Pompey 1 Doncaster Rovers 1
Jack Whatmough picked up a knee injury which cost Pompey big time in a bad-tempered poorly refereed game at Fratton Park yesterday afternoon.
Kenny brought in Nathan Thompson, Dion Donohue, Ben Close and Omar Bogle for Anton Walkes, Brett Pitman and Gareth Evans with Bryn Morris injured. Walkes and Pitman did not appear on the bench. Interestingly Adam May was on the bench rather than some of the new players. Tom Naylor was named skipper.
With Donny winning the toss Pompey attacked the Fratton End first half and failed to test visiting keeper Marosi earn his keep despite having Bogle to act as a pivot for their front line.
The best chance fell to Bogle who nodded a Donohue corner narrowly wide. On 28 minutes Whatmough went down and Christian Burgess was called from the bench. Then following a Pompey attack Wilkes was put clear by a long ball Craig MacGillivray chose to retreat to his goal and Burgess missed his challenge leaving the Doncaster player a simple finish.
At the break, Jackett pulled off Donohue with a cut leg and sent on debutant James Vaughan with Close dropping back to play alongside Naylor.
Pompey were level to a goal which was similar to Rovers as goalkeeper and defender had a misunderstanding; this allowed a Ronan Curtis cross to drop for Bogle to smash home from close range.
From there Pompey could not really open up Donny’s defence again and had to be grateful to MacGillivray for several late smart saves.
Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Thompson, Whatmough (Burgess 28), Clarke, Brown; Naylor (c), Donohue (Vaughan 46); Lowe, Close, Curtis; Bogle (Evans 77)
Goals: Bogle 54
Booked: Thompson, Lowe, Burgess, Naylor
Subs not used: Bass, May, Isgrove, Hawkins
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 17,800 (480 away fans)
Odd fact about the teams; both had a sub named A May!
After the game Kenny Jackett told the club’s website that the new team must settle quickly to get on a run to make up lost ground. He said: “It does end our losing run in the league and we have to make sure that, with new lads coming in, we’re as cohesive and efficient as we were in the first half of the season. We had a very consistent side for a long time and we’re now waiting for things to settle – the quicker we do that, the better.
“We had the best of the first half-hour and applied a lot of pressure, but a changeover in defence has cost us.
“There was a bit of confusion there – which shouldn’t happen – and Wilks has gone clear to put Doncaster 1-0 up. Again we put a lot of pressure on them right the way through the second half and there were key chances without us being able to add to Bogle’s effort.
“Omar’s calf cramped up quite badly before he came off, but two goals in two games is a great start and should encourage him.
“Our opponents were always a threat on the break and ultimately for all the territorial advantage we had – which was considerable – we couldn’t turn it into the win.”
“Jack felt his knee, which isn’t good. It was bad enough for him to put his hand up and want to come off straight away. “It’s frustrating, but it is the side that he’s had problems with before and we just hope it’s not too serious. “There was quite a hefty tackle on Dion (Donohue) and there was a big cut on his shin, but hopefully that’s all it was and he’ll be okay.”
Transfer deadline stories
I asked myself on Thursday did Pompey sign James Vaughan on loan from Wigan to prevent Sunderland signing Will Grigg. Grigg had been the Black Cats long term target and they had had several bids rejected. By Pompey taking Vaughan that left Paul Cook short of experienced strikers and if they had accepted an offer for Grigg they would have needed a replacement and there was no time to find a new face.
May have been a clever move on two fronts, but it failed as I discover on Friday morning the deal had gone through at £4m in after it had been ratified by the FA.
Quite a number of former players made moves on deadline day in addition to the high profile move of Peter Crouch back into the Premier League with Burnley.
Michael Doyle from Coventry to Notts County
Ricky Holmes Sheffield United to Gillingham
Kyle Bennett Bristol Rovers to Swindon
Pompey captures
After all the criticism aimed at Kenny Jackett and Pompey, in general, the club managed to sign four loan signings to replace the four recalled in January.
First came Omar Bogle from Cardiff who scored on his debut at Luton on Tuesday evening. Bogle was signed to give more power up front missing after Oli Hawkins picked up his injury.
Then two wide-men came in the shape of Lloyd Isgrove from Barnsley and Viv Solomon-Otobar from Birmingham. They were bought it to strengthen the squad after the loss of Andre Green and David Wheeler and are both experienced in League One football. Isgrove, of course, will have to hit the ground running due to his links to the mob up the M27.
In between those two wingers, Jackett bought in James Vaughan from Wigan. Vaughan still holds the record for being the youngest player to score a Premier League goal way back in 2005. Still, only 30 Vaughan has loads of experience that will be vital in the run-in.
PUP
