A Tale of Two Cities (19^th August to September 3^rd 2012)

To trot out the old cliché – A week in football is a long time. Never has there been a truer statement when it comes to the trials and tribulations of the remains of Portsmouth FC on and off the field. I’ve been somewhat pre-occupied with other projects of late since the last Tale of Two Cities blog published on August 18^th 2012 so I will try recapping all the latest going’s on both here and down the M27 as neighbours Southampton continue their season in the upper echelons of the English footballing world.

The opening two games of the NPower League One Season had seen Pompey record two straight draws at home to AFC Bournemouth and away to Colchester United whilst Southampton had seen a 2-1 lead slip away at the home of current Premier League Champions Manchester City to eventually lose the game 3-2. We pick up the tale as Pompey travelled away to Brunton Park to take on Carlisle United and Southampton hosted Wigan Athletic in their first home game of the season.

Carlisle United 4 Portsmouth 2

Pompey’s unbeaten start to the season came apart in spectacular fashion thanks in part to some kamikaze defending which saw them leave empty handed from Brunton Park on the wrong side of a 4-2 score line. Trailing 2-0 going into the 90^th minute with only ten men following the second half dismissal of Kevin Long, substitute Ashley Harris scored his first league goal for Pompey with a short range header before Michael Appleton saw his side concede for a third time in the game. Fellow substitute Conor Clifford (on loan from Chelsea) calmly slotted the ball home to make it 3-2 before Pompey again came unstuck at the back and the fourth injury time goal was registered.

Pompey: Andersen, Dumbuya, Harley, Long, Connolly, Webster (Obita), Walker, Howard, McLeod (Clifford), Rodgers (Harris), Compton. Subs Not Used: Eastwood

Southampton 0 Wigan Athletic 2

The game saw manager Nigel Adkins restore Rickie Lambert to the starting line up as Southampton looked to secure their first home win in the Premier League for seven seasons as they took on a Roberto Martinez side who had lost their opening game of the season to Chelsea and were without the influential Victor Moses who had been sold to Roberto Di Matteo’s men. Saints fans were surely expecting their side to begin their home campaign with all three points following their performance the week before which had stunned the Etihad faithful into silence having come from 1-0 down to take the lead.

A somewhat lifeless first half saw the sides go in at half time 0-0. The best chance fell to Lallana whose 25 yard drive was tipped onto the bar by Ali Al Habsi. Southampton started the brighter in the second half and Lambert went close with a header before Wigan opened the scoring a minute later through a Di Santo shot which beat Kelvin Davis from a tight angle. Chasing the game in the final minutes Southampton came undone when Fonte hesitated just in front of the half way line and was disposed by Kone who ran on with the ball and slotted past keeper Davis to make the final score 2-0.

Saints: K Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox, Schneiderlin, S Davis (Ward-Prowse), Rodriguez (Sharp), Lallana, Guly, Lambert. Subs Not Used: Gazzaniga, Richardson, Shaw, Seaborne, Puncheon

Stevenage Borough 1 Southampton 4

The first ever meeting between the two sides took place in the Carling Cup second round as Adkin’s men finished comfortable victors in a 4-1 win which saw him change his complete starting line up from the side that lost 2-0 to Wigan at the weekend. Despite holding their Premiership visitors 0-0 at half time the League One outfit went 3-0 down to goals from Lee, Sharpe and Puncheon before substitute Thalassitis's 20-yard effort pulled one back for the home side. Reeve completed the scoring for the visitors to earn his side a place in Round Three against Dave Jones’ Sheffield Wednesday at home.

Saints: Gazzaniga, Richardson, Shaw, Seaborne, Butterfield, Hammond (Chambers), Ward-Prowse, Chaplow (Reeves), Puncheon, Sharp (Moore), Lee. Subs Not used: K Davis, Stephens, Hoskins, Sinclair.

Portsmouth 0 Oldham Athletic 1

A crowd of 12,635 saw Michael Appleton’s Pompey side slip to their second successive defeat in the space of a week and finish the game with ten men again as the young Reading loanee Jonathan Obita saw red in the second half along with Oldham’s Cliff Bryne for violent conduct. Pompey had started the game without the suspended Kevin Long who was serving a one match ban following his dismissal away to Carlisle United the previous weekend. A Jonathan Grounds shot was deflected past Andersen in the Pompey goal by debutant Ertl just before the hour mark for the only goal of the game. The result see’s Pompey drop into the relegation places for the first time this season laying fourth bottom in the league.

Pompey: Andersen, Harley, Connolly, Obita, Russell, Dumbuya, Walker (Harris), Howard, McLeod, Compton, Ertl (Rodgers). Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Webster, Clifford

Southampton 2 Manchester United 3

Nigel Adkins men found that there is no room for rest bite in the Premier League following their 4-1 mid week cup victory away to Stevenage Borough as they took on last season’s Premier League Runners Up Manchester United in Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,000^th game in charge of the Red Devils. The Saints opened the scoring from who else but Rickie Lambert when he headed in from close range in the 16^th minute. United levelled the scoring through £24 million signing Robin Van Persie who scored his second goal in two games with a sublime volley which Davis could do little about from the left edge of the penalty area. Davis however would get the better of RVP as he turned the Dutchman’s spot kick around the post to keep the score at 1-1 before the Saints regained the lead through a Morgan Schneiderlin header.

Looking to protect his side’s lead in the closing third of the game Adkin’s took off Lallana and Lambert whilst Fergie brought on Scholes, Nani and Hernandez as his side pressed on looking for a share of the points. Van Persie made amends for his earlier penalty miss as he levelled the scores in the 87^th minute before claiming his 100^th Premier League goal and the match ball with his hat trick in injury time to condemn Nigel Adkin’s side to their third straight Premier League defeat leaving them bottom of the league with 0 points.

Saints: K Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox, Schneiderlin, S Davis, Ward-Prowse, Lallana (Rodriguez), Puncheon (Mayuka), Lambert (Guly). Subs Not Used: Gazzaniga, Richardson, Seaborne, Lee.

Michael Appleton’s men face AFC Bournemouth at home in the First Round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tonight before travelling away to Crawley Town in their next league fixture. Nigel Adkins men face another big test when they take on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side away at the Emirates who’ve so far haven’t conceded a league goal in their opening three games of the season and beat Brendan Rodger’s Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in their last game.

Tales of the Two Cities – Off The Field

Pompey’s squad saw two new faces as Ex-Sheffield United midfielder Johnny Ertl and the ex-Norwich City player Darel Russell joined Appleton’s squad on one month deals alongside Josh Thompson who also signs having appeared for the club in pre-season. Kieran Djilali was let go by mutual consent and youngster Sam Magri signed for Premier League Queen’s Park Rangers having been told he wasn’t part of the club’s long term plans.

Mustapha Dumbuya has been named in the Sierra Leone squad for their Africa Cup of Nations game with Tunisia on Saturday September 8^th which means he will miss the away game with Crawley Town the following day.

Pompey administrator Trevor Birch has given both the Portsmouth Supporter’s Trust and Balram Chanrai’s Portpin a fortnight to finalise their bids for the club.

Southampton have brought in Zambia forward Emmanuel Mayua from Young Boys Berne on a five year deal; Japanese defender Maya Yoshida from Dutch side VVV-Venlo for a fee reportedly worth £2 million; American goal keeper Cody Cropper who had been training with the club having been released by Ipswich Town and the club record signing of Uruguayan international midfielder Gaston Ramirez from Bologna in a deal set to be worth in the region of £12 million. Dean Hammond has rejoined former club Brighton and Hove Albion and Billy Sharp has signed for Nottingham Forest both on season long loans.