The overwhelming feeling on the Pompey forums is that they are going to pot and after last night's loss are turning on the owners. Some fans are turning on the players saying that their decline wasn't the fault of the Cowleys, but the players themselves. A few though, reckon they've still got some gas in the tank and point to a second half performance in which they had loads of possession and were very competitive in midfield winning most second balls and forcing us to hoof it away - which is fair comment. With a couple of changes to come for Saturday's game they may well offer more of a threat and it can't be forgotten that in the early part of the season they rocketed up the table so they're hoping to regain that sort of form sooner rather than later. Either way we can't afford to be cocky or complacent.

So what do we need to do?

First there's the defensive question. Santos defended well apart from when he was rinsed by the winger towards the end but he did make a fair few headed clearances and some of his long range passing was quality. My problem with Santos is that he slows the game down to the point that his distribution is ponderous and predictable and we lost the advantage of quick transition that we've seen with the Toal/Aimson/Johnston back three - which allows us to get forward before the opposition have had time to park two rows of defenders in front of us. I'd revert to Aimson for Saturday.

Williams did OK - as did Beck who nearly scored - but I'd start Williams and Bradley as WBs - we can always change them if required, but I think they offer more threat early doors when we need that all-important first goal.

Midifield has to be stronger than the starting mids last night. This is the area where Pompey will be looking to dominate so we need to be far more competitive.

Up front? Dion and JDB to start again but would love to see Dan on at some stage. Sadly, I've lost all confidence in Baka.

My prediction is 2 nil barring a disaster.

 

Good to see Evatt kept the back 3 the same.

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

Some of our successful teams played on poor pitches in the 90s be reet 

Dunno why but whenever I think shit pitch this is the goal that comes to mind 

https://fb.watch/i2xn6kqUld/

 

Gutted for bod

13 minutes ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

Gutted for bod

He was coming good and hopefully it’s not a bad injury. We might need two more strikers now

How is vindaloo looking?

Looks ok so far, big and strong,  wants to get involved.

Just forced a good save from the keeper

Bit of an upgrade on Baka then.

2 minutes ago, DomRepWanderer said:

Bit of an upgrade on Baka then.

Looks to be so far, very quick as well

Sounded like a cracking goal that one

Eoin Toal, Eoin Toal, Eoin Eoin Toal 

Is it too soon to say "Dapo who"?

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Is it too soon to say "Dapo who"?

Who is this Dapo of which you speak?

Tremendous. 

Two teams above us drew, and Barnsley lost.

Not a bad day.

Great day

6 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Great day

Happier today

Twelve months ago a 3-0 home win v Pompey minus Dapo, Baka, Jones, Santos, John, MJ Willliams would have been unthinkable. That's progress. As IE is fond of saying: "More to come".

Hopefully there's not too much wrong with Bod.

Nice little points cushion above that 7th place now.

Piece of piss. Look very solid at the back and created plenty of chances. Nice to take a few today. 

Eoin Toal looking better and better every game. What a find. 

6 minutes ago, Arrested development said:

Piece of piss. Look very solid at the back and created plenty of chances. Nice to take a few today. 

Eoin Toal looking better and better every game. What a find. 

Might need to go up to keep him.

Bound to start getting scouted playing so well.

Very comfortable in the end they had a few good chances though tbf

Hopefully no issue with johnston going off just a case of giving santos some minutes 

Good debit by the striker someone who wants the ball and doesn’t slow play down and play back 

Great afternoon, Toal goal was superb 

Defence solid again. Cash in on Santos if he's worth out 

Like the look of the new fella

Portsmouth were crap 

Fuck a duck that wind had a bite to it

Excellent team performance 

New lad is fucking huge but got a good turn of pace

Not 1 bad performance and no stand out player just a very good team today

Only downside was Bod's injury hope its not a bad 1 because he was class before he had to go off 

3rd goal was a cracking move and finish

Just about thawed out. Fucking taters up there today.

As good a performance as you’ll see that. Evatt has got that defence absolutely purring and going forward we carry genuine menace. New lad looks raw but talented and has a good set of players around him to get service from.

That back 3 really is brimming with confidence, and that just gives the rest of the team a bit more freedom to go and get the goals.

Chuffed to fucking bits and hoping we can secure play offs by the end of next month. Then see if Plymouth open the door….

#EvattOut

Fantastic all over the pitch, an absolute stroll towards the end. Portsmouth didn't really get a sniff - as professional a performance as weve seen. 

I say it every game it seems, but Eoin Toal is brilliant, so calm. And a cracking finisher too, it seems...!

it's a good job they couldn't finish, i recon they had 5 good chances.