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Gosport Toon (3 October 2005)
Pompey on the other hand were in the middle of a bad patch and were determined to start picking up points. This time around things weren't too different. Hopes were high in mid-week with Pompey being without both Lua Lua and Robert and Newcastle having 3 centre backs to choose from, an in form Owen and expectation that Emre, Solano and Dyer would be playing. Things were to change dramatically over those 7 days however with all the aforementioned names plus Bramble all unable to play due to injury. Still expectation remained high. Early in the game we were to see a bit of what was to come when Pompey attacked down the right whipping in a cross that was met by a blue shirted striker. The ball was heading goalbound until Given threw himself towards it spreading himself as wide as possible and saving the shot with the foot of his outstretched right leg. A marvelous save. The game then settled down with both sides having spells of possession before attempting to make some headway towards the opposition goal without ever really providing a convincing threat. Newcastle especially seemed completely stripped of what used to be our trademark fast break threat when the likes of Dyer, Jenas and Bellamy were in the side. This was replaced by a far steadier more predictable working forward of the ball by the likes of Parker, Clark and the back-four. The previously infertile partnership of Shearer and Ameobi were once again in tandem, Shola's sluggish skilful play complementing Shearer's sluggish rugged play to imperfection. Whilst Pompey's relatively unknown strike force at least threatened with a bit of pace and determination we seemed to be playing a game of possession without the aim of trying to create goal scoring opportunities. Much of our passing was over 5 or 10 yards which whilst normally accurate wasn't really getting us anywhere and inevitably on occasions we were pressured into passing without looking, resulting in Parker and Clark amongst others giving the ball away allowing the Pompey midfield and strike force to charge forward at the Toon defence. Boumsong for all his poor passing was a solid rock in the middle of the defence winning many of the aerial battles and on occasions showing skill and coolness that appears to be missing a little from Taylor's game at the present time, culminating at one point in him floundering around on the floor on the edge of our box trying to handle the ball like a fish out of water. Thankfully he didn't make contact as it could easily have been another red card for the young lad and another suspension and a possible goal for the opposition. The second half wasn't a great deal different from the first with the exception of Pompey's 2 or 3 decent attempts at our goal that were brilliantly saved by Given once again. Bowyer came more and more into the game and worked tirelessly from midfield getting into threatening positions in attack. Resulting in us often looking as though we were playing 4-3-3 as opposed to 4-4-2. Parker and Clark's ambition never seemed to rise much above anchoring the central midfield and Zoggy had one of those games a 19 year-old is going to have in this League, the odd flash but largely anonymous and disappointing. Reflected in the wasting of 5 or 6 corner-kicks with efforts that would receive a verbal lashing from all concerned in Sunday morning football never mind the Premier League. Long before the end of the game I had decided that a goalless draw wouldn't be a bad result for us especially as the team more likely to score were wearing blue. I was surprised that Souness didn't replace Ameobi with Chopra as we were crying out for pace up front and darting runs timed to beat the opposition's off-side trap as opposed to Shola's lolloping runs totally oblivious to the line the home side's back-four were holding. This was an opportunity lost as the 3 points would have been there for the taking if our team hadn't been stripped of pace, creativity and penetration. Another clean sheet, another point on the board and a 2 week break before the next game gives us another chance to regroup in what is becoming a stop start season and we are only 8 games in. After our last away game at Pompey we went on an awful run that destroyed our season, hopefully this won't happen again. Onwards and upwards.
Lineups & Match Stats
Booked: Vukic. United: Given, Carr, Taylor, Boumsong, Babayaro (Elliott 45), Bowyer, Parker, Clark (Faye 88), N'Zogbia, Shearer, Ameobi. Subs not used: Harper, Chopra, Brittain. Booked: Taylor, Parker. Att: 20,220 Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Post-Match Reaction: Newcastle
"We've come to a place which is never easy where the supporters get behind them, the team have worked very hard for their manager today. "We had to rely I think on Shay on three occasions that I can think of, he had to make really top class saves. "We've come here with not our strongest group of players, I'm not overly chuffed with the point but given what we had out there I'm reasonably pleased.
Post-Match Reaction: Portsmouth
"We need success at home, and the points because we only have six now. "A clean sheet is okay away, but not at home. I am inpatient to score goals. "Given was the man in yellow - and you have to put the ball in the net, not on the yellow man." |
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Match Report: Portsmouth 0-0 Newcastle United
