A (2-0) Hull City

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 182020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
A League 1
Hull City 0
Portsmouth 2


FORM GUIDE

WON DRAWN WON WON WON LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN

Pompey climbed to the top of the League One table with a hard-fought – and deserved – victory over previous leaders Hull.

The goals came early in each half, but the visitors were giving a helping hand on each occasion at the KCOM Stadium.

Jacob Greaves appeared to send the first into the net under pressure from Sean Raggett, while Josh Magennis then did the honours after the break.

Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that drew with Fleetwood on home soil earlier in the week.

Jack Whatmough was feeling ill on the morning of the match, so his place in the centre of defence was taken by Rasmus Nicolaisen.

The visitors made a bright start and Marcus Harness’ effort was deflected behind after the winger had swapped passes with John Marquis.

And the deadlock was then broken from the resulting corner, although Hull were upset that the goal was allowed to stand.

Raggett tried to attack the delivery Cam Pring, but GREAVES stooped to try to clear and ended up heading the ball into his own net.

He complained of a boot to the head from the Pompey centre-back, although referee Michael Salisbury disagreed.

The Tigers tried to hit back immediately and when Josh Emmanuel cut the ball back into the box, Mallik Wilks slotted wastefully wide.

It was Pompey looking the more dangerous side, though, and Ryan Williams – who featured in the Blues’ last visit to the KCOM Stadium in 2011 – saw a shot diverted past the post.

Josh Magennis then did well to head clear another Pring corner, as Nicolaisen came charging in to try to meet it himself.

But the hosts grew into the contest and began to threaten themselves, with a James Scott cross drifting towards the net and having to be tipped over by Craig MacGillivray.

And Pompey also had to deal with a series of corners towards the end of the half, but defended resolutely to go in ahead at the break.

Half Time

Hull City 0

Portsmouth 1

The visitors had to survive a scramble in their box straight after the restart, with Hull unable to take advantage of several mis-kicks.

It was a similar story just a few seconds later, although this time Pring was well-placed to hack the ball clear.

But Pompey shook off that shaky opening to the second period and soon managed to double their advantage.

Once again, however, it appeared to be another Tigers player who gained the unwanted credit for the ball crossing the line.

A Ronan Curtis free-kick was nodded on by Nicolaisen towards Marquis, but MAGENNIS got there first and sent the ball past Matt Ingram and into his own net.

MacGillivray stopped an instant reply from the hosts, beating away a fiercely-struck fizzer from Regan Slater.

Pompey were looking pretty comfortable, although Mallik Wilks could not connect with a teasing Keane Lewis-Potter delivery at the back post.

But the Tigers finally roared into life in the closing stages, with a couple of dangerous crosses causing problems.

Greg Docherty then lifted a pass into the box and it looked like Magennis had reduced the deficit, only for his header to come back off the bar, with Nicolaisen doing the mopping up.

There were to be no more scares, however, as the Blues saw out the final few minutes to leapfrog their opponents at the summit.

Hull (4-2-3-1): Ingram; Emmanuel, Burke, Greaves, Elder; Smallwood (c), Docherty; Wilks, Slater (Eaves 62), Scott (Lewis-Potter 46); Magennis
Subs not used: Long, Coyle, McLoughlin, Batty, Adelakun

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Raggett, Nicolaisen, Pring; Naylor (c), Cannon; Harness (Jacobs 88), Williams (Close 87), Curtis; Marquis
Goals: Greaves 6 (og), Magennis 55 (og)
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Morris, Hiwula, Harrison

Referee: Michael Salisbury

H (0-0) Fleetwood Town

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 152020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
H League 1
Portsmouth 0
Fleetwood Town 0


FORM GUIDE

DRAWN WON WON WON LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN LOST

Pompey missed out on snatching top spot in League One after being a held to a goalless draw by Fleetwood.

They looked the more likely side to score in a fractious affair, but could not break down their stubborn opponents.

And Craig MacGillivray then had to make a superb save right at the death to stop the Blues ending up with nothing.

Kenny Jackett made one enforced change from the side that eased to victory at Ipswich at the weekend.

