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Pompey win twice to continue good form, then see record in tatters after sh*te week...
(week before)
Pompey, 3v0 up from the first leg, travelled to Ruben_Svensson's Gotland Trailblazers, fairly confident they could finish the job and enter Round 4 of the Euro League Cup. McGarvey was 'brave' enough to risk a couple of youngsters - so in came Patrick Reimar (18) & Augustin Franzén (22) at left and right wing backs. Expecting the home side to have a real go at their Huge Monsta Stadium, Pompey seemed happy to sit back, and hope to hit them on the break, and the plan seemed to work well. The Blues emerging with a 3v0 win (6v0 on aggregate).
Goals came from veteran Uberto Filippinetti, a penalty from Sunday Yakubu and a late header from Pierluigi Vignaroli. It was a *very* flattering win, as the chances were 7-5, albeit in Pompey's favour.
Portsmouth then travelled to Level 42, who seem all but Managerless (this was later confirmed), along with being without (you?) Mark King, he of the Isle of Wight (not far from Pompey on the ferry - though not if you're a Walsall fan coming to Fratton), the 'thumby' bass player was also nowhere to be seen.
The Blues did their homework, and emerged 2v0 winners - thanks to goals from Richard Florent and Jérome Sarrat. Pompey had 7 chances to zero, so seemed well worth their win.
At this stage, Pompey were top of the league, with just "The Lads" to play before reaching the half-way stage. What looked good was a competitive (and club record) of 15 games without conceding a goal. 10 this season, and 5 games at the end of last season. But all this was about to blown out of the water - firstly in the Cup...
McGarvey figured he'd 'have a go' at RedSwan (managed by Åbiz), in the 4th round of the Cup on Monday, at the huge Xpert Arena multiplex. But the Div 3 side put the Blues firmly in their place.
It was an 'ok' first half, just one chance to the Swans in the 1st period, but they came alive after the break. Zach Grape heading them in front, 10 minutes after the restart. BUT, experienced front man Janne Rundkvist was there 9 minutes on to bury *his* header, and level the tie. RedSwan, despite losing striker Janne Borgstrand moments later, then came on strong. Final chance count was 1-7, and they buried 2 more of those 5 second half chances.
Que Nem Caes was the scourge of the Blues with a brace, first heading home a cross from the right, then blasting home a low free-kick, as Pompey's unbeaten run ended in tatters with a 1v3 pasting. McGarvey brought on 3 young subs for the last 11 minutes after throwing in the towel.
Pompey completed a nightmare week with a comprehensive defeat at the hands of The Lads (Gollamm). McGarvey had been wary of the game since pinpointing them as the favorites for the title, along with Night Fury.
The Blues were 0v1 down inside 10 minutes: Godinho Valério taking advantage of a cleverly worked free-kick routine by Henning Zobel. Ludo Iuliano then seemed to tweak his hamstring just before the interval, but did emerge for the 2nd half. (1st half stats: 58% and 1-1 on chances for the home side).
McGarvey swapped a couple around the hour mark, bringing on Filippinetti for Sarrat and Vögele for Lizardi, but with no discernible improvement. The Lads made the game safe with 6 minutes left - Lizardi being penalised for an innocuous looking hand on the shirt of Nick Luff, and the penalty being confidently dispatched by Zobel.
If there was anything positive to take away, it was that Pompey did match their hosts with 3 chances apiece, but there was always only going to be one winner.
Next up is the 'return' (of the double header) at Fratton Park...
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