Pompey videre til anden runde efter overbevisende indsats.

Hos gæsterne var der debut til unge Jude Bellingham, som er den yngste spiller hos Birmingham med 16 år og 38 dage!

Nu stillede Birmingham med et relativt ungt hold, og de lagde faktisk fint fra land, og Pompey havde noget bøvl da en clearing efter et hjørnespark gav noget uro i feltet, inden bolden blev sparket væk.

Herefter begyndte Pompey at tage over, der blev spillet med energi og Birmingham måtte se sig trykket i bund.

Det blev et hjørnespark der gav åbningsmålet, men mange en fan tænkte nok, var den bold helt inde over stregen, men dommeren gav målet og så førte Pompey med 1-0 på Ellis Harrisons første mål for Pompey (til odds 6,00 i øvrigt og tak).

Målet fik ikke Pompey til at slippe gaspedalen, og Birmingham måtte se sig presset ned.

Det blev Ben Close der scorede til 2-0, da et indlæg blev rettet af, og så dumpede bolden ned lige uden for feltet og så klappede Close til bolden og den gik ind til 2-0.

Såmænd var det tæt på 3-0 i overtiden, da Pompey på en omstilling var snert ved via Ronan Curtis.

Pompey havde byttet lidt rundt i start XI, men det var en stærk start XI, og Andy Cannon fik muligheden i ´10 rollen og Ben Close fik chancen på den defensive midt.

Efter pauseteen holdt Pompey fast i bolden og fik skabt muligheder og Harrison skulle snart blive dobbelt målscorer, da han headede et indlæg ind fra Ronan Curtis.

Derefter faldt tempoet i kampen noget, Birmingham viste fin energi og søgte muligheder, men Pompey stod godt defensivt, og fik et vigtigt clean sheet.

Dermed er Pompey videre til 2.runde.

Kommentarer fra twitter

Considering a very very youthful team and the fact we are 2-0 down I’m relatively pleased with the first half. Some bright points, some nice play at times. This is Portsmouth’s first team after all! No negativity tonight out young lads are having a real go

What a fucking performance from all the lads especially @Ben8Close @andycannon96  Tom Naylor and Ellis Harrison and Curtis and harness #pompey

Well done #pompey, that’s shakes off a disappointing league loss. Looked good on the telly too. Now take care of business at the weekend v Rovers. Fans come on out to Fortress Fratton and get behind your Blues. Thanks for the commentary mates #pup

Looking forward to Saturday even more now. Harrison looked amazing and as did Cannon, maybe just not in the 10 role. Close needs to be used a lot this season and not just rely on McRorie and Naylor. Let’s go.

Difficult to drop close after that performance #pompey

I’d also like to see Harrison play at 10 in behind Marquis. Based on tonight, it would be great if we can get those two playing well together #Pompey

Portsmouth assistent manager Joe Gallen:

 “John Marquis couldn’t be with us because his partner’s given birth, but we feel like we’ve got a very good squad that’s capable of competing in League One.

“Ellis has stepped up with those two goals and staked a claim for the next game against Tranmere on Saturday.

“He didn’t score in our pre-season matches, despite playing very well, and any striker knows that the ball has to hit the net.

“I haven’t seen the first one again, but the referee obviously thought it crossed the line and awarded the goal.

“The second one was an accomplished finish and it will do his confidence the world of good going forward.

“Ben has been an excellent player for us and was probably unlucky not to play at the weekend. It was a great goal and I’m sure there are going to be some selection headaches for the manager.”

Birmingham manager Pep Clotet

«I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for our young players, but I feel it is really important that if we have a chance to show off our young players and our academy, then we do that. I knew that it was going to be tough but it makes me proud to see the talent that we have coming through, and tonight was a short pain but for us shows the future is bright with so many youngsters being involved in and around the First Team set up. It was another step in their development and I am proud of that.»

1.runde Liga Cuppen, Fratton Park, 6. august

Portsmouth – Birmingham 3-0 (2-0)

30 min 1-0 Ellis Harrison

39 min 2-0 Ben Close

54 min 3-0 Ellis Harrison

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Walkes, Downing (Raggett 85), Burgess, Brown (Haunstrup 77); Naylor (c), Close; Harness, Cannon, Curtis; Harrison (Pitman 77)

Bænken: Bass, Evans, Maloney, Hawkins, Haunstrup, Pitman, Raggett

Gule kort: Harrison

Tilskuere: 9.913