Blues rescue a point in unlikely comeback against The Cod Army

Danny Cowley’s side came into the fixture off the back of a mid-week victory against Shrewsbury Town, and hoping to continue a 3-game winning streak to grip onto the top half of the League 1 table.

In opposition team news, Ellis Harrison starts against the side he departed earlier in January. Harrison has netted 2 goals in 8 games for The Cod’s, compared to 1 in 12 for Pompey during the first half of this season.

The visitors netted the opener with their first real chance of the game in the 7th minute. Pompey’s left flank of Denver Hume and Ronan Curtis became stagnant and allowed ex teammate Ellis Harrison to make a convincing run with a low cross into Anthony Pilkington who easily slotted past Bazunu.

Pompey’s left side became somewhat of a canvas for Fleetwood’s creative play when 8 minutes later a similar scenario played out. This time the ball arriving at the feet of Harrison Biggins, who followed in his team-mates footsteps and doubled the visitors lead.

In the 41st minute Paddy Lane beat Gavin Bazunu from outside of the box with a bullet of a strike, sending the hosts down a path of no return before the interval.

A late first-half gift from Fleetwood in the form of a handball in the penalty area gave Pompey a fighting chance, after Curtis convincingly converted the spot kick to go in at the break 3-1 down.

Danny Cowley’s half-time team talk clearly inspired the Blues as performances improved. The visitors created 3 clear-cut chances in the first 15 minutes of the seconds half however, squandered the lot.

Tyler walker thought he had found the answer when he slotted Harnesses low cross into the net, but the Fratton cheers we soon silenced by the linesman’s raised offside flag.

The 80th minute saw a poor display from the Fleetwood Town keeper whilst defending a corner. The stopper pushed the ball into the back of his own net giving the visitors 10 minutes to get back into the game.

The introduction of Aiden O’Brien turned out to be the final turn in the lock for Portsmouth as George Hirst’s lay off landed at the striker’s feet, who calmly slotted the ball past cairns in the 5th minute of added time.

Some call it a miracle, some attribute it down to hard graft and resilience. Either way, Pompey carry on with an unbeaten run of 4, although it will feel like 2 points dropped because of an abysmal first half display.