If Pompey were to have made a late surge for the play offs, last night surely ended any lingering hopes of doing so, the great win on Saturday was followed up with a disappointing draw against the struggling Robins. That is not paying Cheltenham any disrespect, more highlighting how frustrating this season has been, Pompey have just never been able to build on any good result all season, Luton looked good on Saturday, we beat them well, Cheltenham didn’t look half as organised and nearly stole all the points after a defensive display obviously missing the crocked Paul Robinson, but also communication.
Pompey started brightly enough, that’s for sure, the rejuvenated Ryan Taylor led the way, spinning early on and firing powerfully wide. Pompey were doing all the probing and when Barcham bombed down the right and centred, it was Tubbs there to poke home almost on the line. It looked for all the world as if Pompey may run riot, as it were, 4 minutes later we were behind.
Cheltenham waited 90 seconds to regain parity, Richards in midfield pinged a diagonal ball from midfield, Butler and Webster were both watching as Harrad nodded straight to the other Richards who had time to smack an uncontested shot past Paul Jones.
Pompey were looking vulnerable to the high ball and Richards swung in a deep free kick which reached Packwood who nodded home from knee height, the lack of authority in the box was evident, no one wanted to plant a head on the ball and Jones could of come off his line a bit sharper and mopped up.
Pompey tried to up their game again, Dunne was not as influential as of late and looked a little off the pace, Barcham also picked up a knock that seemed to hamper his movement, in fact it was a set piece that brought the blues level. Butler arrowed in a free kick from the right and Taylor continued his fine form, nodding in his sixth goal in seven games.
Danny East replaced Barcham at half time and provided the first bit of quality of the second hal, bursting past his man and firing over a centre that could not be forced home. Tubbs was up next, chasing down a loose ball and blasting in an effort that Carson tipped over the bar.
The game became a stalemate quickly in the second period, Cheltenham decided to sit on a point and Pompey couldn’t find the key to unlock them, Awford threw on McCallum for his first game since his mammoth ban, but the closest we came was when Wallace got down the left, Carson doing well to block out his cut back with players queuing up to finish it off.
The game was over as a contest but Jack Whatmough had enough time to pick up a worrying looking knee injury, Pompey actually finish with nine men.
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