Portsmouth 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Dave Watkin:

Albion had plenty of possession during the first half, but once they reached the edge of the penalty area, lacked the cutting edge to create and convert half chances. Too often they over-elaborated when something simpler, like a strike on goal, may have paid dividends.

Whether, during the interval, the home players were inspired by returning manager Harry Redknapp I can't say. There's no doubt however, that after the break they were a much more determined side, as they harried and battled all over the pitch. The uneven surface didn't help the Baggies, but even so they gained eight corners and many free kicks, only to fail to deliver them successfully into the danger areas.

Curtis Davies was my pick of the side this week, near faultless in defence he often tried to push forward in the latter stages.

Portsmouth looked a poor side early on and we're unlikely to have a better chance for an away victory. However, if you don't capitalise when you're on top, then you're always liable to fall to a sucker punch and that's what happened.

Fratton Park remains a dump, completely unsatisfactory for top class football, but the home fans, as always, were the noisiest in the Premiership.

TEAM NEWS

Albion made just one enforced change, with Steve Watson injured, Martin Albrechtsen took over at right back.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Baggies looked the better of two limited sides throughout most of the opening half hour, but failed to turn possession into chances, let alone goals. A long range shot over the bar from Inamoto and a low drive from Ellington, which was easily saved at the foot of a post, were the only real threats.

Portsmouth came more into the match nearer half time, but it was only after the referee gave a foul for a perfectly timed tackle by Paul Robinson, that they had a strike on goal. The low dipping free kick from Robert scrapped the top of the crossbar.

The home side were more determined after the break and a shot on the turn from the edge of the area by LuaLua brought a fine save from Tomasz Kuszczak diving to his right. The ball ran free and the keeper made it a great double save by grabbing the ball at the feet of an onrushing attacker.

In the 56th minute Portsmouth scored a scrappy but vital goal. A hopeful ball down the right was misjudged by Clement and LuaLua broke free. Curtis Davies came across to cover, but the forward managed to slip the ball across the face of goal. TODOROV was quickest to react, however Kuszczak was quickly off his line and looked to have any shot covered, until the substitute cleverly chipped the ball over him into the net.

Albion brought on Rob Earnshaw for Kamara, but just as against Fulham, could find no way through a packed defence. Portsmouth only threatened in breakaways, but Albion, despite forcing eight corners overall and bringing on a fourth forward, Darren Campbell, for Greening late on, could not fashion an equaliser.

ALBION FORMRATE : DISAPPOINTING

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH : CURTIS DAVIES

AND FINALLY...

A last mention of the run of 750 consecutive games - the club we played most often in that period was Birmingham City (24), followed by Bolton Wanderers (23) and Portsmouth (21). In those matches we beat Pompey 13 times, more wins than against any other team and by far our best recent record against any current Premiership club. So it was especially disappointing not to pick up another win this afternoon.

The only consolation during the long journey home was to hear that Villa were beaten 2-0 at home to Man Utd (and COULD have lost by six) and Blues were thrashed 4-1 at Man City (and SHOULD have lost by six)!

The Christmas Day table will read:

                P       W       D       L       F  -  A       PTS   GD 
15. VILLA       17      4       5       8       16 - 26       17   -10
16. Everton     17      5       2      10        9 - 23       17   -14
17. ALBION      17      4       4       9       17 - 25       16   - 8 
18. Portsmouth  17      3       4      10       13 - 26       13   -13
19. BLUES       16      3       3      10       11 - 23       12   -12
20. Sunderland  17      1       2      14       14 - 35        5   -21
   

.... a big improvement on last season.

Chiang Mai Baggie:

Pompey appear to be playing 3-5-2, rather than 4-4-2.

Albion won a corner with the first attack on 4 minutes. Inamoto shot over the bar from the cross. Pericard was substituted for Todorov on 6 minutes after being unable to continue having left the field injured before the corner. Wallwork was booked for a foul on 6 minutes. The game has been very scrappy, with no real chances in the first 10 minutes.