Lee Brown injured his hamstring in that contest, so Cam Pring came in to replace him at left-back, with a space opening up for Haji Mnoga on the bench.

The contest was a bad-tempered affair before the break, with referee Alan Young having to dish out seven yellow cards – and it could have been more.

Both sides had certainly looked threatening going forward in the opening stages, without either goalkeeper being tested.

That changed on 12 minutes, however, as Jack Whatmough’s long ball was nodded down by John Marquis and Ronan Curtis hit a fierce low shot that was well saved by Jayson Leutwiler.

MacGillivray was then called into action at the other end, getting down to deny Wes Burns following good work from Danny Andrew and Paddy Madden.

But the Blues immediately launched a quick break and Leutwiler was again in top form to keep out a deflected Ryan Williams drive.

Curtis was the man into Young’s book for a foul and Whatmough soon followed him following a challenge on Sam Finley.

Madden, bizarrely, felt the punishment should have been more and his over-the-top remonstrations were also punished by a booking.

Williams and Marcus Harness were next to be carded, as the contest threatened to boil over and the man in black struggled to keep control.

Andrew and Burns also saw yellow as the half drew to a close, but there was almost something better to celebrate just before the break.

Leutwiler did well to adjust his feet and stop the ball crossing the line when Harness’ cross took a deflection and drifted towards the net.

Half Time

Portsmouth 0

Fleetwood Town 0

There was a similarly frenetic start to the second period and Pompey were first to go close when a corner was only partially cleared.

The defenders stayed up for when the ball was pumped back into the mixer, but Whatmough could not connect when Sean Raggett headed it across to him.

Jackett made his first change on the hour mark, with Ellis Harrison replacing Williams to join Marquis up front.

Tempers had calmed a bit since the restart, but the game had turned into a scrappy encounter, with both sides struggling to maintain possession.

Pompey were looking fairly controlled, though, and a moment of quality saw them come close to breaking the deadlock.

Curtis collected the ball on the left and played a neat one-two with Marquis before hitting a low shot that fizzed just past the post.

The referee was then the centre of attention again, awarding a back-pass against Fleetwood, but changing his mind after learning from his assistant that the ball came off the defender’s knee.

A second change followed for Pompey on 74 minutes, with Michael Jacobs replacing Curtis wide on the left.

The hosts were showing more ambition as the seconds ticked down, but Fleetwood were proving a difficult nut to crack.

A ball into the box from Jacobs caused problems, though, and when it was only half cleared, a Marquis follow-up was deflected wide.

And a large percentage of those inside the ground thought there was a winner on 85 minutes after Harness had stolen possession.

He burst forward and hit a fierce strike that rippled the net – but, unfortunately, it was the outside of the goal.

Fleetwood almost snatched it at the death, though, with MacGillivray doing brilliantly to deny substitute James Hill from point-blank range.

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Pring; Naylor (c), Cannon; Harness, Williams (Harrison 60), Curtis (Jacobs 73); Marquis
Booked: Curtis, Whatmough, Williams, Harness
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Nicolaisen, Close, Hiwula

Fleetwood (4-4-2): Leutwiler; Burns, Connolly (c), Mulgrew, Andrew; Camps, Rossiter, Finley (Coutts 78), McKay (Hill 74); Morris (Duffy 78), Madden
Booked: Madden, Andrew, Burns, Duffy
Subs not used: Cairns, Boyes, Matete, Saunders

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 2,000

A (2-0) Ipswich Town

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 122020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
A League 1
Ipswich Town 0
Portsmouth 2


FORM GUIDE

WON WON WON LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN LOST WON

Ryan Williams bagged a brace as Pompey comfortably won at promotion rivals Ipswich to move to within a point of the top two.

The visitors were totally dominant in the first half, just as they had been when the sides met in the FA Cup last month.

And Williams scored his first two goals of the season before the break, completing a fine passing move and then firing home another.

Kenny Jackett unsurprisingly stuck with the same side that eased to victory against Peterborough on home soil the previous week.

But there was a welcome return to the bench for Michael Jacobs, who had not featured since injuring his knee at Sunderland seven weeks earlier.

Jack Whatmough just about managed to get a long ball back to Craig MacGillivray soon after the game got started.

But, that aside, the visitors were totally dominant in the opening exchanges, without being able to test their former loan keeper David Cornell.

A series of Lee Brown corners did cause trouble among the Ipswich back-line, but they managed to survive that period of pressure.

John Marquis came close to breaking the deadlock on nine minutes, but Cornell got down low to his left to push behind the striker’s curling shot.

The stopper’s poor clearance immediately put the Tractor Boys in a spot of bother and Alan Judge recovered well to stop Andy Cannon taking advantage.

Another good chance feel the Blues’ way midway through the first half, with Ronan Curtis blazing over after being found in the box by Marcus Harness.

And the hosts then almost broke the deadlock themselves, with Craig MacGillivray using his legs to deny Armando Dobra.

Pompey got the goal their overall play deserved on 29 minutes, however – and it was an absolute beauty that started with a throw.

A pass from Cannon was deftly flicked on by Williams for Harness, who drilled a low cross into the area from the right.

The ball was unselfishly laid off by Marquis and WILLIAMS made no mistake with his finish, rifling into the top corner to open his account for the season.

It almost got even better for the Blues when Brown’s delivery was missed by Curtis and Tom Naylor drove a shot wide.

They did have a second goal to celebrate just before the break, though, as Naylor’s long ball was nodded on by Curtis for WILLIAMS to drill home his second of the afternoon.

Half Time

Ipswich Town 0

Portsmouth 2

Williams then set up a great opportunity once the action restarted, whipping in a teasing cross that was nodded wide by Marquis.

He went closer soon after, heading against the crossbar when Curtis delivered a fine free-kick from the left.

A quick break at the other end led to a corner that was only partially cleared and Sean Raggett had to bravely fling himself into the path of a fierce effort from Dobra.

Pompey were forced to make a change just before the hour mark, with Brown picking up an injury and being replaced by Cam Pring.

It was soon the turn of Curtis to rattle the crossbar after Marquis had played the ball across to him on the edge of the area.

And Cornell then came to the Tractor Boys’ rescue, somehow managing to claw away a Raggett header that appeared destined for the net.

Ipswich made changes to try to find a route back into the contest, with former Blues striker Oli Hawkins among those to enter the fray.

Pompey were working extremely hard to protect their lead and still pose threats at the other end, with Williams a tireless presence all over the pitch.

And the Blues were even able to give a few minutes to Jacobs, who replaced Curtis for the closing stages.

Ipswich (4-1-4-1): Cornell; Chambers (c),Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward; Dozzell; Dobra, Judge (Bennetts 61), Nolan (McGavin 33), Lankester (Hawkins 70); Jackson (Drinan 61)
Booked: Lankester, McGuinness, McGavin
Subs not used: Holy, Nsiala, Kenlock

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown (Pring 59); Naylor (c), Cannon; Harness, Williams, Curtis (Jacobs 86); Marquis
Goals: Williams 29, 44
Booked: Curtis, Raggett, Whatmough
Subs not used: Bass, Nicolaisen, Close, Hiwula, Harrison

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Attendance: 2,000

The Nutcracker And The Four Realms

 Movies
Dec 102020
 

Movies IMDb Mackenzie Foy


The Nutcracker And The Four Realms

Directors – Lasse Hallström . Joe Johnston

Year – 2018

Score – 5.28 (10)

Trailer

[Review]

Family Christmas movie that has a certain charm and some good scenery but just lacks something to make it a classic.

[Storyline]

On Christmas Eve in Victorian London, Benjamin Stahlbaum gives his children Louise, Clara, and Fritz the presents his wife Marie had set aside for them before she died. Clara receives an egg-shaped box which she is unable to unlock, together with a note saying “Everything you need is inside”. The family goes to a Christmas Eve party, hosted by the children’s godfather and skilled engineer Drosselmeyer. Clara asks Drosselmeyer how to unlock her egg. He reveals that he made the egg for Marie when she was younger.
Benjamin scolds her for refusing to dance with him, and they insult each other. Clara finds her string with her name on it, signifying her gift, and follows it into a forest in a parallel world where she sees a key. Before she can grab it, a mouse snatches it and crosses a frozen river. Captain Philip Hoffman, the Nutcracker, leads Clara across the bridge into the Fourth Realm, where they hardly escape the mouse king and Mother Ginger, the regent of the Fourth Realm. Captain Philip brings Clara to the palace, where she meets the regents of each land: the Sugar Plum Fairy of the Land of Sweets; Shiver of the Land of Snowflakes, and Hawthorne of the Land of Flowers. They tell Clara they are at war with the Land of Amusements, which they refer to as “the Fourth Realm”. It is also revealed Marie was the beloved Queen of this magical land and, thus, Clara is the princess.

The Sugar Plum Fairy explains that Marie created this world as a young girl, and that she animated everyone with a machine that can turn toys into real people. Sugar Plum says this machine can be used to defend the three realms against Mother Ginger, but it needs a key matching the one for Clara’s egg. Sneaking into the Fourth Realm, Clara and Philip steal back the key from Mother Ginger (ignoring her warning that Sugar Plum is lying to them), but Clara is disappointed to discover that the egg is only a music box.

Sugar Plum uses the machine to bring toy soldiers to life and orders them to attack the Fourth Realm. She then reveals that she lied about Mother Ginger, who had resisted Sugar Plum’s plan to take over all four realms in revenge for her perceived abandonment by Marie, and that the machine can turn this world’s people back into toys as well. She imprisons Clara, Captain Philip, and the male regents.

Clara opens her egg-shaped music box again and discovers a mirror, illustrating that all she needed was herself. She and the other prisoners escape. One of Mother Ginger’s mice shows Clara into the engine room, and Captain Philip convinces Mother Ginger to help overthrow Sugar Plum. Clara shuts down the machine while fighting off soldiers with Mother Ginger’s aid. Sugar Plum attempts to turn Mother Ginger back into a toy, but Clara tinkers with the machine so it aims back at Sugar Plum when activated, turning her back into a porcelain doll and rendering her entire army lifeless.

Thanked for restoring peace among the Realms and the destruction of Sugar Plum, Clara promises to visit the Realms in the future. After saying goodbye to Philip, she returns to London, where time has hardly passed since she left. She and Benjamin apologize to each other and she finally decides to dance with him. He accepts, and Clara opens her music box. Benjamin reveals that the music was the first song that he and Marie had ever danced to. They dance throughout the night in the ballroom.

My Little Princess

 Movies
Dec 092020
 

Movies IMDb


My Little Princess

Director – Eva Ionesco

Year – 2011

Score – 5.88 (10)

Trailer

[Review]

Disturbing but erotic film about the early life of Eva Ionesco at the hands of her mother.

[Storyline]

Violetta is raised by her grandmother. Her mother Hanna tries to make a living on taking photographs and concentrates on her dreams to become a famous artist. In order to succeed as an artist she doesn’t worry about dating men of questionable reputation. Only every now and then her mother visits her daughter but during these occasions it occurs to her that her daughter could be a potential model. She starts exploiting her daughter who by transforming into a kind of Lolita becomes increasingly alienated from other children of her age.

At school she is eventually frequently insulted and rejected. Then Mamie dies and Hannah’s photographs are about to unequivocally overstep the line of acceptability. Hanna even coerces Violetta mercilessly into cooperation by withholding her food in case she doesn’t agree to pose for increasingly daring photographs.

A (3-0) Cheltenham Town

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 082020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
A EFL Trophy
Cheltenham Town 0
Portsmouth 3


FORM GUIDE

WON WON LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN LOST WON WON

Jordy Hiwula bagged a brace as Pompey cruised to victory at Cheltenham to reach the third round of the Papa John’s Trophy.

Haji Mnoga broke the deadlock with his first goal for the club early in the contest against the League Two high-flyers

Hiwula then took charge by scoring in each half, as the Blues continued their fine record in the competition.

