Portsmouth 0 - 2 Notts County
NPower League One
Tuesday 29th January
J.Hughes, (81)
F.Zoko, (88)
Fratton Park
Referee: Gavin Ward
Match Report:
Notts County, after seeing their remarkable 22 unbeaten away run end at Leyton Orient last weekend, managed to successfully bounce back from that shock defeat and get back to winning ways at a windy and rainy evening at Fratton Park against struggling outfit Portsmouth.
There were two changes made to the side by Notts manager Keith Curle, as an unfortunate concussion sustained at last weekends match with Leyton Orient kept number one Goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski out of the starting 11. His replacement was none other than the young and exciting prospect Fabian Speiss, who was handed his first ever start for the club by Keith Curle. The manager also decided handing a start to Ivorian striker Francois Zoko, who was making his return from a 3 match suspension. The versatile forward replaced Enoch Showumni in attack to partner Frenchman Yoann Arquin up front in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
During the first 45 minutes of the match, both sides saw very little in terms of "goalmouth" action, but there were some decent chances for either of the two sides to take the lead, with veteran striker David Connolly going close for Portsmouth, after seeing his goal bound effort cleared off the line by Notts defender Gary Liddle. The team from Fratton Park, who are struggling with the threat of closure and currently in administration, did start the game well, and looked dangerous down the right flank, with right back Yassin Moutaouakil, a recent signing from Npower Championship side Charlton Athletic, causing problems with his crosses into the box, which young German keeper Fabian Speiss did well to combat throughout the first half. Notts, after weathering the storm, did manage themselves to get a foothold in the game, with Alan Judge and Francois Zoko, both seeing vast amounts of the ball in the opposition half. Judge, like many times so far this season, has been the main Orchestrator for Notts County in their attacking play, and it was he who created the first opening for the "Magpies" in the eighth minute - An in-swinging corner that centreback Dean Leacock did well to get a head to, but his effort went over the crossbar. Moments later, County had the ball in the net, when Jamaican winger Jamal-Campbell Ryce, delivered a cross into the box, that saw Veteran Portuguese defender Ricardo Rocha head the ball over goalkeeper Simon Eastwood and into his own net. However, the goal was rightfully disallowed, due to a blatant push into the defender by Notts County's captain, Neal Bishop. Both sides frustrated each other greatly during the first half, but the match heated up as the half time whistle approached. Zoko and Bishop had decent attempts on goal blocked for the "Magpies" whilst "Pompey" forward James Keene saw a deflected shot bounce kindly into the arms of Speiss.
The 2nd half began with a much higher tempo, as Portsmouth pressed themselves higher up the pitch. They maybe should have taken an early lead, when wideman Jed Wallace, saw his shot skid off the greasy surface of the pitch and narrowly miss Ashley Harris' outstretched foot. At the other end, Alan Judge managed to get a shot away from distance but saw his effort go marginally wide of the left side of the post. Portsmouth, throughout the 2nd half, remained organised, resolute, & difficult to penetrate, but the hardworking team ethic installed by manager Keith Curle showed as Notts were able to throw in some good deliveries into the opposition box and cause numerous problems, with only the final touch / finish lacking. Alan Sheehan, on 66 minutes, delivered a good free kick into the penalty box, which saw Jeff Hughes force opposition keeper Simon Eastwood into a smart save on his line. Five minutes later, Jamal-Campbell Ryce, picked out Francois Zoko, who was able to produce a prodded effort but Eastwood did well to suss out the danger. Jamal kept causing many problems on the right flank during the latter stages of the second half, when he again, produced another dangerous lofted cross which Jeff Hughes did well to control and tee up Yoann Arquin who saw his goal-bound effort superbly blocked by the Portsmouth defence. On 81 minutes, however, Notts County finally made their pressure count and took a deserved lead, when Yoann Arquin on the byline, sent in a magnificent looking cross into the penalty box, and Jeff Hughes was well placed to prod the ball over the line and into the back of the net for his second goal in as many games. Not long after the goal was scored, Notts changed their formation to a traditional 4-4-2, as Alan Judge made way for right back Julian Kelly in order to help preserve and keep a hold of their one goal advantage. That didn't stop the "Magpies" from making it 2-0 on 88 minutes and putting the game to bed however, when Alan Sheehan swung in a deep corner that Jeff Hughes did well to put a head onto and divert it into the path of Francois Zoko, who from six yards out, placed the ball past Simon Eastwood and into the net. There was still time though for some controversy before the final whistle, as Notts County captain Neal Bishop, was shown a straight red card for an incident involving opposition captain Johnny Ertl. It was too late however to have any real effect on the outcome of the match itself, as Notts County bounced back from their shock defeat to Leyton Orient at the weekend with three vital points at Fratton Park. The result pushes the "Magpies" up to 9th in League One, and are now only five points adrift of 6th placed Sheffield United, who are situated in the last remaining play off position, as the race for promotion to the Npower Championship hots up.
My Man Of The Match: Francois Zoko. Great performance on his return from suspension. Took his goal well, and looked tidy and composed on the ball. Brilliant positioning throughout the match.
Portsmouth: Eastwood, Moutaouakil, Gyepes, Ertl. Rocha, Butler, Cooper (Reed, 84), Wallace, Connolly, Keene, Harris (Walker, 78)
Notts County: Speiss, Sheehan, Leacock, Liddle, Campbell-Ryce, Bishop, Boucaud (Mahon, 90), Hughes, Judge (Kelly, 82), Zoko (Labadie, 90), Arquin
Attendance: 10,276 (Including 135 away supporters)
Npower League One Positions:
Portsmouth: P: 28, W: 5, D: 6, L: 17, Points = 21 (23rd position)
Notts County: P: 28, W: 11, D: 10, L: 7, Points = 43 (9th position)
Keith Curle (Notts County Manager): "In the first half I thought that we were comfortable in the game but without that cutting edge up front. We didn’t up the tempo of our play when entering the final third. That was what I asked for in the second half but I thought we started the first five minutes a little bit slow. After that, we moved the ball quickly into wider areas and in and around the advanced position of the two centre forwards I think we showed more cutting edge. (On Captain Neal Bishops Red Card) Bish is disappointed, he’s raised his hand to give Johnny Ertl a little tap to say ‘you’ve caught me there with a tackle – you were late. Its not as if he’s turned around and given him a right-hander but the amount of money he’s going to donate the fund, he might as well have.”
Final Thought: Overall, im pleased we've managed to come away with the three points after seeing our unbelievable away run end at the weekend. After watching the match highlights on Magpie Player, I must say this: To all the other teams in League One, You must not underestimate Portsmouth FC! They may look like a squad in peril, but they are a team and club united under unfortunate difficult circumstances. I legitimately hope they don't get relegated this season. Regardless, im happy we've won. It was nice to see Francois Zoko score on his return from suspension. We have 3 good strikers in Arquin, Showumni and Zoko, but I hope Keith Curle can still generate the funds to go and buy / loan a decent, middle aged striker who will provide more competition for places and give the other 3 something to think about. I still think that we can reach the top six again, and with some luck, patience and continued good coaching by the staff, I truly believe that 6th spot and above is a realistic possibility.
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