Carlisle 1 Portsmouth 3: Reward for brave Hart as Pompey turn it round

22 September 2009 22:41
Paul Hart was subjected to an early penalty goal, taunts from League One fans and some of the worst defending imaginable but still returned from the longest journey of the season with fresh hope and a place in the last 16.[LNB]After his Portsmouth side had fallen behind after three minutes to Ian Harte's spot-kick, the Pompeyboss was mocked with chants of 'You're getting sacked in the morning' from supporters who are more used to piling pressure on their own manager Greg Abbott.[LNB]But if Hart feared the worst, he was rescued by a debut goal from Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane, who looks like a player who could trouble Premier League defences.[LNB] Danny joy: Webber is engulfed after putting Portsmouth 2-1 ahead[LNB]Dindane equalised before setting up Anthony Vanden Borre in the second half to score Pompey's all-important third strike after Danny Webber had also marked his debut with a goal.[LNB]It is an indication of the mess at Fratton Park that Hart made the 700-mile round trip with just 17 players, despite having 30 on his squad list. He made seven changes to the side which lost at Aston Villa on Saturday, although four of those on League duty were cup-tied. [LNB]Hart left goalless striker Frederick Piquionne on the bench, along with left back Lenny Sowah, who was handed the No 46 shirt before Pompey left the south coast. [LNB]But he was brave enough to name a three-man frontline, Dindane starting alongside transfer deadline signing Webber and John Utaka. [LNB]Hart's side made the worst start by conceding their fifth penalty of the season following a ridiculous challenge from their captain. [LNB]Aaron Mokoena was caught out by a long ball into the penalty area but Carlisle's recalled striker Joe Anyinsah controlled it perfectly, turned past the summer signing from Blackburn and prepared to shoot at Asmir Begovic.[LNB] Early scare: Harte converts from the spot[LNB]Then, right in front of referee Neil Swarbrick, Mokoena pulled back Anyinsah and the official pointed to the spot. [LNB]The one relief for the South African was that he somehow escaped a booking. Harte took the ball while Mokoena tested Swarbrick's patience with his protests, then sent Begovic the wrong way with his trusty left foot for his third goal since signing for Carlisle in the summer.[LNB]The home fans delighted in Hart's agony, but their joy lasted barely 20 minutes. Carlisle failed to deal with Begovic's almighty clearance and, after Utaka had controlled the loose ball and unleashed a shot Pidgeley did well to keep out, Dindane rushed into the area to slot the rebound into an empty net.[LNB]Three minutes later, Portsmouth had the lead when on-loan Benfica midfielder Hassan Yebda launched a ball into the area and Webber beat his marker, Danny Livesey, to glance a header into the top corner.[LNB] Welcome relief: Hart observes from the touchlines[LNB]The expected second-half onslaught never materialised from a lacklustre Carlisle side, although Portsmouth were given two scares soon after the re-start.[LNB]Peter Murphy just missed the target with a low shot before the tiny Anyinsah beat Mokoena in the air to head Hurst's corner past the post. But after Livesey had dithered on 62 minutes, Dindane pulled the ball back for Vanden Borre to toe poke home and Pompey had their clinching goal.[LNB]CARLISLE (4-4-2): Pidgeley; Raven, Livesey (Keogh 73), Murphy (Bridge-Wilkinson 73), Harte; Hurst, Thirlwell, Taiwo (Dobie 77), Robson; Anyinsah, Offiong. [LNB]PORTSMOUTH (4-3-3): Begovic; Vanden Borre, Kaboul, Mokoena, Belhadj; Basinas, Mullins, Yebda (Brown 77); Utaka, Webber (Piquionne 87), Dindane (Kanu 68)[LNB] All the action from the Carling Cup third round as it happenedPORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail