please log in to view this image Gareth Evans heads Pompey into a 1-0 lead Gareth Evans and Stuart O’Keefe were on target as Pompey cruised into the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy. A small crowd were not treated to a chance-laden encounter, but it was always the hosts who looked more likely to score. Evans completed an attractive passing counter-attack to open the scoring a few minutes before the interval. O’Keefe doubled their lead in the second half and only some impressive saves from David Cornell prevented the margin of victory being even greater. Kenny Jackett made three changes from the side that beat Plymouth in the league the previous week. Christian Burgess returned from suspension to replace the injured Oliver Hawkins in defence, while the sidelined Kal Naismith made way for Curtis Main up front. The other switch saw loanee O’Keefe recalled in the centre of the pitch, with Ben Close missing out. A sparse crowd ensured there was an eerie atmosphere inside Fratton Park when the game got underway. And the action on the pitch did little to warm the spirits of those fans who decided to spurn Christmas shopping to watch the game. There were a couple of half chances for the hosts, with O’Keefe’s volleyed effort flying over, while an audacious long-range free-kick from Christian Burgess landed on the roof of the net. Neither side looked particularly threatening in the opening stages, however, as the game drifted along. Main headed a difficult chance wide after rising above two defenders to meet Nathan Thompson’s cross. Evans then drilled a low shot narrowly past the post, while Cornell – who previously had a loan spell at Pompey – just about beat Conor Chaplin to a loose ball. The tie finally got going on 35 minutes, when Danny Rose slipped a fine pass through to Evans, who was denied by Cornell’s save. Northampton had offered little at the other end, although Burgess made a timely challenge to dispossess Burgess in the box. And it was the Blues who broke the deadlock just before the break, courtesy of a fine passing move up the pitch. Brandon Haunstrup released Evans, who in turn found Chaplin before bursting into the box to receive the ball back. Chaplin dinked the ball into the centre, and EVANS was there to head home his first goal of the season. Half Time: Pompey 1 Northampton 0 The advantage was almost doubled early in the second half, as Haunstrup delivered a dangerous low cross that Ash Taylor had to turn over his own crossbar. But it then took a superb save from Luke McGee to stop the Cobblers from levelling, with the keeper diving to his right to stop Taylor from converting Lewis McGugan’s corner. Cornell made his own decent stop when Main inventively flicked Rose’ centre towards the net, although the linesman had raised his flag for offside. The lead did increase just before the hour mark, however, when Thompson cut the ball back for O’KEEFE to neatly steer into the bottom corner. A third might have followed when Thompson stole back possession, but Evans’ effort from out wide flashes past the post. Jackett made his first switch on 69 minutes, with Drew Talbot given a chance to impress in place of Haunstrup at left-back. Evans and Chaplin were off target with shots, as the Blues tried to wrap the tie up with plenty of time to spare. Main then saw an attempt roll agonisingly wide following good work from Rose and Chaplin to tee him up. And Cornell made a string of fine saves to limit the damage late on, denying Main, Evans and Chaplin in quick succession. Pompey (4-2-3-1): Luke McGee; Nathan Thompson, Christian Burgess, Matt Clarke, Brandon Haunstrup (Drew Talbot 69); Stuart O’Keefe, Danny Rose; Gareth Evans (c), Conor Chaplin, Jamal Lowe (Matty Kennedy 88); Curtis Main Goals: Gareth Evans 41, Stuart O’Keefe 58 Subs not used: Alex Bass, Matt Casey, Adam May, Kyle Bennett, Bradley Lethbridge Northampton (4-4-2): Cornell; Moloney, Barnett, Taylor, Buchanan; Hoskins (Bowditch 63), Poole (Waters 78), McGugan, Crooks; Richards (c), Long (Foley 46) Subs not used: Coddington, Smith, McGivern, Kasim Referee: Tom Nield Attendance: 1,780 (128 away fans)
Match Statistics: Goal Attempts: Pompey 16............Northampton 6 On Target Pompey 6..............Northampton 1 Corners Pompey 5..............Northampton 5 Fouls Pompey 10............Northampton 16 Yellow Cards Pompey 0..............Northampton 0 Red Cards Pompey 0..............Northampton 0 Possession Pompey 52%........Northampton 48%
Judging from the team selection it looks like Pompey are taking this competition seriously. I had expected Bass and perhaps May to get a start.
Hi pdu - I think Kenny Jackett is doing just that. Pleased he didn't risk the fitness of striker Brett Pitman though !
This is one of those competitions that no-one gives a s*1t about until it suddenly dawns on them, come the quarter and semi finals, that there is a trip to Wembley on the cards. It would be nice to see a half decent crowd if drawn at home in the next round.
Because the crowd was under 2,000, Pompey only opened the South Stand Upper, and the Family Section below for fans to sit and watch the game. That made it easier for the stewards to control the rabble !
Because Iceland were giving away a bag of nearly chicken nuggets with every pound spent and the other 14000 thought that was a better bargain than this competition. Or so I heard.
Would season ticket holders have to pay to have attended the game? if not I am amazed at how low the attendance was. I suppose most Div 2 sides play in front of similar size crowds each week ( or not much bigger). Watching the extended highlights I was impressed by two very well worked goals from open play. I read in the week that Jackett was keen to explore Chaplin's wider talents -not just his striker abilities. From the scant evidence of the highlights his distribution while running hard at the defence looked very good. At the moment Pitman- Neihsmith look like the first choice upfront pairing so it would be interesting to see Chaplin get some starts in a deeper role although Evans appears to have put his hand up for the mid field on the evidence of that game. With Evans as a ball winning mid fielder / full back and Chaplin as a stiker/ attacking mid fielder the squad would have quite a bit of flexibility.
We have been drawn away to Chelsea Under 23's in the next round. Not an easy draw, considering the amount of money they have spent bringing in some of the best young players in the world !!
Are you joking? Have you not heard of the B-Team boycott? As it turns out, we are away but had we been at home, I would have hoped for an attendance even lower than this one. I for one will NEVER accept Portsmouth being relegated to nothing more than training opposition for PL club's kids. It is insulting, it is demeaning and it is ignoring our existence as a club in it's own right. It's saying our sole purpose, the entire reason we exist is just to give Chelsea's kids minutes on the pitch. Well **** that ****. I will never go to Wembley while academy teams are in this competition, even if Portsmouth get to the final.
Come on Lapras !! I agree with a lot of what you say, BUT if we did manage to get to the final, surely you wouldn't miss a day out at Wembly to cheer the lads on, would you ?
Yup, I would. I wouldn't do it gleefully, and had this been a couple of years ago before that idiot Harvey ruined this competition, I'd have been more than happy to go. Anyway, I've been to Wembley a lot in the last few years... I can live without it! That being said, while I hope people would be willing to not go to make a stand, it's a free country and I wouldn't blame them if they did choose to go.
