Match Reports

Pompey’s woes go on

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Anyone remember Harry Redknapp’s of cry of ‘Bare bones’ just around every transfer window? He doesn’t know the meaning of the words if he were to look inside Pompey’s dressing room right now, Wilson got crocked in training to join Rocha and Smith from Wednesday, they were soon joined by Hermann Hreidarsson, Danny Webber and David James.

The hacks will have called this a semi-final dress rehersal, but Pompey were fielding the only bodies we had available, 3 youth players were on the bench and they may well have a part to play by the end of the season.

It has been noted in the forums that Pompey’s starting 11 added up to a total transfer outlay of £1M, surely the cheapest squad in Premiership history!!
Spurs however could afford to leave the red-hot form of Pavyluchenko, all £14M of him on the bench, he sat alongside Younes Kaboul who was the first name on Pompey’s team sheet in January.

Well Pompey’s rag and bone men went about their task against the Bentley and Rolls Royce set rather well in the first half hour, Spurs were not settling and Vanden Borre playing in an advanced role nearly broke the deadlock, he combined with Piquionne and had only Gomes to beat, but the Brazilian beat his shot away when he should of really of scored.

Within 10 minutes and Pompey undid all their good work though, Bale was allowed to progress down the wing unchecked and centred over Mokoena right onto the head of Peter Crouch who opened the scoring and celebrated in front of the Spurs fans.
This lifted Spurs who had been struggling to find their feet, Huddlestone almost doubling the lead, he smashed in a shot which crashed against the bar and came to Crouch, his shot was more directed, but he too found only woodwork.
Spurs were not to be denied however, and it had to be Kranjcar who scored, Modric’s deflected shot coming to the Croatian who flicked home, his celebration was muted however in respect to his former club.

Pompey should of had a lifeline before half-time, Kanu’s flick found Brown who chested the ball up unmarked and Gomes smothered his effort.
Again on chances alone it should of been 2-2, but Pompey lack quality where it matters most.

The second half was a stalemate, Spurs had done enough, and Pompey had the stuffing completely knocked out of them when Hreidarsson went down unchallenged clutching his achilles, his season is over and his career must be in the balance.

Danny Webber replaced him and Vanden Borre slotted into the back four, Pompey now had Finnan and Mokoena as centre backs, the situation was more desperate than ever.

Webber left the same way as the man he replaced, on a stretcher receiving oxygen, in one week Pompey have four players carried off with serious looking injuries, James joined then, hopefully as nothing more than a precautio

Manager Rating
Poor old Avram, nothing will go right, he surely must of done something seriously wrong in a previous life.

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