Just returned from Fratton, sat in the blowy North stand for this one, and Pompey finally got their season up and running, ableit against a poor Hereford side who came to contain.
Pompey fielded a decent enough side, Ward stepped in for the ‘injured’ Distin, Borre returned to right-back and Basinas slotted into the centre with Hughes. Begovic deputised for the genuinely injured James.
It was apparent the game would be almost one way traffic as soon as the teams lined up, Hereford choosing 4-4-2, two banks of 4 and 2 midfield/attackers.
Pompey however were finding the kind of space you don’t get at Arsenal, they pinged it around well at times, often over elaborating when it was not needed.
Adam Bartlett was certainly a busy man in the Hereford goal and he performed well at times, pulling off one great double save.
Piquionne was enjoying himself, he hit the post with one effort from an outrageous angle and then slotted home with time and ease from Kranjcar’s pass.
Almost immeadiately it was 2, this time Piq crossed from the left for Utaka to slot home, Pompey were coasting.
Niko Kranjcar was next to fill his boots, jinking in from the left he fired home when Bartlett looked to have really saved his well struck shot, but his hand was not strong enough.
Second half and Utaka came off for Nugent who was eager to impress, so eager in fact that he didn’t.
Now, a Richard Hughes goal is as rare as a Pompey takeover, but he smashed in a beauty tonight to cap what was until then a below par game, he should of rounded off a good move first half but stuck out his left peg when the ball was on his right.
It was game over really, Pompey played possesion football without really threatening again, and it was up to referee D’Urso to show why he officiates more lower league games than Premiership these days, Begovic who looked solid came out and performed a textbook slide tackle, but good old Andy pointed to the spot to the amazement of everybody in the crowd and Plummer fired home the freebie.
Pompey seemed irked by the decision and lost their way a bit adding no further goals when they really looked capable.
Player Ratings
Begovic
Solid, sawn off by D’Urso though
Vanden Borre
Better second half after poor first, was bailed out by good Begovic save after very poor defensive header in the first 45
Ward
Should feature more regularly soon
Kaboul
Solid, may well be the senior man at the back soon
Belhadj
Got forward well, his pace certainly bales him out sometimes.
Mokoena
Loves a tackle and tries to drive the side on.
Hughes
His passing was all over the place early on, great goal, but is so left footed he should be called Daniel Day Lewis
Basinas
Didn’t pass Hereford to death as we hoped, but did ok.
Kranjcar
More up for it than of late, but tended to go for too many Hollywood passes.
Piquionne
Eager runner and good goal
Utaka
Will be pleased with goal and didn’t shirk on the night.
Nugent
Could of scored, should of scored, looks really low in confidence.
Kanu
Lit up the game with one run
Young Frenchman tried to get stuck in and show what he can do.