Pompey 1 Walsall 1
Pompey picked up a hard-earned point at Fratton Park yesterday afternoon coming from behind against a robust Walsall side.
Kenny made just one change from the side that lot at Oxford with Milan Lalkovic replacing Kyle Bennett in the attacking three.
Referee Huxtable had a poor gam and that started as early as the third minute when Saddler`s skipper Adam Chambers made a late lunge on Adam May and was only booked – the challenge from my angle was far worse than the one for which Jamal Lowe was sent off in the previous home game. The official decided a yellow card was suffice; more questionable decisions would follow.
Walsall continued to press Pompey throughout the first period and caught Pompey at the start of the second period. The home side fell asleep in the corner allowing a cross to come over and Luke Leahy to convert at the back post.
Pompey then really lacked energy until on 65 minutes Kenny made a bold change sending on Curtis Main and Nicke Kabamba to replace Lalkovic and Kal Naismith who has not yet replicated last season`s form.
Amadou Bakayoko should have been shown Red after a crude challenge on birthday boy Jack What mough and then twice went, goes close to doubling the visitors` lead. Through one on one his low strike is saved by Luke McGee and then on the rebound his second effort was blocked and cleared.
This immediately gave the home side the impetus they needed and on 74 minutes Kabamba was held as a ball was hit into the box and when he got away from that challenge went down with keeper Mark Gillespie. Penalty called Huxtable another dubious decision. Certainly the initial challenge was a foul but outside the area, the coming together with the keeper appeared to six and half a dozen.
Brett Pitman grabbed the ball and slammed home the spot kick.
Pompey (4-2-3-1): McGee; Talbot (Bennett 36), Burgess, Whatmough, Haunstrup; Rose, May; Evans, Naismith (Kabamba 65), Lalkovic (Main 65); Pitman (c)
Goals: Pitman 74 (pen)
Booked: Pitman
Subs not used: Bass, Davies, Close, Chaplin
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Attendance: 17,198 (464 away fans)
On Facebook last night I noticed that a ‘fan` had started a post claiming that Brandon Haunstrup was the worst Pompey player he had ever seen! Apart from being absolute drivel that sort of rubbish will do nothing to aid the confidence of aa young player out on his career. He is a player with great potential and like Adam May just needs experience and the support of the fans to become great additions to the squad.
Expected goals?
In the week I was asked to explain the new phenomena introduced on MOTD known as `expected goals`.
Well having given it some thought for a few seconds I could only really compare it to the judging of boxing bouts by the awarding of points. Then if there is not clear decision at the end of the fight the judges add up their points and a winner is announced (usually to the disbelief of the watching audience).
Rory Campbell an analytics expert who has worked with Premier League clubs and is a director of the company C&N Sporting Risk explained to Sky Sports ‘Expected goals (xG) is a statistical measure of the quality of chances created and conceded. It is therefore a way of looking at the underlying repeatable quality of teams and players that uses a look at statistics beyond goals.
Although statistics can be off-putting for some, the logic behind it is easy to understand:
? A shot from 8 yards has a higher xG value than a shot from 18 yards
? A shot directly in front of goal has a higher xG value than a shot from a tight angle
? A shot taken by the foot has a higher xG value than a header.’
For instance, last week`s Premier League results would have read
Arsenal 2.58 Leicester City 1.5 (4-3)
Watford 2.32 Liverpool 2.67 (3-3)
Chelsea 1.53 Burnley 0.65 etc (2-3)
Interesting and no doubt fans can now argue in the pub after the game that they were robbed officially!!
Friendlies?
Had an email in the week asking if I remember the details of a friendly at Fratton Park with West Brom back in 1967!!
The source of the email was a user of pompeyrama who had contacted Phil. Michael wrote – ‘ I attended my first league match almost 50 years ago, August 19th 1967.
Before that and my first time at Fratton Park was a friendly against West Bromwich Albion.
I have been trying to find the exact date that match took place.
I can remember thinking how bright our all royal blue kit looked, how green the grass looked, how bright the orange football was, the orange gravel surrounding the pitch and Barry Harris in white sailor`s suit. What I cannot remember is the date. Given that the 19th was a Saturday, as it is this year the two possible dates are 5th and 12th.
As one of these would mark the 50th anniversary it would be great to learn the actual date.`
Can anyone out there be of assistance? For many reason Phil does not carry details of friendlies and the only list I can find is in Colin Farmery`s excellent book Tindall to Ball – but that only goes back to 1970. I would have been at that game as I attended everything back in those days so I may have a team sheet somewhere. The only small doubt in my mind is was the game West Brom as we went on to play them in the FA Cup round five and I am unable to remember any reference back to the preseason game.
Come on someone out there must know.
Wigan A
Next Saturday sees the much awaited trip of Pompey to Paul Cook`s Wigan Athletic.
This will be Pompey`s ninth visit to Wigan`s home grounds of Springfield Park and the JJB. They have a fine record there to winning four and drawing one of the previous eight up north.
The most famous of those victories came back in 2006 when Benjani scored his first Pompey goal and Matthew Taylor converted a penalty to ensure Premier League safety after the run known by many as the Great Escape.
and finally ?????.
84.7% of fans in the FSF 2017 National Supporters agreed that introduction of the goal-line tech in English football had been a success. Pity then, Red Star Belgrade who have no such luxuries as this long-ranged effort was not given. Shocking from the officials.
PUP