: Alex Blake

Attendance: 2,700

Portsmouth FC

Portsmouth FC
Transfer News – Tareiq Holmes-Dennis

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Jul 052017
 

Tareiq Holmes-Dennis

Player Stats

Loan : Huddersfield Town – Portsmouth


Pompey have signed left-back Tareiq Holmes-Dennis on a season-long loan from Huddersfield.


The 21-year-old made 15 appearances for the Terriers during the 2016/17 season after signing from Charlton last summer.

He appeared in both legs of the play-off semi-final triumph over Sheffield Wednesday and was on the bench when they beat Reading at Wembley to reach the Premier League.

Holmes-Dennis is a former England under-18 international who progressed through the ranks at Charlton and signed professional terms in 2013.

He gained experience with spells out on loan at Oxford, Plymouth and Oldham before penning a three-year deal with Huddersfield.

Holmes-Dennis was in the Argyle side that were beaten 2-1 at Fratton Park back in April 2015.

Portsmouth FC

A (3-0) Salisbury

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Jul 012017
 

Match Report

Highlights

Friendly


Salisbury 0 3 Portsmouth


Lalkovic, Davies and Close on target in Jackett’s first game

Pompey got pre-season off to a winning start thanks to three second half strikes against Salisbury.

They dominated the opening 45 minutes at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium without managing to find a breakthrough.

But substitutes Milan Lalkovic, Tom Davies and Ben Close all found the net after the break to get Kenny Jackett’s reign as Blues boss off to a decent opening.

Salisbury manager – and former Pompey player and boss – Steve Claridge came out of retirement to lead the line for the hosts at the age of 51.

However, it was the Blues who, unsurprisingly, looked the more dangerous side and Burgess headed narrowly wide from Gary Roberts’ corner in the opening stages.

The hosts then had to scramble clear when the same duo combined well again just a few moments later.

Adam May wasted a decent opportunity by volleying wildly past the post after Kal Naismith had laid the ball off for him.

But it was Kyle Bennett looking the biggest threat for the Blues, with an array of tricks and flicks to open up the Salisbury defence.

The League One side were just missing a finishing touch – understandable considering they had only returned to training a couple of days earlier.

There was not much for former Salisbury loanee Alex Bass to deal with at the other end, although the keeper kept out a looping header from Lewis Benson on 20 minutes.

Most of the action was taking place at the other end, however, and Naismith tested the handling of Whites stopper Charlie Searle with a clean strike.

But the Blues were unable to find an opener under the warm Wiltshire sunshine and the sides went in level at the break.

Half Time

Salisbury 0

Portsmouth 0

Pompey started the second half with a completely new side and soon set about trying to open the scoring.

Curtis Main drew a regulation save from Searle, while Theo Widdrington fired over from 30 yards when a pass looked the better option.

But the Blues were ahead on 57 minutes when Curtis Main fed LALKOVIC, who drew the keeper from his line and neatly slotted into the net.

Nicke Kabamba almost doubled the advantage just before the hour mark, with a fierce effort from the right that looped narrowly over the bar.

But a second goal did arrive from the resulting corner, as DAVIES rose highest to convert Carl Baker’s delivery.

And the result was put beyond on doubt on 75 minutes when CLOSE hit a ferocious effort that cannoned in off the underside of the bar.

Pompey kept pushing forward in the closing stages, but the game drifted towards its conclusion without anyone able to add to the scoring.

Salisbury (4-1-4-1): Searle; Colson, Smith, Hart, Mundy; Whelan; Benson (c), Green, Roberts, Young; Claridge
Subs: Ball, Herbert, Flint, Russell, Larbi, Corbridge, Burden, Mathews, McGregor

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass (Collins 46); Evans (c) (Talbot 46), Burgess (Davies 46), Clarke (Whatmough 46), Haunstrup (Bedford 46); May (Widdrington 46), Rose (Close 46); Roberts (Baker 46), Bennett (Main 46), Lowe (Lalkovic 46); Naismith (Kabamba 46)
Goals: Lalkovic 53, Davies 63, Close 75
Subs not used: D.Smith, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Attendance: 1,766

Portsmouth FC