Davies intercepted a cross for a Pompey corner on 13 minutes. Albion eventually cleared, and Kamara broke, but the Pompey defence intercepted to clear. Albion attacked on 17 minutes, but Robinson tried to be too clever instead of shooting, and the ball was cleared. Pompey attacked on the break on 22 minutes, and Albrechtsen did well to put Todorov off and Kuzzy collected easily. At the other end Kanu forced the first save of the game from Ashdown just afterwards.

Albion won a corner on 25 minutes after a good move. Ashdown punched the cross clear, and Inamoto shot high and wide. Ellington won another corner on 26 minutes. Greening's cross fell loose in the box, and eventually the assistant flagged for offside. LuaLua needed treatment for a twist on 31 minutes. Pompey won a corner on 32 minutes, and Davies headed behind for another corner. Wallwork headed clear, and eventually Clement played the ball out for a throw. Kuzzy collected the ball from the next attack.

Pompey won a free kick off Robinson on the edge of the box on 34 minutes, when he seemed to put in a good tackle. Robert's shot was just over the bar onto the roof of the net. Kamara played Wallwork in and he passed back to Kamara, but the move broke down and Pompey countered on 35 minutes. Clement took a knock on his ankle and needed treatment on 40 minutes.

Kuzzy did well to close down LuaLua to keep him from shooting on 41 minutes, and the ball went out of play. Kanu won a corner on 42 minutes. Kamara crossed, and got the ball back, then Pompey broke dangerously, but Pompey's ball control was poor and the attack broke down. Davies tackled LuaLua really well to concede a corner on 44 minutes. Albrechtsen headed the cross clear. 2 minutes added. Albion attacked in injury time and Wallaowk fed Kamara, but the ref blew for HT. HT 0-0.

No changes at HT. Albion won a free kick inside the Pompe half on 46 minutes. Clement crossed poorly, and the ball was cleared. Albion won a corner on 47 minutes. Stefanovic headed clear, and Robert fouled Kamara. Pompey cleared the ball, and LuaLua was caught offside on the break. The second half has been scrappy at the start, like the first, but Albion are starting to pass the ball a bit.

Pompey won a corner on 51 minutes, and Kanu cleared the cross upfield. Davies did well to clear a shot for a corner on 52 minutes. Robert crossed, headed by Alby, and cleared. Kuzzy double saved well from LuaLua and Todorov on the rebound after Clement missed his clearance on 55 minutes. Clement let LuaLua in again on 56 minutes, and he fed Todorov to score.

Pompey suddenly look much better after scoring. Albion attacked on 60 minutes, but Kanu was too slow to take a chance at a shot. Ellington did well on 61 minutes, but Kanu just couldn't get to his cross. Kuzzy did well coming out on 62 minutes, and luaLua fouled him. Wallwork tried to side-foot the ball goalwards on 63 minutes, but the ball was cleared. Earnshaw on for Kamara on 64 minutes.

Earnshaw and Ellington are playing up front with Kanu in the hole. Clement lost the ball to LuaLua on 67 minutes, and Davies blocked the shot. Albion won a free kick near the jhalf way line. Greeniong sent the ball forwards, but Pompey cleared. Albion then won a free kick 25 yards out after LuaLua fouled Kanu on 73 minutes. Clement shot straight at the wall, and Robinson tried to keep the attack going, but Pompey seem more up for the game. Albion won a corner on 75 minutes, but Ashdown collected the cross ahead of Davies.

Pompey broke away after Davies lost possession on 81 minutes, but LuaLua's shot was poor. Albion won a corner on 82 minutes after a poor cross from Greening. The ball was eventually cleared. Robert broke on 83 minutes, but had no support. Albion won a corner on 88 minutes. Greening's cross was really poor, and cleared by Pompey. Priske on for Todorov and Campbell on for Greening on 89 minutes.