Kenny Jackett made 11 changes from the side that impressively saw off Peterborough in the league at the weekend.

In fact, nobody who set foot on the Fratton turf for that fixture even made the trip to Whaddon Road.

Alex Bass returned between the sticks, behind a back three of James Bolton, Rasmus Nicolaisen and skipper Paul Downing.

Academy midfielder Charlie Bell was joined by Ben Close and Bryn Morris in the centre of the park, with Mnoga and Cam Pring out wide.

Young striker Alfie Stanley partnered Hiwula up front, with a host of teenage prospects on the bench.

The hosts threatened in the opening stages, with Downing having to head behind a dangerous cross and from the resulting corner, Ben Tozer hooked over.

But it was the Blues who broke the deadlock on 15 minutes, as Close picked out MNOGA at the back post.

The teenage wing-back cut onto his left foot and drilled a shot into the bottom corner to open his account for the club.

Hiwula might have doubled the lead soon after, but his effort took a deflection to divert the ball over the bar.

Pompey did score again on 29 minutes, though, with Pring’s delivery nodded down by Stanley for HIWULA to fire into the net.

The visitors were, as usual, looking threatening on the break and caused more problems for their opponents before the interval.

But the Robins almost reduced their deficit late in the half, as Andy Williams collected Dan Bowry’s delivery and drilled a shot narrowly past the post.

Half Time

Cheltenham Town 0

Portsmouth 2

Any hopes of a Cheltenham comeback were dashed shortly after the restart when HIWULA raced onto a Morris free-kick down the line and fired in a shot that Scott Flinders was unable to keep out.

The keeper did much better moments later, though, to prevent the striker completing his hat-trick by converting Pring’s cross.

Then, from the resulting corner that was whipped into the box by Bell, a close-range Bolton header went over.

Jackett made a first change just past the hour mark and brought on Gerard Storey for his senior debut in place of Bell.

Pring then went close to increasing the visitors’ lead further with an angled volley from Mnoga’s cross that Flinders gathered at his near post.

The Robins almost pulled once back from a corner and Bolton was well placed to head the ball off the line.

But most of the action was taking place at the other end of the pitch and Flinders made a fine save to deny Downing after the skipper met Pring’s free-kick.

Seok Jae Lee replaced Stanley for his second Blues appearance, but it was a Cheltenham substitute who almost scored seconds after coming on.

The midfielder was sent haring through on goal, but wasted the opportunity by firing straight at Bass.

Hiwula was still working hard to complete his treble, although was not able to force his shot through a sea of bodies following a spot of pinball in the box.

But the Blues had already done more than enough to seal their progress and maintain their grip on the silverware.

Cheltenham (3-4-3): Flinders; Bowry, Tozer (c) (Lloyd 46), Freestone; Sang, Azaz (Miles 77), Chamberlain, Chapman; Williams, Reid, May (Blair 46)
Booked: Tozer
Subs not used: Griffiths, Hussey, Jakeways, Ebanks

Pompey (3-5-2): Bass; Bolton, Downing (c), Nicolaisen; Mnoga, Bell (Storey 62), Close, Morris, Pring; Stanley (Lee 77), Hiwula
Goals: Mnoga 15, Hiwula 29, 50
Booked: Mnoga
Subs not used: Seymour, Kavanagh, Rew, Jewitt-White, Brook

Referee: Kevin Johnson

H (2-0) Peterborough United

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 052020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
H League 1
Portsmouth 2
Peterborough United 0


FORM GUIDE

WON LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN LOST WON WON LOST WON

Pompey celebrated the return of fans to Fratton Park with a convincing victory over promotion rivals Peterborough.

They dominated for much of the contest on a wet and windy south coast, but could not find a breakthrough before the interval.

Jack Whatmough finally broke the deadlock, though, and a Tom Naylor special made sure the points were safe.

It was a result that was gleefully welcomed by 2,000 Blues fans, who had waited almost nine months to see their side in action.

Kenny Jackett stuck with the same side that had been narrowly beaten at Blackpool earlier in the week.

