Hvis du ikke rammer målet, så kan du ikke vinde.

AV: Steen Houman

Where did your heart go…sådan sang Wham og den følelse må mange en Pompeyfan have haft på vej hjem efter 0-1 nederlaget ude mod Accrinton Stanley hvor stadion just hed Wham!.

For mange fans var snakken inden kampen om hvem ville starte på toppen, og svaret blev Michael Smith, selvom mange fans nok havde håbet på Conor Chaplin.

Store Michael Smith kan nok binde en mand eller to, men hvad hjælper det, angriberen der lavede hattrick i en cup kamp, har i ligasammenhæng blot præsteret skud i 4 kampe! Med ham på holdet, ja der henter Pompey 1,00 point!
Det er til at lave med hvis andet geled så kan komme til afslutninger, men hverken Baker, Roberts eller Bennethavde fået sigtebrød til morgenmad.

Totalt havde Pompey 5 afslutninger og ingen ramte målet. Sæsonen kunne ligne et begyndende udebanekompleks. 4 kampe spillet og vi har scoret 1 mål!

Pompey havde tilløb til chancer, men skarpheden manglede og trods en del indlæg fra begge kanter, så var eneste trøst at det enlige mål fra Accrington, faktisk var af høj klasse.

Efter lidt dansen rundt med bolden, får Lacey bolden under kontrol og vender rundt og smider den i mål 5-8 meter udenfor feltet.

Paul Cook skiftede offensivt ud midtvejs i anden halvleg efter Accringtons scoring. Men det lykkedes ikke rigtigt, og Chaplin magien kom ikke.

Havde Pompey nu hentet 0-0, havde de fleste fans nok været som sådan tilfredse, men det var ikke tilfældet!

Match ratings fra The News:

David Forde: Cannot be faulted – 7

Gareth Evans: Continued to show heart – 7

Christian Burgess: Strong performance – 8

Tom Davies: Revelled in Accrington return – 9

Enda Stevens: Uncharacteristically poor – 5

Michael Doyle: Pick of all the midfielders – 7

Danny Rose (1): Not at his best – 6

Carl Baker (2): Wasn’t involved enough – 5

Gary Roberts (3): Below par – 6

Kyle Bennett: Didn’t threaten nearly enough – 5:

Michael Smith: Failed to prove critics wrong – 5

Subs:

(1) Chaplin (63min): No impact – 5

(2) Kal Naismith (67min): Couldn’t get going – 5

(3) Milan Lalkovic (70min): Little progress – 5

Accrington manager John Coleman:

«It wasn’t a shock to us to see Paddy score that kind of goal,» said Coleman. «We have seen him do it in training and in behind-closed-doors games. «We know he is capable of that and it was a goal worthy of winning any game. «I didn’t really enjoy the match, it wasn’t a good game and both teams cancelled each other out. «We weren’t a threat in the first half, apart from hitting the bar from their player, and we had a few words at half-time to be more of an attacking threat and I think we shaded the second half. «We had a bit of luck with Gary missing that early chance and it was always going to take one moment of quality to change the game and thankfully it fell to us.»

Pompey manager Paul Cook:

“We never really got going – it was probably as lacklustre a performance as we’ve had this season.

“There wasn’t much in the game and no point when either team seemed to be in the ascendancy.

“We got into better situations than them in the first half, but without ever looking threatening.

“The second half just wasn’t good enough – you can’t come away from home and be as toothless as we were.

“There were no real chances, but it’s easy to say how bad we were – we have to give credit to Accrington. It was a great win for them and, I believe, a deserved one.

“I’ve been in this business long enough to know that there are no easy fixtures. We’ve won four games, but you always know what’s around the corner.

“Our fans are disappointed and rightly so, but no more than me and the players, so we have to be ready to go again.

“I’ve always said that how we manage our disappointments will determine how successful our season is.”

“I thought the substitutions actually made us worse because we changed the system and lost any balance.

“You make decisions like that to try to win the game, but unfortunately on this occasion it just didn’t work.”

Kommentarer fra The News:

I get the impression that the other 8 outfield players were also bewildered by the selection of Smith and Bennett, hence the lack lustre showing

Like everyone else, I’m bewildered and very disappointed – but the warning was there in the build up. PC said that good runs were often followed by a poor showing, pretty much giving the players permission to put in a poor game. PC must have known that putting Smith and Bennett in the side would draw a lot of criticism if we lost, just when you think it’s going right and he’s learned, that stubborn streak reappears. Still, keep it in context, we’ve been very good lately, we’re handily placed and we’ll get it back on track next week, I’m sure.

What is bewildering is Bennett playing when it seems both Naismith and Lalkovic were seemingly the men in front and playing well! Just what was the point in signing the ‘old warhorse’ Hunt? Seems like Cook just turns to Chaplin to get him out of a mess late in the game. Bewildered? I blo0dy well am !

Oi..The Imposter wasn’t parading in black..I had a nice clean crisp white shirt on. Why was Bennett playing? He was rubbish during the week and I think his days here are numbered with Lalkovic and the ever improving Naismith in front of him. Roberts dropped deeper than in previous games so there was no high pressing. All in all a major disappointment.

2 steps forward . . . . . Looks like Mr Coleman outsmarted Mr Cook this time around, having failed on 3 occasions last season. Mr Allen will be looking to do the same on Saturday. 7 games between now and the end of October could easily define Pompey’s season, with a couple of good teams to play and one more long trek to the North West. 10-15 points from these keeps us in the mix with 1/3 of the season gone. Anything less and the writing may be on the wall.

Fair few regulars demanding Cook be sacked now which is as pointless as his team selections. I have always said give Cook two seasons and then review. No promotion this season and the writing is on the wall. I still cannot understand his thinking yesterday as Chaplin was screaming to be started and Bennett for Lalkovic cannot be based on form. Its too early in the season to rest players. I hear Roberts was ill so why play him? Baker in his position and Bennett wide right? Still, no to Cook being sacked now UNLESS there is an exceptional replacement with better credentials ready to go…doubt it. Cook – really looking forward to your explanation for team selection however, many fans and the board probably a little surprised.

Leauge Two, Wham Stadium, 17/9-16

Accrington Stanley-Portsmouth 1-0 (0-0)

51 min 1-0 Paddy Lacey

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Forde, Evans, Burgess, Davies, Stevens, Rose (Chaplin 63), Doyle, Baker (Naismith 67), Roberts (Lalkovic 70), Bennett, Smith

Bænken: O’Brien, Clarke, Linganzi, Naismith, Lalkovic, Chaplin, Hunt

Tilskuere: 2.461 (806 Pompeyfans)