Portsmouth 24 Brian Murphy 03 Enda Stevens 04 Adam Webster 06 Christian Burgess 02 Ben Davies 29 Danny Hollands 08 Michael Doyle (Captain) 26 Gareth Evans 13 Caolan Lavery 23 Kyle Bennett 10 Marc McNulty Substitutes 07 Adam McGurk 18 Ben Tollitt 19 Conor Chaplin 20 Matthew Clarke 33 Ben Close 35 Alex Bass 38 Brandon Haunstrup
Thread started a bit late, for various reasons. Not at match today, as unfortunately feeling under the weather. Two changes to our side, with Adam McGurk replaced by Caolan Lavery, and Christian Burgess in for Matthew Clarke. Hartlepool have ex Pompey player Trevor Carson in goal.
2-0 up now with a cross from Gareth Evans put in the back of his own net by defender Adam Jackson. 'Pool were trying to park the bus, we appear to have found the keys !!
2-0 to Pompey at half time. We are currently standing 4th in the table. Northampton are winning, Oxford are drawing, but Plymouth are losing at home. Accrington Stanley's match postponed due to weather.
Brad Walker on for Carl Magnay , and Mikael Mandron on for Scott Fenwick, for the 'Pool. Ben Tollitt on for Kyle Bennett for Pompey.
Christian Burgess off after a nasty challenge. On comes Matthew Clarke. Hartlepool player Mandron is booked by the ref.
Final whistle. 4-0 to Pompey. That's 10 goals in the last two home league matches against York & Hartlepool.
That means we beat Luton 10-0 or 2-0. 10 would be nice but 2 would do. I've only just realised who our goalie is. Shocked. please log in to view this image
A great relief that the 'goals tap' has been turned on at last. Hopefully it will still be in working order at Northampton next week. A little worrying that the tap is largely under the control of loan players - Lavery & McNulty. And if Burgess has a serious injury another loan player - Clarke - becomes more critical. Lets hope at least two of them can be re-signed until the end of the season.
It was a great game, Hartlepool came to park the bus and get us on the break.......which in fairness has been a tactic employed by many at FP this season and it has worked..........but Cooky and Co have been working hard on the training ground and it showed.......the quickness of passing, the cutting passes, the movement its all there......at long last. For me its difficult to single out any one player as MOTM, but if I were pushed it would be either Burgess or Bennett, both worked tirelessly, Burgess clearing up at the back and Bennett making things happen from midfield. It was at times literally breathtaking stuff..........and its been a few years since we have been able to say that! Some of the Hartlepool players had quite a day at FP, and a few learnt valuable lessons on how not to wind up the Fratton faithful........and more importantly why not to.....