There was a minute’s applause before kick-off in memory of Papa Bouba Diop, who tragically passed away last weekend at the age of just 42.

When the action started, Pompey looked bright in and out of possession and passed the ball around nicely.

But for all their neat play in the centre of the pitch, they were unable to test Christy Pym between the sticks.

Siriki Dembele went close for the visitors in the early stages with a long-range effort that flew not too far wide of the post.

The Blues were sending in plenty of deliveries at the other end, but Posh were defending them well, with striker Jonson Clarke-Harris coming back to good effect to deal with corners.

Former Fratton full-back Nathan Thompson was then forced into a hurried clearance to prevent Lee Brown from pouncing after Ryan Williams’ low centre had been flicked on by John Marquis.

Peterborough came close to scoring against the run of play on 34 minutes after Whatmough had sliced a clearance.

That sent Dembele through on goal, but Craig MacGillivray was off his line quickly to deny the forward.

The hosts soon had an opening of their own when Ronan Curtis stole possession and fed Williams, whose angled drive flew narrowly past the post.

Half Time

Portsmouth 0

Peterborough United 0

Pompey broke menacingly from a Posh corner early in the second half and Curtis burst away from inside his own half.

But the winger was cynically brought down by Thompson, who was deservedly shown the game’s first yellow card.

Marcus Harness then lifted the ball into the mixer and Williams had space to rise unmarked, but sent his header wide.

The Blues were certainly posing a threat and Frankie Kent did well to deny Curtis, who also skewed a shot wide from Callum Johnson’s cross.

Williams then outfought Fraser Blake-Tracy and fired in a shot that was parried by Pym, only for Curtis to fire the loose ball wide.

But the hosts finally made their pressure count just past the hour mark after Blake-Tracy had been booked for a foul on Johnson.

Brown swung in the free-kick from the right and WHATMOUGH rose above Kent to emphatically head home.

The visitors responded with a triple substitution, but soon found themselves further behind thanks to a moment of magic from the skipper.

NAYLOR, who headed a corner over a few moments earlier, received a pass from Andy Cannon 30 yards out and hit a rocket into the top corner to continue his recent goalscoring form.

It was still the Blues looking more likely to add to the scoring and Curtis sent a long-range free-kick dipping onto the roof of the net.

And, with the rain continuing to fall, they saw the contest out with relative ease, much to the delight of those in the stands.

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown; Cannon, Naylor (c); Harness, Williams, Curtis; Marquis (Harrison 86)
Goals: Whatmough 61, Naylor 75
Booked: Cannon, Naylor, Brown
Subs not used: Bass, Nicolaisen, Pring, Morris, Close, Hiwula

Peterborough (4-1-2-1-2): Pym; Thompson (Mason 67), Kent, Beevers (c), Blake-Tracy (Kanu 67); Reed; Taylor, Hamilton (Broom 67); Szmodics (Eisa 74); Dembele, Clarke-Harris
Booked: Thompson, Blake-Tracy, Taylor
Subs not used: Gyollai, Brown, Clarke

Referee: Peter Wright

Attendance: 2,000

Q

 Movies
Dec 052020
 

Movies IMDb


Q

Director – Laurent Bouhnik

Year – 2011

Score – 6.63 (10)

Rated – 7 (10)

Trailer

[Review]

Foreign film, masquerading as art, with no real plot but you won’t be watching this for the plot.

[Storyline]

Set in Cheg, France and in a social context deteriorated by a countrywide economic crisis, the life of several people are turned upside down after they meet Cecile, a character who symbolizes desire. She is a 20-year-old girl whose father recently died and she sets about to bury her grief by having sexual relations with various lovers of people that she knows and does not know. Chance is her boyfriend and a petty criminal who loves her, but he cannot satisfy her constant carnal desires. His friend, Chance whose girlfriend Alice refuses to have sex with is an auto mechanic. Cecile also gives advice to her friends about how and how not to pleasure men and women. Unable to find inner peace through various sexual encounters with Chance, Matt and even Alice, she finally discovers another path to healing.

