Pompey ser gode ud inden League Two starter om en uge.

AV: Steen Houman

Pompey fik en god optakt til premieren om en uges tid i League Two, da de ude spillede 0-0 mod Bristol City der ligger to rækker højere end os.

Læser man lidt på hvad Bristol City lejren mener om kampen, ja så indrømmer de at Pompey nok var nærmest sejren, specielt I anden halvleg hvor Pompey pressede godt på, og hvor Pompeyfansene kunne se hvad en dygtig keeper betyder. For O’Donnell var keeperen der viste højt niveau og med et clean sheet holdte City inde i kampen.

Lidt over 700 Pompeyfans havde taget turen til flotte Ashton Gate, og sammen med de 5300 tilskuere fik de en god kamp, trods mangel på mål.

Samtidig var der tre udskiftninger der fik en fan eller to til at løfte øjenbrynene. Den første efter 34 min, da Whatmough måtte udgå. Han har været ude 15 måneder med skade, og ingen ønsker det for ham, just som det så ud til han havde kæmpet sig retur til en plads i start XI.

De to andre udskiftninger tager vi senere.

Første halvleg bød på mange tilløb til chancer til begge sider, men specielt Forde var på plads og var hurtig ude af sit mål når det krævedes.

Men til pauseteen stod den 0-0.

Efter pausen var det Pompey der havde dirigentstokken og Lalkovic ligner en der bliver et hit i denne sæson, men City havde deres chancer og Forde viste igen han var på plads da det gjaldt.

I slutfasen pressede Pompeyt på for et mål, både Baker, Doyle, Roberts og Chaplin havde mulighederne.

Ligeså kom der to udskiftninger der undrede. Med 5 min igen måtte Forde ud og ind kom Bass, var det for at give Bass lidt spilletid eller var Forde skadet? For med en ny keeper, så er det vel vigtigt at få så meget spilletid inden starten i næste uge.

Den sidste udskiftning var Naismith der kom ind med 3 min igen. Han er sat på transferlisten men fik spilletid!

I optakten havde vi lidt fokus på de to tidligere Pompeyspillere Gary O’Neil og Marlon Pack. Førstnævnte var desværre skadet mens Pack faktisk var anfører for City

Pompey manager Paul Cook:

‘Our lads acquitted themselves very well, probably disappointed we never nicked a goal or two, but I like to think we carry that threat.

‘To come away from a team like Bristol City and genuinely try to play the football we do has a bravery about it which should stand us in good stead for the season and was great to see.

‘I think the Pompey fans who travelled will have gone home happy, but we all know next week is the big occasion and we look forward to it.

‘These keepers we bring in now can bring some calmness to us as a club and David Forde will make some mistakes like every goalkeeper in the country.

‘But you could see the positivity in his play coming for corners, punching corners and I am pleased with him.’

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson:

“It is still pre-season and we worked quite hard yesterday,”
“It’s all about peaking for next Saturday – not today – so I wouldn’t say we were in peak condition for a normal game.

“It was against tough opposition too – they’re a very good side and I expect them to get promoted this year.

“When our subs came on they gave us a bit of impetus and energy, which was what the game needed. There are still things to work on, but that’s ok because it’s all part of the plan.

“Overall, it was a really good game for us. I don’t think you want a game that you’re going to win 3-0 or 4-0 right before the season.

“We knew it would be tough, the Pompey fans were vocal and boisterous and it was a good atmosphere considering it was a pre-season friendly.

“It was nice to see the new stand with all the covers off – it was a lovely day and the stand just looks phenomenal.”

Kommentarer fra The News:

Well Forde acquitted himself very well. We are league2 but look league1 at least and so does the keeper.

Left Ashton Gate feeling confident in not only the keeper but the way we tactically set up, our energy levels were good and Bristol wherever they are in their own pre season can count themselves lucky not to have been beaten. Had they, there would be no complaints.
Carlisle lost 2-0 at Bradford playing 4231. It’s going to be their formation at fratton. Let’s hope Cookie can have a plan B if their formation sits looking for a point!
Bring it on.
Play up Pompey

i know this was only a friendly but should we be worried about the comment «They couldn’t convert any of the host of efforts they carved out» and the fact we played 4231? I wasn’t there so interested in views.

Sounds like a very good display against a team two leagues above… I love the sound of all those shots at goal…. Keep that up lads…!

I truly hope Jack is ok… The poor kid has had no luck at all with injuries and he is a real prospect… Cotton Wool please, Mr Cook…
Keeper sounded fab and overall the team play seems solid…

Roll on Saturday… Who can wait? PUP

A solid performance….just needed a bit of luck to get the all-important goal! Away to a Championship side, that wasn’t a bad run-out.

Hope Jack isn’t seriously injured – and hope we sign Hunt soon (neither of the triallists played but were on the bench)….

Play up Pompey!!

Træningskamp, Ashton Gate, 30/7-16

Bristol City – Portsmouth 0-0

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Forde (Bass 85); Talbot (Oxlade-Chamberlain 87), Burgess, Whatmough (T.Davies 34), Stevens (Naismith 87); Rose (Close 83), Doyle (c) (Tollit 83); Baker, Roberts (Main 83), Lalkovic (Bennet 68); Smith (Chaplin 68)

Bænken: Bass, Davies, May, Ox-Chamberlain, Close, Naismith, Linganzi, Tollitt, Evans, Bennett, Hunt, Chaplin, Main

Tilskuere: 5317