2 minutes added. Earnshaw crossed for Ellington to head wide. LuaLua broke after a poor Albion attack and the FT whistle went as he was about to shoot. FT 1-0.

We could have put a decent gap between us and the bottom 3 today, if our players had bothered to turn up. Most of them were asleep on their feet today. Only Davies and Kuzzy sounded to be playing reasonably well, although Kanu tried without much support. We always seem to waste good opportunities to pull clear, and never get results against the poor teams for some reason.

Tom:

I think we need to hold on to Earnie for cover in January but frankly he can go come the end of the season as far as I'm concerned.

Wallwork was the pick of midfield today and would have been more up for it but an early yellow card held him back. He passed well and broke up attacks by just reading the game. Greening was awful and Inamoto not at his best. I rate Kamara but today wasn't his best day and he really needed to look up and slip the ball to Ellington when they were 2 on 2 and looking dangerous in the first half.

Defence was sound, apart from the goal and then when pushing forward too eagerly, but to be honest there wasn't much of a threat to deal with. Robbo and Alby looked good but where were the forward runs? Clement and Davies looked good on the whole and Kuszack saved well from Portsmouth's only other shot.

The most depressing thing about Fratton Park though is that their fans are so good. That home stand is bouncing pretty much every time I see it and when they score, and they always seem to, the noise goes straight to the pit of my stomach.

Ah well, happy Christmas everyone.

Lord Charles:

Sometimes I wonder why I bother; a feeling that is growing week by week. Standing in the freezing cold at a stadium (I use the term stadium very loosely) which is closer to the Conference than the Premiership, a day that has cost me more than ?70 for my son and I ended with the feeling that I wished I?d stayed at home.

I feared we would lose today as it seemed that Albion (like at Old Trafford recently) were there only to provide the home team with some much needed relief; we duly obliged.

As well as watching the game I also listened to ?Five Live? commentary just to get a neutral perspective on the proceedings. At half time the commentators mentioned that Albion were in control as indeed they were. Portsmouth were woeful and the only thing that changed after the break was that they put a bit more effort in. For some reason a series of long punts over the top caused problems for our defence and from one of these Pompey scored. Clement will not be happy with his part in the goal.

It would be unfair to blame the defence for this defeat because in a match where Albion appeared to have the lions share of the ball they did, absolutely nothing with it. I felt both Wallwork and Inamoto worked hard in the centre of midfield but Kamara and Greening would have been more at home in a blue shirt?. Woeful. Greening (who?s performance was summed up by Sky very aptly: anonymous) is lucky to be in the team and Kamara (apart from last week) has been no better. Hopefully the return of a fully fit Gera will put some pressure on these pair.

For anyone not there yesterday but who saw the home game with Fulham when I say that after Pompey scored it was like the second half of the Fulham game perhaps they will understand. What I could not understand was why Robson waited until virtually stoppage time to introduce Campbell. He won more headers from those aimless lumped high balls than the rest of the team put together.

So, we got into a daunting festive season programme that could see us lining up against Villa on the back of four straight defeats.

Robson needs to strengthen the squad in terms of quality not quantity. If both Fulham and Portsmouth can put every man behind the ball as they did against us and never look like conceeding it will not be too long before everyone cottons on to our ineptitude.

AJ-B:

JECKYLL & HYDE

Albion really are difficult to fathom, after last weeks Dr. Jeckyll show, a superb team effort, we were presented with Mr Hyde in the form of a terrible non-team performance at the truly awful Fratton Park, what a poor excuse that bog is for a football stadium.

First half we must have had 90% possession but could only muster 2 or 3 shots at goal of which only one - a poor half hearted effort from Ellington - actually hit target, others from Inamoto & Kamara were blazed high & wide. Our midfield was almost non-existant, Inamoto had his worst game since coming into the side, subsequantly Wallwork didn't - work that is, and was Greening on the pitch? Kamara had one of his 'off days' seems he is on shift work, one on & one off! The back four were not at all tested in the first half so you can say they played well, up front only Kanu showed anything but when he got the ball he was 'invaded' by at least 3 or 4 defenders, Ellington did nothing. The last third of the pitch was where it didn't happen, as we have no playmaker (come back Koumas!) there was no one with any nouse as to how to penetrate even that awful Pompey defence, & team, probably the worst in the premiership. So half time & nothing to show.

