Match Day Thread Pompey vs Rochdale

The stretcher has been called on for the Rochdale player, Jamie Allen but it doesn't seem like it's needed.

 

Another Rochdale freekick outside Pomepy's box, saved by McGee who gathers it safely.

 

Pittman holds up the ball around the Rochdale box, Pompey pressuring, crossed, but it's cleared.

 

Sounds like Pompey are attempting to over-play it a bit too much in attack.

 

Rochdale attack comes to nothing, cleared by Pompey.

 

Naismith gives away a freekick on the right hand side of the Pompey box and it's cleared again.

 

That is a shame. Lowe doesn't seem the kind of player who is reckless. do you think that the referee was a tad harsh and was just trying to even things up if Rochdale felt hard done by with their sending off? Thoughts MAJR.

 

Rochdale pressuring but relief comes via a freekcik to Pompey.

 

It doesn't sound like it was malicious, just poorly timed. It might have been a bit harsh but without seeing it I couldn't say.

 

Rochdale still piling on the pressure and Pompey struggling to keep hold of the ball.

4 minutes stoppage time

 

Pompey seem to be looking to just keep hold of this lead now.

 

And saying that Pittman scores his second. 2-0 Pompey! That must decide it now.

 

Sounds as if Rochdale are quite a physical team. Playing to their strengths perhaps.

 

Possibly. I dont think they've been out-matched today. They've just been toothless. If they had a goalscorer it might have been different.

 

I was perhaps a bit critical with Pitman's signing a few weeks ago. Where would PFC be without Pitman? Nice for someone to ram my criticism right back down my throat within a matter of weeks.

I hope others will chip in with the goals once the team have settled down and have gained confidence to really go and do it at this level.

 

We must be in 3rd place already, with Fleetwood and Oxford all scoring 2-0

 

Game over. Pompey won 2-0 and finish the first day of League One 2017/18 sitting 3rd in the table.

Pittman was the difference today despite his quiet first half performance. Chaplin didn't really get much of a chance to show what he could do because the one-up-front system didn't suit him. Pompey's defence was solid and Whatmough and Talbot played well the whole game. McGee didn't have much to do but did what he had to. The red cards didn't change the game much because Rochdale stayed dangerous the whole game despite playing most of it a man down.

 

I know it is early days but I sense a really good season and even a promotion at the end of it. We have seen it happen just 20 miles to the north-west where a promotion momentum continues into the new season and just gathers force.

 

I thought Rochdale and Pompey were evenly matched today with the only difference being Pittman finding the net twice. It speaks well for Pompey's potential to be an upper-table side given that Rochdale finished 9th last season but, then again, they have lost a few important players from last season so I'm not sure how much can really be taken from that. I remain cautious with lowered expectations, just aim to get 50 points first to (more or less) ensure League survival then push on from there.

 

Fair enough MAJR but I suspect KJ will have targetted promotion and believes it is possible. I am sure he will get two or three more in before the end of August.