Tuesday night and it was cup time
again as Pompey lined up in the Johnstones Paint Trophy Second Round against
Wycombe Wanderers. This was the fixture on the accumulator that everyone had
done as a home win; it was the banker and the one fixture on paper that shouldn’t
really have been a doubt. Going into the game after a strong first half
performance against MK Dons at the weekend Pompey should have had enough in the
tanks to overturn a side not only in the league below, but one who currently
sit third bottom just out of the relegation zone. This was a game where Pompey
could stamp their authority and build some confidence and yet someone forgot to
send Wycombe their copy of the script and it took just embarrassing 13 seconds
into the game for them to take the lead through Joel Grants effort. Sometimes
it’s not the context of defeat that matters it’s the very manner and nature of
defeat that hits home and leaves a sour taste in the mouth. I can’t imagine
that anyone really cares about going out of a competition labelled by the fans
as the Tin Pot Trophy, but what will have hurt is the score line and who the
opposition are. Going one behind so early can sometimes be excusable if you get
back on level terms quick enough, but going 2-0 down in the space of the
opening eight minutes leaves real questions marks about the players commitment
and the end score line of 3-1 simply isn’t good enough. That’s the magic of any
cup though I suppose and good luck to the Trust owned Wanderers in the rest of
the competition.
Back at the business end of the
season and Pompey take on Crewe tomorrow who currently occupy 15th
place in the league on 13 points and a win will see us leap frog them in the
table. So far on their travels Manager Steve Davis side has seen his side
collect five points from a possible fifteen having won only once and drawn twice.
A 5-0 win at home to Hartlepool United in the League Cup shows that on their
day they are a side capable of being amongst the goals, but the 5-1 away defeat
in the league to Brentford shows that they are equally as capable of conceding goals
and their goal difference currently sits at a total of -5. In seven league and
cup games away Crewe have only managed one clean sheet so far this season so
Pompey really must go into tomorrow’s game with a stern belief that they can
find the back of the oppositions net.
Crewe were promoted last season
via the play offs having finished in 7th place and like Pompey are
taking a while to really find their feet in their new surroundings of the
NPower League One. Mention Crewe and I automatically think of two things; Dario
Gradi and their academy set up. Pound for pound the results of their academy
must rank up there as some of the best in the world. With all the millions that
Chelsea have spent on their academy which has born little success other than that
of John Terry you’ve got to wonder what Gradi would have been able to achieve
with the same level of finance. Sadly for Crewe they will remain a selling club
at the end of the day but the uppermost respect should be given for what they’ve
achieved and for what Gradi has achieved for the club. Sadly though, that’s modern
football for you and clubs have to do what they can to survive from season to
season.
Historically Crewe have the upper
hand in previous meetings between the two clubs. In 14 outings Crewe have won
6, Pompey 4 and 4 draws. Crewe also have the upper hand when it comes to goals
scored with a total of 21 to 19. Pompey haven’t beaten Crewe since October 2000
and are waiting on the fitness of Michalik who went off with an injury during
the JPT tie. Darel Russell remains sidelined though Jack Thompson is back
available for selection.
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