Pompey fought back from 3-1 down to secure an impressive point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road today.
Old boy Andy O’Brien takes the ‘plaudits’ with the second of his own goals gifting us a late, late point!
Full report from paultsmouth to follow tomorrow after a night out…
And here is the hangover report, fresh from a night out at the Easney Cellars.
Pompey made a few enforced changes for the match, Richard Hughes used up his last game of his current contract, replacing Brown who had done the same earlier, Joel Ward shifted forwards to replace Liam Lawrence, this paved the way for Greg Halford to return at right back. Carl Dickinson replaced HH on the left.
Pompey had promised to wipe out the early errors which were proving our achilles heel, well after 10 minutes that pledge was obliterated.
Pompey had just wasted a golden chane to take the lead through John Utaka, he clipped a shot over Schmeichel in the Leeds goal but saw it deflected narrowly wide, instead of a corner though Leeds were granted a goal kick that ultimately gave them the lead, the kick found Snodgrass on the right, his cross landed at Max Gradel’s feet and the net bulged, part refereeing error and slack defending, sound familiar?
Next up it was Carl Dickinson in the spotlight, he missed a clearance and Howson was left to place past Ashdown, if Pompey had any more feet to shoot they would need to be millipedes.
Pompey had to regroup and come from behind once again, Kitson almost found a lifeline but his goal bound header was hacked off the line, then came a Nugent magic moment, teed up by Hughes who was enjoying a storming return to the side, he smashed home an absolute thunderbolt from the edge of the area, Schmeichel left groping for thin air.
Half-time arrived and Pompey seemed to have a footing in the game at least, after an hour had passed though the deficit was back to 2, a corner was only scuffed clear and Johnson volleyed from inside the 18 yard box, Pompey surely down and out?
Well no, Pompey burst straight up the other end Kanu who was on for the crocked Ward squared to Hughes, he struck for goal and the ball richocheted off of Pompey old boy O’Brien, Hughes wheeled away celebrating what he believed to be only his second Pompey goal, only the dubious goal panel can decide now.
Pompey pressed and pressed for a leveller, referee throwing us a lifeline by waving away a penalty shout after Sonko’s clumsy trip on McCormack, then in stopage time came the morale boosting equaliser, this time there was no doubt that O’Brien scored it, Ciftci crossed from the right and O’Brien and Schmeichel got in a right tangle the ball crossing the line before Kanu could claim it.
So a late 3-3 draw in stoppage time bringing back memories of a similar game back in the 1990’s when Guy Whittingham got the same result for Pompey, one thing you can’t dispute about our depleted squad is the spirit!
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