Second half Pompey changed style hitting long balls over midfield that caused Clem & Davies no end of trouble & the pace & guile of Lua Lua was too much for young Davies to handle, he was pulled all over the place & then began making mistakes on the ball. In fact, second half ALL the back four were really very poor, Robinson could not pass to a team mate, Albrechtsen looked lost as for Clem & Davies, well, what a calamity between them that resulted in Pompey's goal, another ball over the top that Clem should have cleared but made a complete hash of as Lua Lua hit a hopeful cross that found Toorderov, unmarked on his own 12 yards out (where the hell was Davies???) as Kuszczak rushed out to try to smother, Pomps simply lifted the ball over him into the empty net & so wrote another chapter in the catalogue of Albion Disasters.

We still cannot beat teams around us in league positions, just as last season, now we have a bloody big hole to start digging out another episode of the Great Escape, I cannot see us getting a point out of Man U or Liverpool, so we now really MUST beat Tottenham Wednesday week or we will be back in the mire & this time it might be permanant. Even though Robson gambled near the end by playing FOUR strikers (Kanu, Ellington, Earnshaw & Campbell) we still could not manage one other single shot on goal - says it all don't it?

My final point is how the hell has Fratton Park been passed as a Premier ground, it does not have even the basic standard requirements, it is just a S*** H*** maybe thats just right for a S*** H**D Tosser like Redknapp to abide in, they deserve each other, like Steptoe & his yard.

MY PLAYER REVIEW:

• KUSZCZAK: Man of the match for me, had no chance with the goal & saved further embarressment by making a blinding save to keep the score down to 1-0.
• ALBRECHTSEN: Poor game, distribution awful, did not or could not get forward, defensiveley bad too.
• DAVIES: How some have made him man of the match is beyond me, OK first half he won a few headers but second half he was awful, making mistake after mistake & was given a lesson in run around from Lua Lua.
• CLEMENT: Almost as bad as Davies, why does he take free kicks? he has wasted every single one he has taken this season, this time hitting into the wall. Was all over the place from the long balls over the top.
• ROBINSON: Not one of his better days, missed too many tackles & his passing was awful - he could not pass wind today.
• KAMARA: Attempted a few pacey runs early on but got nowhere, never got down the flank to get behind the defence, too focused on cutting inside, too selfish, one of his bad days.
• INAMOTO: Seemed strangeley confused, kept bringing the ball back instead of probing forward, gave ball away too often. His worst game since coming into the side & as a result the whole team suffered.
• WALLWORK: As Ina was off he also did not play, never created anything & did not get up to support Kanu & Ellie.
• GREENING: As stated earlier was he on the pitch?
• ELLINGTON: Industrious in first half but faded badly as did not get any support from midfield.
• KANU: Pick of outfield but did not construct much as he was swarmed over by Blue shirts each time he got the ball, showed his customary skills on the ball though.

SUBS:

• EARNSHAW: Replaced Kamara, had no support so did not do a lot.
• CAMPBELL: Replaced Greening but only in the last couple of minutes, seemed a waste of time & was, why do it at that stage, why have not been braver much earlier & ATTACKED this very poor Pompey outfit????

UNUSED SUBS:

• Kirkland, Carter & Moore.

BRYAN ROBSON:

Must have been as frustrated as the rest of us, how can virtually the same team that played so well last week play so awful this week? Cannot blame him for team selections these days, these are the best we have (excepting Gera), maybe some players (cue Greening as one) are in the comfort zone & need a swift kick up the proverbial. Robbo has got to get some passion moving ready for Boxing Day or we might be victim of an embarrassing 'knock out'! I would question his substitutions & in particular the timing - especially when he brought Campbell on only for the last 2 minutes, Bryan you really have got to give your subs much more time, at least 20-25 minutes as a MINIMUM requirement.

