Portsmouth won their first home game since January with a magnificent 2-0 win over Ipswich Town to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Team News
John Mousinho made four changes to the squad that played in the weekend. Gustavo Caballero missed out due to a groin injury, Conor Chaplin was ineligible to play against his parent club and Keshi Anderson and Madiodio Dia dropped to the bench.
They all made way for Conor Shaughnessy, John Swift, Millenic Alli and Adrian Segecic. Also, Bianchini was named in the matchday squad for the first time since November.
Kieran McKenna made five changes to his squad. Full back Leif Davies was absent due to his partner going into labour, Jack Taylor, Anis Mehmeti, Jaden Philogene and Ben Johnson all dropped to the bench.
They all made way for Cedric Kipre, Dan Neil, Marcelino Nunez, Jack Clarke and Kasey McAteer.
First Half
Pompey were able to create their chances on the break as it was Ipswich who had the majority of possession. Pompey had their first proper chance in the 17th minute. John Swift played the ball out to the left side to Jordan Williams, the full back pushed it onto his right foot and put a ball into the box the ball went over Colby Bishop and fired past the right post.
Pompey kept up the pressure when Alli was denied from long range. Alli got past Azor Matusiwa and hit a right footed shot from outside the box but was denied by Christian Walton’s save in the top centre of the goal.
Pompey were finally able to make their chances count as they broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Segecic put in a left footed corner from the right side, Conor Shaughnessy was able to get away from George Hirst and head the ball through the legs of Walton to give Pompey the lead.
Pompey topped off the perfect first half by doubling their lead just two minutes later. Wiliams found space on the left and burst into the Ipswich half he played the ball forward to Alli, Alli moved the ball to the byline and played it back to the arriving Andre Dozzell to put in a first time cross into the box. The ball fell for Swift who hit a first time volley at Dara O’Shea then his rebound shot was saved by Walton and then the ball was scrambled in by Bishop to get his first goal since February.
Second Half
Pompey nearly made it three in the 58th minute. Dozzell hit a through ball to Alli on the edge of the box, Alli turned and played in a floated ball into the box, Segecic was arriving at the far post but he couldn’t direct his header as it went wide of the left post.
Ipswich’s nest chances of the half came right at the end. Mehmeti lifted in a cross from the right side, the cross was headered towards goal by O’Shea but it was flicked off the line superbly by Regan Poole.
The from the corner Ipswich went short and played it to Philogene who had a shot from outside the box but he was denied by Nicolas Schmid.
The full time whistle blew and Pompey picked up all three points in their game in hand over the bottom teams. This win see’s Pompey climb up to 19th and sit four points above the relegation zone with a massive clash at home to Leicester City next.
Samuel Lammas
I am currently studying sports business and broadcasting at UCFB. I am a very passionate Portsmouth fan.