A (0-1) Blackpool

 2020/2021, Football, Match Report
Dec 012020
 

Portsmouth FC 2020/2021
A League 1
Blackpool 1
Portsmouth 0


FORM GUIDE

LOST WON DRAWN WON DRAWN LOST WON WON LOST WON

Pompey’s unbeaten away record in the league finally came to an end as they were narrowly beaten in a lifeless clash with Blackpool.

It was a contest befitting the soulless atmosphere inside a mostly empty Bloomfield Road, with hardly any chances at either end of the pitch.

But it was the Tangerines able to celebrate all three points, courtesy of a second half strike from Keshi Anderson.

Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that drew with Oxford in the last league outing seven days earlier.

Ellis Harrison dropped to the bench to make way for Ryan Williams, who was positioned out on the right, with Marcus Harness joining John Marquis up front.

There was not much to trouble either keeper in an opening 45 minutes that was extremely short on anything that could truthfully be called exciting.

Blackpool dominated possession and territory in the early stages, but were unable to penetrate the Blues back-line.

A Sullay Kaikai effort was bravely blocked by Sean Raggett, while Tom Naylor slid in to prevent Anderson capitalising on the loose ball.

Craig MacGillivray then comfortably dealt with a James Husband header after Kaikai’s corner had been flicked on for the defender.

Pompey began passing the ball around nicely as they settled into the contest, without making any inroads in the final third.

The first decent chance came at the opposite end on 24 minutes, with MacGillivray turning CJ Hamilton’s angled drive into the side netting.

As the half continued, the visitors began posing a few more problems, although could not quite find that final killer ball.

Harness did brilliantly to control Andy Cannon’s pass, only to see his attempted threaded ball for Marquis intercepted.

Their best opportunity arrived when Ethan Robson failed to clear inside his own box and Marquis dug out a shot that rolled narrowly past the post.

MacGillivray made a simple save to deny Jerry Yates as the seconds ticked away, then came quickly off his line to beat Hamilton to the ball.

Half Time

Blackpool 0

Portsmouth 0

Any hopes that there would be an improvement in the drama levels straight after the restart were quickly extinguished.

Instead, the game continued in niggly fashion, with plenty of appeals from both sides for free-kicks – most of which were ignored by referee Joshua Smith.

Jackett tried to inject some fresh energy into his side with a double substitution just past the hour mark.

Ben Close and Harrison were the men chosen to lift the visitors, with Cannon and Ronan Curtis making way.

Williams got himself into the path of Hamilton’s shot on 64 minutes, while Daniel Ballard was then booked for fouling Marquis as the Blues tried to launch a quick break.

But Blackpool then broke the deadlock moments later, with Yates wisely leaving Hamilton’s low centre for Anderson to drive into the net.

Cam Pring soon came on for Williams and took up residence just in front of Lee Brown on the left-hand side.

The Blues were trying to find a way back and Marquis hit two efforts off target, the second coming after Naylor had found him with a fine lofted pass.

Pompey were huffing and puffing in search of an equaliser, but Chris Maxwell was still a virtual spectator between the sticks.

Blackpool were at least forcing MacGillivray to get his gloves dirty and the keeper got down low to his right to push clear Kaikai’s shot.

The game was threatening to end with a whimper, but Marquis finally forced Maxwell into action in stoppage-time.

And after the keeper pushed away his shot, the resulting corner saw a spot of pinball in the box before the hosts were finally able to clear the danger.

Blackpool (4-4-2): Maxwell (c); Turton, Ekpiteta, Ballard, Husband; Hamilton, Robson, Dougall, Kaikai; Yates (Madine 82), Anderson (Woodburn 76)
Goals: Anderson 64
Booked: Ballard, Madine, Kaikai
Subs not used: Sims, Gabriel, Gretarsson, Mitchell, Kemp

Pompey (4-4-2): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown; Williams (Pring 66), Naylor (c), Cannon (Close 61), Curtis (Harrison 61); Marquis, Harness
Booked: Marquis, Brown
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Nicolaisen, Hiwula

Referee: Joshua Smith