You wait 49 days and it happens, Pompey register a win at last, and a win where it matters, against what will in all probability be against a relegation rival.
Paul Hart sprang no surprises, Yebda came in for the below par Mokoena and Finnan made a long awaited debut at right back in place of Vanden Borre.
Paul Hart has obviously thought sod it now, Pompey were having none of the sitting back to get a point mentality, they went at Wolves from the off, with Wolves trying to press also it was an attacking and open game.
Smith and Dindane were proving to be a real handful once more, Smith having his best game in a Pompey shirt to date.
Boateng was Pompey’s lynchpin once more, anything good seemed to stem from the bargain boy from Spurs.
On 20 minutes of our eighth Premiership start came the moment we had all waited for, Yebda who had just had one hacked off the line, rose to meet Boateng’s flighted cross with his head and nodded low into the net, Pompey had taken the lead for the first time this season!
Jarvis and Doyle were proving to be the main threats for Wolves, the former doing well on the wing, Finnan clearing a dangerous cross.
Dindane almost made it two, but Hennessey pulled off a cracking save and Smith blasted his follow up narrowly wide.
Pompey had definitely had the best of the half, but Doyle almost forced an equaliser, he went on a lung bursting run down the wing, losing O’Hara for pace but his cross was wasted and cleared away. Ben haim ws next to the rescue, Doyle seemed certain to score, but the big Israeli produced a great challenge to deny the ex-Reading man.
1-0 at half-time and Pompey were looking well worth it.
McCarthy had seen enough and bought on Ebanks-Blake and Kightly, but Pompey were quickest out the blocks once more, Smith crossing for Dindane who couldn’t find the needed power with his header.
Kightly and O’Hara found their way into Webb’s book, the Wolves man upsetting O’Hara by claiming a penalty when it was he who had handled.
On the hour came the moment of luck that Pompey haven’t seen for many a match, Wilson seeming to stop a cross with his arm, but this time a penalty didn’t go against Pompey, and the travelling hoards puffed a collective sigh.
Wolves were doing all the pressing now as you would expect, Pompey trying to rely on the counter-attack, but the Blue defence was holding firm, only in the last five did they seem to sway, Halford smashed in a great free-kick which James did brilliantly to block out, the ball landed at Ebank-Blakes feet, but he lack the necessary composure and blasted over the bar.
And so that was it, Pompey are up and running, still some way to go, but the monkey is off their back and points are on the board.
Player Ratings
James
Brilliant save near the end from Halfords free-kick.
Finnan
Welcome addition, gave defence a confidence boost.
Kaboul
Solid once more and showed great energy to go on a pitch length run in the second half when were under the cosh.
Wilson
Looks assured next to Kaboul, could be the future for Pompey
Yebda
Yebda-dabba-do was the cry! (copyright EastneyDave) the big Algerian made a great impact on his first start, and Pompey have their very own Fred Flintstone!
Brown
Covers so much ground and puts in so many tackles, how the hell he hasn’t been booked yet is another story!
O’Hara
Enjoying a regular start and will be missed in two weeks time.
Boateng
Another MOM display, anyone missing Kranjcar?
Ben Haim
Great goal saving block to deny equaliser
Smith
May not be prolific but so important to the side right now.
Dindane
Maybe the man we are crying out for up front.