Tre vigtige points.
Vi fik den start på 2024 som vi havde håbet på, da Stevenage blev sendt hjem fra sydkysten med et 1-2 nederlag. Dermed hedder topholdet i League One stadig Portsmouth FC.
Mousinho fandt anledning til to ændringer i startelleveren denne første nytårsdag, hvor Joe Morrell overtog pladsen fra Terry Devlin mens også Gavin Whyte og Abu Kamara byttede plads.
Den officielle kamprapport
Eftertanken
Just som mange begyndte at stille spørgsmålstegn ved Colby Bishop scorede han, og gav dermed sig selv lidt mere arbejdsro og kredit. Det burde vores topscorer i forvejen have i banken, men en lille stime på tre kampe uden sejr var altså nok til at nervøsiteten og kritikken begyndte at melde sig. Nu venter en måned med et på papiret overkommeligt program, hvor vi tilmed ikke skal i aktion i midtugen. Kan vi fastholde niveauet især fra første halvleg mod Stevenage bør vi hente en del points i de kommende fire kampe, og med lidt held får vi også Connor Ogilvie og Tom Lowery tilbage i denne periode, hvor vi til gengæld må se bort fra Kusini Yengi grundet udtagelse til landsholdet. Så er det spørgsmålet, hvordan januars transfervindue kommer til at tage sig ud for os. Der er ingen tvivl om at vi godt kunne bruge en angriber mere, og de manglende mål ses da også i statistikken, hvor vi kun er det syvende mest scorende hold i League One. I top 8 har således kun Stevenage scoret færre mål end os.
Et hurtigt liga-overblik
Førstepladsen i rækken tilhører altså stadig os, men det er kun fordi at vi fik maksimumpoints ud af opgøret mod Stevenage. Lige bag os vandt Bolton nemlig også, 1-0 mod Burton. Det samme gjorde Peterborough, men det holdt hårdt. Allerede i kampens første minut kom de nemlig bagud på Pride Park i Derby, og var også bagud 1-2 men fik til sidst vendt kampen til en 3-2 sejr, der til gengæld var et lille tilbageslag for hjemmeholdet. Også Barnsley smed points da de blot fik 1-1 hjemme mod Wigan. Til gengæld noterede Oxford sig for tre vigtige points hos Charlton via en 2-1 sejr.
I bunden slog Reading Exeter med 3-2, og de to klubber byttede dermed plads. Det betyder at førstnævnte for første gang i måneder kom fri af nedrykningszonen, hvor Exeter til gengæld befinder sig nu. Også Carlisle vandt, og overlod pladsen som tabeljumbo til Fleetwood, som tabte med 1-3 hos Shrewsbury.
Kommentarer fra head coach John Mousinho
“I thought we played really well in the first half and were good value for our lead. We were frustrated to concede a goal without really making our opponents have to do a huge amount. ut we came back from that, recovering from a tricky period to go in ahead at the break, and that was pleasing. Colby probably feels he could have scored more in the past few games, but we always know he’s going to produce for us and it’s brilliant that he’s back on the scoresheet. It wasn’t great from us on the ball in the second half and we made a few poor decisions, but we showed a lot of grit and determination. We defended our box well and Will Norris didn’t have a huge amount to do, despite that pressure on us. The most important thing was to start the new year with a win and we definitely needed it because of the sides behind us picking up points.”
“Stevenage were fresher than us and we tired a bit, sinking into our box, but we defended brilliantly when we needed to. We just need to make sure we take those opportunities when they come along to put the game to bed.”
Hvad Colby Bishop sagde efter kampen
“It always feels good to win, but especially so after a frustrating run of results for us of late. I scored one like that against Bolton last season, although that was a lot slower, but it was a nice goal and I’m going to enjoy watching it back. That grit and determination we’ve shown all season has paid off. We’re top of the league and hopefully we can stay there. Strikers always go through patches when they don’t score, but I’ll always back myself to get back on the wagon. Sometimes my performances haven’t been as good, although from the day I put on a Pompey shirt, I’ve always given 100 per cent. That will be the case for as long as I’m at the club. I can only do my talking on the pitch – and I think I did that. The gaffer has been brilliant with me and has backed me from day one, which is something I really appreciate. I’ve scored 13 goals by January 1, so I don’t think I’m doing too bad, although obviously you can always do better.”
Et par ord fra Paddy Lane
“It’s been a bit of a tough patch, but I thought we were really good in the first half and then showed in the second that we know how to win. I thought we were the better side against Bristol Rovers and Exeter, and it was only Fleetwood where we really let ourselves down. But I don’t think you can go a whole season playing the way that we want to for 90 minutes in every game. So the fact that we can run our socks off and defend the box really well is what won it for us in the end. Teams come to us with a game-plan, so if we get the early goal then they have to press us and it opens up. I knew that Robbo was going to play the ball across and I had one last time that was blocked because I took an early touch, so I hit it first time. It’s three points and I couldn’t care if I score or have a good game, as long as we won – that’s all that mattered. It’s a long, tough season and we’re all working together towards the same aim, so please keep with us.”
League One, Fratton Park, 1. januar 2024
Portsmouth – Stevenage 2-1 (2-1)
12. minut: 1-0 Paddy Lane
26. minut: 1-1 Louis Thompson
33. minut: 2-1 Colby Bishop
Opstillingen (4-2-3-1): Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Pack (anfører), Morrell; Kamara, Robertson (Saydee ‘83 (Stevenson ‘90+8)), Lane (Devlin ‘78); Bishop
På bænken: Schofield, Towler, Whyte, Scully, Saydee, Robertson og Devlin
Advarsler: Pack, Rafferty og Norris
Udvisning: Ingen
Tilskuere: 18.891, hvoraf 592 var medrejsende Stevenage supportere
Interview efter kampen med John Mousinho
Interview med Paddy Lane
Kampens Højdepunkter
