Attempt saved. Joe Morrell (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. 90 minutes.
Gavin Bazunu makes fine saves in quick succession to deny Scott Twine and Hiram Boateng. 90 + 2 minutes.
Yellow cards to John Marquis and an MK Dons player (Harvie) for handbags on the pitch. 90 +6 minutes.
Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Reeco Hackett-Fairchild with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Troy Parrott (MK Dons) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Twine.
Final Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .............Away Team: MK Dons Possession: Home 51% Away 49% Shots: Home 20 Away 14 Shots on Target: Home 6 Away 6 Corners: Home 5 Away 1 Fouls: Home 10 Away 9
With this result, it feels as if the season is "over." Or perhaps now that the pressure of not maintaining a top 6 position might just enable the team to concentrate on football rather than feel pressured. I feel Pompey are rather tense in front of goal and are snatching at chances. MK Dons really pulled a sucker punch by the sound of things.
We are only half way through the month, so hopefully enough time to make the necessary signings to freshen up the squad. If John Marquis does depart, then we will require two new strikers to replace him, Ellis Harrison and Gassan Ahadme who have already departed. Apparently, we haven't got much money to spend, so Danny Cowley will really have to rely on his contacts book to find the right players.
Well its taken me a while to bring myself to watch the ifollow replay -. always hard to do when you know the result was negative. Also the dilemma's of the armchair sportsman have been plentiful of late. I did my patriotic duty and watched the disaster of the Ashes and now the Australian open tennis has started. I thought I better watch this replay before tonight's game. Given I knew the result it was not too disappointing, Pompey played some attractive football at times and I believe have improved in two distinct areas since last season and the early part of this campaign. 1) They are getting more possession. (This comes from more command of the mid field) 2) They are creating more chances (which by and large they are missing but it is an improvement on the prior problem of not creating chances). In addition to this they are playing better football to watch. The score line apart they are played reasonably against one of the better teams in the division. Recruitment is a concern - especially the likelihood of more loanees. The playoffs appear to be a 50 -50 chance at the moment and success in the playoffs a somewhat remote possibility. Having something to build on for next season would appear to be a more realistic aspiration. If Marquis leaves it appears we will have Hurst and another - yet to be secured - loan option as our strikers for the remainder of the season. I have been impressed with Hurst's movement. It was striking when he was replaced by Marquis how many more involvements Hurst had got relative to those achieved by Marquis.. However, he seems somewhat clumsy with the ball at his feet and I am uncertain that this is something that can be remedied at this stage of his career. it is unlikely he is seen as having Premier League potential so it may be possible for him to become a permanent signing at the end of the season. Freeman has not had a bad season although he has made some individual bad errors of late. His place will be threatened for the rest of the season by Romeo and Carter -two loanees. If he gets little game time for the rest of the season and we are not promoted.it is likely he will remain next season and the loanees will be gone so what has been built? The same could be said for the goalkeeping position. Bazunu has been superb but he is a premier league keeper through and through - if not with ManCity then another club.. It is therefore far more likely that Bass will be between the sticks next season. So the pertinent question is what chance has Bass had to improve this season? lets hope for success tonight PUP
