FOURmidable Pompey cruise past Wimbledon
2 min read
Pompey went into the game with 5 straight clean sheets to their name in their last 5 League One outings. It was therefore not a surprise to see Kenny Jackett field the same 11 as their 1-0 victory over Fleetwood last Saturday.
Jackett’s newest addition in the form of Spurs’ youngster Harvey White made the selection on the bench, and later coming on as a sub to make a home debut at Fratton Park.
The game started in a fairly balanced way, and Wimbledon were seen to create chances in the first 15 minutes. It was Pompey’s intensity going forward however, which is what had proven to be too much to handle for the Dons. With constant pressure from Cannon and Naylor in midfield, setting both Williams and Harness loose on the wings respectively showed the real weaknesses in Wimbledon’s defence, which had conceded 36 goals this season thus far. John Marquis was the first on the night to add to the Dons’ unwanted negative goal tally, by slotting in a tap in at the far post in the 28th minute, after Ryan Williams’ flick-on header.
Marquis returned the favour by releasing the ball into the path of the Aussie in the centre of the park, who cut inside the defence just outside the box, to finesse the ball straight past Walker in goal from distance.
A minute away from half time, Michael Jacobs was fouled on the right flank. It was the winger who took the responsibility and swung in a pin-point free-kick to allow Sean Raggett to slot in his 4th of the season, and subsequently reduce Wimbledon to a 3 goal disadvantage right before half time.
The second half saw Jackett make 4 out of his 5 available substitutions, which included the return of Ronan Curtis after recovering from coronavirus.
Aforementioned Harvey White came on to replace Andy Cannon, and amongst other regulars getting some minutes were Ellis Harrison and Ben Close. The latter of the two made his mark on the game just 6 minutes after entering the game. Wimbledon’s attempt to salvage a consolation goal was broken down in the Pompey half, where the ball fell to Ronan Curtis. The Irishman slipped the ball down the channel for Close to chase. Pompey’s number 8 took his only chance in his 10 minute spell and slotted the ball past the keeper from the right side into the far corner, stamping a resounding 4-0 victory over the Dons, and extending Pompey’s clean-sheet streak to six.
After this game, Portsmouth sit 3rd in the League One table with a game-in-hand on leaders Hull City, and the best goal difference in the league (22).
