All the promise and optimism we felt after Tuesday’s draw at colchester evaporated, first with the return of Chanrai, then this crushing defeat in the furthest trip of the year.
Pompey were spanked, the two late goals softened the blow somewhat, but the new regime got their first big wake up call after not performing for three quarters of the match.
Izale McLeod is having a tough time of it, his lucky goal against Bournemouth has been followed by a series of misses he would expect to stick away, another two yesterday.
Kevin Long got two yellows to rule him out for a game, this adds pressure to Michael Appleton’s already thin squad.
Carlisle were at Pompey from the off, this season Achilles heel seems to be picking up runners into the box, this ailment flared up once more, first Jervis and then Livesey being allowed to head free headers into the net.
Long saw red with ten minutes to go, this seemed to be the end of it as a contest, but a frantic injury time period saw four goals, first Ashley Harris nodded home from Liam Walker’s cross, Berret went straight up the other end to restore the cushion, then Connor Clifford again gave us false hope, joining fellow sub Harris on the scoresheet.
This led to the inevitable siege on the Carlisle goal in desperate hope of another, Pompey were of course short at h back and were hit on the break, Madden knocking in a rebound to at last put he game to bed.
Another big week lies ahead, off the pitch there is the wrangling for control to keep our interest, on the pitch we have a free midweek to get some communication into a leaky back four.
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