Pompey ender another week full of turmoil on a rare high note, roared on by an away support full Elvis look-a-likes, Bananamen and champagne bottles, our beleagured heroes did us proud, coming up to a bouyant free scoring Blackpool and running them all the way.
Pompey were unchanged once more, with our squad that is hardly surprising!
Blackpool made all the early running, Lua Lua particularly shining bright for the satsumas, the game was fairly open from the start, both teams wanted to play football which is alaways a good thing, Blackpool did the early pressing but Pompey were looking for a quick counter at every opportunity.
On 20 minutes Pompey had a double scare, first henderson spilled a corner, the ball being hacked away by the men in black, then Lua curled in a free-kick, he wasn’t going for goal but the ball nestled in the bottom corner, luckily for Pompey Basham flicked a leg at it in an offside position, this was deemed to be interfering enough to be offside, good call.
Pompey threatened themselves, a ball was fizzed across goal with no-one to convert, then Huseklepp almost profited from a poor back header, he latched on to the ball and raced down on goal, he went a little wide and Gilks was able to smother away his left footed poke.
Lawrence was having a fine game in midfield, his move inside seems to suit him, Etuhu showed a couple of glimpses on the right, but too often he dwelled just too long on the ball.
Pompey had another scare when Barry Ferguson flew in for a header, Ben Haim and Halford both almost kicking his head off as the sweaty sock threw himself at it.
Futacs almost got in behind once more, he showed great control to bring down a high ball but could only blast well wide.
Pompey took the lead they had threatened on the stroke of half time, Ben Haim muscled down the right and his cross was retreived by Futacs, his shot was going well wide but was in turn taken by Huseklepp who swivelled and flicked home, great footwork.
Half-time arrived and Pompey probably deserved the lead on chance ratio, straight after the re-start it was almost two, Futacs turned his man and fired right footed toward goal, Gilks was beaten but the ball smacked the outside of the post and the Hungarian was denied.
Kevin Phillips and Taylor-Fletcher both came on before the hour, but Blackpool had still not mangaged a shot on target, Pompey still looking very threatening on the break.
Huseklepp was played in once more by Ben Haim, he got down the right but with Futacs screaming for it, dwelled and then crossed over everyones head and a great chance was gone.
Taylor-Fletcher blasted one over the bar and the Huseklepp was in again, he got behind the defence but his shot on the turn lacked power and Gilks got down to make the save, another day he could of had a hat-trick.
Time was ticking away and still the clementine clads had not tested Henderson, that was change though when ‘pool got a dead ball on the edge of the area, ex-scum Crainey stepped up and curled into the top corner, henderson clutching at a vapour trail.
The last ten minutes were frantic to say the least, Kitson ws on for Futacs and almost got Huseklepp away again, then Sylvester who was feeling mighty real hit a great first time shot that Henderson matched with a splendid scrambling save to his left.
So 1-1 and another point that will keep us above the dotted line of relegation if the inevitable becomes reality next week, roll on Ipswich.
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