Slow fox på Fratton Park.

AV: Steen Houman

Pompey manager Paul Cook stillede med samme start XI som i forrige kamp. Det betød Michael Smith fik chancen igen foran mål.

Pompey havde sine udfordringer, for nok havde de bolden, men før pausen kneb det i den grad med at skabe nogen chancer overhovedet.

Keeper Carson, som tidligere hos Pompey blev bedømt som værende for lille, ja han skulle kampen igennem blive den store spiller hos Hartlepool.

Først da Pompey fik skiftet ud med lidt mere end 20 min igen, kom der for alvor gang i løjerne. Bennet og Robertsblev taget ud, og ind med Chaplin og Naismith og Pompey skiftede til 4-4-2.

Mulighederne var der, og med tanke om de mange mål Hartlepool havde lukket  ind i de seneste kampe, så var det to følelser fansene sad med.

Blev der først scoret, så kunne målene komme hurtigt
Blev der ikke scoret, ville Hartlepool gå benhårdt efter 0-0

Men Carson tog sig af alt hvad der kom inden for rammen, og selvom Pompey smed Hunt ind i angrebet til slut og spillede med 3 angribere, ja så holdet Hartlepool ud.

0-0, og ja et clean sheet tager vi da gerne og Hartlepool, ja de havde ikke en eneste afslutning på vores keeper.

Pompey har blot et nederlag i de sidste syv kampe som ligeså har givet 4 clean sheets.

Så jo, på den ene sidste ser det fint ud, men Pompey ligger nu 7 point efter tredjeplads.

Pompey player Matt Clarke

“We created some good chances and their keeper made some great saves, so we were unlucky not to end up with all three points.

“For long periods of the second half Hartlepool sacrificed any offensive players – they just sat in and tried to make it difficult for us.

“The manager’s shown belief in the players and it’s up to us to perform well and try to get a run of wins together.

“We’ve just got to keep working hard on the training pitch and hopefully we’ll beat Newport on Boxing Day.”

That Rodney Parade clash starts a hectic run of fixtures in a short space of time, but Clarke is not complaining.

“It’s easier when it’s like that and there’s not so much time between games because you get into a routine.

“Hopefully we can kick on in the next few weeks and collect a lot of points to move into that top three.”

Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett

“We had to defend because they’re a really, really good side who pegged us back and we had to get on the end of crosses – and when Trev had been called upon he’s made some great saves.

“We battled, we dug in, we showed determination and we managed the game well so as disappointed as I have been in recent weeks, I am massively proud of that performance today.

“The clean sheet was huge after last week; we came here not sure what we were going to get after the last two games but what we got was an outstanding defensive display.

“Some of the defending was unbelievable and nobody switched off for a second – every one of them put a shift in today from Billy up top right through to the lads at the back.

“The fans were brilliant. Like us, they were probably wondering what team they were going to get, but thankfully they got the nasty, ugly team and we haven’t seen that too many times this season.

“The character shone through and they frustrated Portsmouth and their fans – that’s the benchmark for us now and we have to build on it.”

Kommentarer fra The News:

It is so crystal clear Cook won’t change his philosophy of 1 up front. Nothing is going to make him change. How many more dropped points before the board make a change? Or will Cook turn it around? I think another wasted season full of disappointment ahead. I hope I am wrong. 442 at home – simplez

So…….. when do playoff tickets go on sale? After today I really can’t see making top 3. Cook has pointed out that we’ve got 14pts from our last 7 and only lost 1. What he has missed however is the top 3 have got further away from us over this time. The consensus around me today is that we have a top 3 squad but we pick the wrong players. Today we actually played 4-4-2 but Roberts was picked to play up front. Unfortunately His legs are gone, he can’t move and must’ve touched the ball less than 10 times all game, half of those touches he was offside too! He could be a good impact sub once the game has slowed down to his speed but he is no where near good enough to be starting. The last 4 games in particular have bypassed him. Naismith and Chaplin – they should both be starting – end of discussion on that one. 4-2-3-1 away is fine as the home team attacks, at home 4-4-2 with Talbot or Buxton at right back, 1 of Doyle or Rose, Naismith and Evans on wings, Baker in behind Chaplin and Smith would be my preferred formation. Special mention to Matt Clarke who handles Paynter superbly – Hartlepool didn’t get a sniff all match. All in all it’s another 2 points dropped and the top 3 are further ahead, making that points tally up doesn’t look like happening. All in all bitterly disappointed we couldn’t beat lowly Hartlepool who concede goals for fun. On the only real positive today – the plaque of names of people who invested to save the club was top draw – well done and a massive thank you to all those people, plus fans who couldn’t pay £1,000 but continue to support club through buying ticket and merchandise. Merry Xmas all – let’s hope for a mini miracle for the rest of the season which sees us sneak into top 3. 

League Two, Fratton Park, 17/12-16

Portsmouth – Hartlepool 0-0

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Forde; Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Rose (Hunt 90+4), Doyle (c); Baker, Roberts (Chaplin 68), Bennett (Naismith 68); Smith

Gule kort: Baker, Doyle

Bænken: O’Brien, T.Davies, Linganzi, Lalkovic, Chaplin, Naismith, Hunt

Tilskuere: 17,081 (132 away fans)