Kev Buckley:

Hard to know where to start when commenting on this game and indeed, had I not agreed to come up with some thoughts for the Manchester Branch of the Supporters' Club's "reports archive", I probably wouldn't have bothered but as I did, a couple of points made by folk I spent the day with probably give as good as feel for it as you could want.

Stu, the barman from Deacons in Salisbury where we broke our journey and who, as well as being a Pompey fan sees a fair bit of non-league football, seemed to think it was more reminiscent of a game from the lower tiers, whilst Lee, the thirteen-year-old nephew of my mate, whose uncle had brought him down as a "treat", suggested that playing for a point away from home seemed to be a common occurence no matter where in the table the opposition were. My mate's friend Mark's father, when asked what he thought of it, simply said "Rubbish", then again he last saw us when we overhauled a 3-0 deficit at West Ham so maybe he was due for a dose of reality.

Can't really see that any player other than Kuszczak came away from the game with any credit, and if it was any measure of how bad the game as a whole was, most of the credit the Pole can take results from just the one double save, second half (after the rest if the side had seemingly forgotten that the only Pompey threat would be Lua-Lua) because Tomasz wasn't in the action that much and nor was his opposte number.

Why the side that made Man City look so poor should revert to the tripe that they served up against Fulham is a mystery but serve it up they did and, even if Albion were just about the better of the two sides prior to the break, that isn't saying very much.

Certainly, the players who you might expect to be the driving force from the back in any attacking moves, Inamoto and Albrechtsen, the latter in for the injured Watson, seemed happy to put any thoughts of creating anything out of their minds. Indeed, I am often to be heard trupmeting the case for Albrechtsen, yet yesterday the pace and attacking intent which, for me, will always give him the edge over a Watson, were underused by an approach which seemed to rely on sitting back and knocking it long into Kanu and more worryingly, Albrechtsen didn't look that great at doing that. Inamoto seemed more to be deployed as second defensive midfield player and even he resorted to hoofing it second-half when against City, he'd have brought it down and tried to start something on the deck.

Curtis Davies had obviously had enough of the hoofing as the second half wore on and decided to enhance his reputation by trying to bring the ball out in the style of a Koeman or a Beckenbauer, only to find out that not only isn't it as easy as they made it look but that they rarely did it when they were the last man, which meant that losing the ball to the first man he tried to go past meant there was then no-one between our goal and the ball. Pompey failed to capitalise.

Kamara, against his old club, wasn't anywhere near as effective as last week, though probably bettered his woeful showing against Fulham. Kanu tried his best but most of the time that he or Ellington got the ball down and under control, they found themselves with the rest of the side behind them and no real options. It was also another poor day for getting the ball past the first defender on the few occasions we did get forwards out wide, indeed the best crosser of the day was probably Kanu, though he might as well not bothered delivering the ball as, if he wasn't there to get on the end of it, who would have been.

Considering the fairly defensive mind-set that seemed to be the order of the day, the goal that won it, and it was only ever going to take one goal to win it, was an awfully sloppy one to give away, though Todorov's lifting of the ball over The Pole in Goal, when the latter obviously thought the striker would need to control it and go around him, was a piece of skill much out of keeping with the dross of the rest of it.

After that, well, yes we had four strikers on at one point but it is a good bet that we could have had ten on (eleven I guess, had Horsefied been in goal) and we wouldn't have scored - come to think of it did Earnshaw or Campbell even touch the ball?

And finally, to compound the misery, not only have we handed Pompey a lifeline when, by beating them, we could have cut them adrift, back in the Connaught Arms. we watched the blues lose meaning that nearly everyone around us lost and so we missed out on any advantage we might have taken into tough games against ManU, Spurs and Liverpool.

I'll give Mark's father the final word - "Rubbish".