Six out of six, not a bad stat to look at, no goals conceeded again either, that is the best bit of the game though, the rest was awful besides the first half hour.
Pompey felt they were robbed at Bramall lane, well the favour was well and truly returned today, Sheffield are not the worst side to come to Fratton park this season, their performance should of justified a point, but lack of a cutting judge I suppose points to why they are in the bottom 3.
Pompey made the one change from tuesday, Ward had recovered from his calf injury to replace Kanu, Mullins also made the line up after his own calf problem had cleared up.
Pompey started the game as quick as they have this season, for the first few exchanges they really looked up for it, Nugent fired a shot in that Simenson did well to keep out and Halford blazed a free-kick over the bar.
United looked nervy at dead ball situations, this was to prove their undoing, Cotterill swung over a corner from the north stand, Kitson made a nuisance of himself and it broke to Hreidarsson who gleefully smashed home, their is no greater sight than the big Icelander celebrating a goal, the joy was all over his face as he ran to celebrate in front of the south stand.
I thought this may of been the catalyst for Pompey to press on and playe free flowing football, the opposite was achieved however.
The closest we came to adding in the first half was from the same source, Kitson broke down the right in what seemed an offside position, he centered and Hermann had charged up once more to meet it with a flying header that went narrowly wide.
After the bovrils were downed Pompey kicked off again towards the Fratton end in a cold wind, after only a couple of minutes Simenson was to keep Sheffield in it, a decent move ended with Kitson firing what looked a certain goal, the ex-Everton man though was equal to it and parried it wide, Nugent collected the loose ball but found only the side netting from a tight angle.
That was to be it bar a late flurry as far as Pompey were concerned, Sheffield started to dominate midfield and pressed Pompey’s defence further and further back, the possesion was all red and white and Steven Quinn should of levelled it. He was played in and with only Ashdown to beat skewed his shot horribly wide.
Pompey’s passing was going horribly awry, the crowd was getting frustrated as pass after pass was misplaced and players were constantly dispossed, Hogg and Cotterill both made way, neither had had their best games, but to be fair it could been almost anyone.
Sheffield still had the territorial advantage but could not find a way through, Rocha was marshalling the back line and mopping up any threat, Vokes coming closest with a shot wide of the post and a header straight at Ashdown.
Pompey were to have the fianl word though, Kanu was on for Ward and at least started to hang onto the ball better higher up the field, a ball looked to be gathered by Simenson, he figured without Nugent though who rushed in and nicked it away, as he tried to harry the Pompey man he was dragged wide, Nugent though could find neither the net or a team-mate and the ball was cleared.
All in all it was not a memorable match, but Ashdown matched Peter Mellor’s post war efforts and Pompey had 18 points from the last six games, not enough for a Manager of the month nomination, but who gives!
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