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Det var en forløsning tirsdag aften på Fratton Park, da Pompey hjemme vandt over Southend med 4-1 i League One.

Nuvel, dagens modstandere havde blot hentet 5 point og lå skidt i League One, men Pompey der har haft problemer med at lukke kampene, ja de fik endelig en sikker sejr.

Manager Kenny Jackett har eksperimentret lidt med opstillinger, og Jackett der mest har spillet 4-2-3-1, ja han havde valgt at spille med to angribere i en 4-4-2 formation, om end Marquis nok nærmere lå som en 10’er, i en 4-4-1-1.

Fansene på Fratton Park fik et hjemmehold ud der hurtigt tog taktstokken mod Southend, der havde valgt at stille med fem i forsvaret og som egentlig bare parkerede bussen foran eget felt.

Det gav Pompey meget bold og der kom muligheder, og ikke mindst mange indlæg via kanterne. Men målet og forløsningen udeblev og mon ikke både spillere og fans frygtede en pludselig tilfældig opstået mulighed i den anden ende og dermed et Pompeyhold der var bagud.

Det blev John Marquis der i første halvegs overtid fik scoret til 1-0, da han var særdeles umarkeret på et indlæg fra indskiftede Brandon Haunstrup. Det mål var Marquis meget glad for, da angriberen har knoklet meget men ikke scoret meget.

I pausen blev den tidligere topscorer, Todorov, for klubben da vi rykkede op i Premier League hyldet, og han kunne lave mål, og mon det gav lidt indsp til Pompey?

For Pompey gav det ro, og da kampens anden angriber Ellis Harrison fem min inde i anden halvleg øgede til 2-0, så var alt fint.

Southend fik dog en periode hvor de pludselig havde fat i bolden og kom frem, og Alex Bass der normalt er anden keeper, men stod i dag, da MacGillivray var skadet, ja han måtte tage deres 2-1 mål på sin kappe. Surt for han havde faktisk en god redning kort inden.

Det gav nervøsitet, for Pompey har i denne sæson været gode til at smide føringer.

Holdet tog dog fat igen, og Southend havde reelt ikke nogen mulighed for at udligne til 2-2, og i stedet blev det på straffe 3-1, i en situation hvor de to spillere der normalt tager straffe ikke var på banen, det gav kamp om bolden, men det blev Harrison der scorede til 3-1.

Kort efter blev det 4-1, da Brandon Haunstrup med sin anden assist fandt Marcus Harness, der var kommet på banen godt 10 min tidligere.

Dermed vandt Pompey fortjent 4-1, og holdet rykkede frem i League One, og med 1-2 kampe i hånden i forhold til de fleste hold over os, ja så er play off ikke så langt væk. Men lad os nu lige vinde de to kampe vi har i hånden.

Portsmouth assistent manager Joe Gallen

“It was tricky for us in the first half and a little bit nervy after failing to come away with three points against Oxford on Saturday.

“Ben Close almost scored and then John got the goal right on half-time which just seemed to lift the tension a bit.

“We ran out in the second half and played very well. They pulled one back, but after the penalty you thought we should see it out and then Marcus got the fourth.

“Our fans were great yet again and going towards them after the break really helped. You can feel the confidence coming back – from them and the team.

“It was nice to get both John and Ellis on the pitch together and we thought we could do that for this game.

“Both of them have ended up scoring, so it was a good move and hopefully it can work again in the future.”

Southend manager Sol Cambell

‘It will come together but the clock is ticking and we have to start picking up points. We have to keep going.

‘It’s a 4-1 but it doesn’t feel like a 4-1 because we basically gave them three goals.

‘We kept them bay and did really in the first half until the last 30 seconds when we haven’t gone with the runner from a simple ball in.

‘We’ve given the goals away. It’s down to basic errors we have to iron out and it’s not as though they’ve carved us open.

‘We will get there and we certainly won’t come across Ipswich, Sunderland and Portsmouth again in the space of 10 days.

‘It’s hard and we’ve had a tough three games – Ipswich, Sunderland and Portsmouth.

‘They have Premier League pedigree and their budgets are probably quadruple ours.

‘We aren’t expected to win these games and it’s the other games we have to pick up points from.’

Kommentarer fra twitter

Last night’s performance proved that Haunstrup should be starting every week by far our best full back #pompey

Thoughts from last night – Forget about the first half, awful to watch.. until just before HT – B Haunstrap the difference last night. Deserved MOTM imo. – Feel for Bass, made a cracking save in the first half. – Positive changes from KJ – Scored from open play

What an addition Ronan has been since he was rested. It was obviously well overdue and has come back and played incredible. I feel we missed Evans on set pieces yesterday. Marquis MOTM for me. #pompey

Better 2nd half last night but concerning first half was so poor against an awful Sotuthend team. Surely should be going 442 at home to dross like that?!

If Sol Campbell keeps Southend up this season then he’s a miracle worker. They were the worst side we’ve played this season by a country mile #Pompey

Last night’s performance was 50/50, shocking first half, much better 2nd half. Still won’t change my stance on KJ, but will give credit when its due, players took responsibility last night and played well. Sucks for McCrorie but Haunstrup looks ready to fill the void #Pompey

Even though we won 4-1 that was not a 4-4-2 Marquis was playing a 10. Albeit he did very well. Harness is fantastic, Williams needs to work on his end product. #pompey

4 wins and 3 draws in last 8 games now, playing 4 of the current top 5 at Fratton by Boxing Day, only 2 aways at Rochdale and Accrington. Play offs or mid table mediocrity? #Pompey

League One, Fratton Park, 5. november 2019

Portsmouth – Southend 4-1 (1-0)

45 min 1-0 John Marquis

50 min 2-0 Ellis Harrison

69 min 2-1 Goodship

80 min 3-1 Ellis Harrison (pen)

84 min 4-1 Marcus Harness

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; McCrorie (Haunstrup 40), Burgess, Raggett, Brown; Naylor (c), Close; Williams (Harness 73), Marquis, Curtis; Harrison

Gule kort: Marquis

Bænken: McGee, Downing, Evans, Cannon, Pitman, Haunstrup, Harness

Tilskuere: 16,995 (316 away fans)