Attempt blocked. Baily Cargill (MK Dons) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 80 mins.
Looking at the match stats at 70mins - If we win this then MK Dons fans will be just as p155ed off as we were when we lost at home to Wigan
MK Dons Sub: Lasse Sørensen on for Michael Sorinoli. Pompey Sub: Ryan Williams replaces Michael Jacobs. Both 87 minutes.
Attempt saved. Cameron Jerome (MK Dons) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Houghton.
Final whistle goes, and it's 2-1 to Pompey. Not really deserved. Unlucky MK Dons. Still, we will take the three points !
Final match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth ..........Away Team: MK Dons Possession: Home 29% Away 71% Shots: Home 4 Away 17 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 6 Corners: Home 5 Away 13 Fouls: Home 14 Away 7
Phew. Playing on the break by the looks of things with only 29% possession. Was Curtis injured, getting rough treatment or was it simply a masterstroke substitution from Kenny Jackett?
Kenny played Michael Jacobs on the left wing, and Ronan Curtis on the right wing... He hardly got involved in the match....... Mind you, neither did Marcus Harness !
Pompey just love the EFL Cup where they seem to play good attractive football. Back in the League and they seem dour and full, obsessed with the result and not the entertainment aspecto, or so it seems.
Thanks for the commentary Woops. I saw the match replayed. Its tempting to say the scoreline was the only positive. In Curtis, Morris and Jacobs Portsmouth had three players that could not impose themselves on the game. To change things up by substituting Curtis was a sensible step but they bought on a defender. The idea to play three at the back to allow the full backs to play as wing backs did not work. They did not appear to get forward anymore after the substitution. Cannon and Williams are two players that can always be seen to try and impose themselves on a game whether it is coming off for them or not. At least one of these two should be in team in place Curtis ,Morris or Jacobs. My preference would be Cannon for Morris at this stage. I'm not sure whether to class Pompey's penalty as a lucky penalty or not. Certainly, looked at in isolation, it was justified and I would like to see more such penalties given for blatent obstructing and mauling of attackers at corners. The luck element comes from the fact such marking tactics occur to some degree at almost every corner so when the rare penalty results it is like winning a lottery! As Devon points out the possession stats were woeful and cannot be fully justified by saying 'we attack on the break.' Possession of the ball remains the best form of defense.
If you look closely at the highlights, the MK Dons number 2 (George Williams) violently shoved Sean Raggett to the ground seconds before Tom Naylor headed home the cross for the opening goal. It was the same player (Williams) who did the identical thing to Raggett again to concede the penalty !! He must have had instructions from his manager to prevent 6' 5" tall Raggett from reaching crosses any way he could. Blatant fouls. Their manager than had the audacity to verbally abuse the officials, hence the fact he was subsequently booked. Serves him right.....
