If only Pompey could play at Portman road every week, if so we would have the most prolific striker in the country!
David Nugent’s uncanny streak of scoring in almost every game he plays there continued, also Pompey’s run of no goals against went past 6 hours, this match though the story was very different, as even the most rose tinted fan will tell you, we took a pasting in the first hour!
Pompey unpredictably went unchanged from the side who best Palace midweek, Lawrence was still sidelined, but his replacement Cotterill, was ready to roll once more.
Pompey surprisingly had the first effort at goal, Kitson heading straight at Fulop in the Ipswich goal, if Pompey fans thought this was a sign of things to come however, they were to be sorely mistaken.
Ipswich started to turn on the pressure, confidence obviously higher after a fine run of their own.
Delaney headed wide when well placed, then it was the over to Ashdown to battle it out with Connor Wickham.
First off Wickham smashed in a volley that Paddy turned brilliantly over. The blue wave was all one way, Wickham glanced one wide, Scotland was denied by Ashdown once more and then Wickham made a right has of a headed chance with the goal gaping.
As the half closed out Pompey made a couple of chances for themselves, Kitson was denied by Fulop when a lofted chip would of seen him score, then Ward headed straight at the Ipswich stopper.
Half time came and Pompey were definitely in Ashdown’s debt to still be in with a shout, our defence was still not breached, but this time it was the last line that had held firm.
Second half and it looked like more of the same, Wickham nodded an effort downwards, out came a yellow clad arm and the goal was still intact, Scotland was next to try his luck, this time Ashdown shut out a swivel and shot, surely a goal was on the way? Well yes, but it was Pompey who were to gain it, Nugent on his ground of choice was the beneficiary, a centre from cotterill issed the masses gathered in the six yard box, Nugent backing up gathered, cut inside Norris and fired home through the throng.
There was still half an hour to go, Jewell made a couple of changes to try and get parirty, but it was more of the same, Ipswich pressed, Pompey repelled, then it was time for the classic counter attack, Nugent broke on the left, he looked up and played in Cotterill who was charging through the centre channel, he showed a strikers touch with the lofted shot that Kitson would do well to add to his game, 2-0 job done.
Pompey had earned their 12th point out of the last 12 available, Ipswich may feel hard done by, but this was almost the perfect away performance, think back to the games when Benjani was the lone man up front before we went spend crazy, 4-1 away to Newcastle and all that, then you may get a mental picture of the Pompey set-up.
Share this article
