please log in to view this image Pompey Academy won 3-2 at Swindon in their second group stage fixture in the Professional Development League Cup. Botan Ameen gave the hosts the lead, only for Jermaine Osifo and Fraser Thomas to immediately combine and provide an opening for Tayo Singerr to fire into the bottom corner. And the Blues quickly flipped the contest on its head, as Ashton Sizer nodded a Nathaniel Chioma corner back across goal for Singerr to head home. Osifo then raced clear after the break and increased the advantage, but George Alston soon hit back for the Robins. Dani Gonzalez missed a great chance to level for Swindon right at the death, firing a penalty over the crossbar. Lead professional development phase coach Sam Hudson said: “It was a pretty even affair in the first half, although we might have edged it in terms of genuine chances. “Across the whole game our opponents had more shots and entries into the final third, but they perhaps weren’t as clear-cut. “We were a little bit hesitant at the start, although once we got the press right, it tipped the balance a bit and we looked a lot better. “We did concede the opener from our own attacking set-piece, which was really disappointing, but we scored straight after. “That was such a pleasing reaction and it gave us momentum, as we started to look dominant with and without the ball. “Tayo scored again before the break and that’s six goals in his past three appearances, so he’s on a fine run of clinical form. “We then had the wind against us and the sun in our eyes after the break, while Swindon began to press us aggressively. “It was our most difficult period of the game and we looked incredibly sloppy in our own half – we were fortunate not to concede on a couple of occasions. “We were our own worst enemy, but were able to ride that wave and then increased our lead on the counter-attack. “You thought that would give us some breathing space, although this time it was our turn to concede straight away. “The final half-hour was about defending deep, winning duels and tracking runners to hold on to what we had. “Swindon got a lot of bodies forward and it looked like we’d done enough, then conceded a penalty that, luckily for us, was sent over. “I think that a draw would probably have been a fair result, but I was pleased with the resilience on display, which is an area where we’ve shown a lot of progress since the start of the season.” Pompey: Conal McDermott; Ashton Sizer, Reggie Buckland, Cody Howard (Johnson-Cole 80), Beau Mullins; Jayden Keteku, Jama, Fraser Thomas (Connor May 84); Nathaniel Chioma, Tayo Singerr, Jermaine Osifo
