Source: FOOTYMAD
Pompey Denied Victory By Late Kebe Equaliser
Portsmouth 1 Reading 1 A scrappy late equaliser from Jimmy Kebe denied Steve Cotterill his first win as Pompey manager.Nadir Ciftci made his first league start for the blues and got on the scoresheet after just eight minutes following Matt Ritchie's short corner, which led to the ball breaking out to the young Dutchman, whose strike took a heavy deflection past Adam Federici.John Utaka limped off soon after and was replaced by Joel Ward who ended up playing in midfield, which was strange because I believed that he would have played at right back so Mullins could push further forward. That would have made more sense to me, anyway.Not that it mattered too much in the first half, as Pompey were comfortable and playing well for a team that had a right back playing as a support striker and two midfielders playing in defence, not to mention the three inexperienced youngsters in the side.David Nugent really should have doubled Pompey's lead after a slip from a Reading defender gave the onrushing striker time to pick his spot, only for the shot to roll wide of the post.It was the only real black mark in a first half that showed plenty of promise from Pompey whilst Reading had barely troubled Ashdown despite their wingers seeing plenty of the ball.The Royals improved in the second half and almost equalised when Gylfi Sigurdsson's free kick struck the post but Nugent wasted another great chance to double Pompey's lead when put through by Ward but he failed to hit the target yet again.As time went on Pompey became increasingly nervous, hoofing the ball anywhere out of defence and being pinned in their own half as Brian McDermott's men searched for an equaliser.That equaliser came in the most ugly fashion just four minutes from time.Ibrahima Sonko needlessly cleared the ball out for a corner when Ashdown was stood behind him, waiting to pick it up. From the resulting corner, the ball broke to Kebe after a goalmouth scramble, leaving the winger to poke the ball over the line.Referee Mick Russell gave the goal eventually after some confusion over whether it would actually stand, with Ashdown and a few others protesting that there was a foul in the build up.Both teams went for a winner and the best chance fell to Michael Brown who had a shot from range that Federici was equal to when he had better options either side of him.That was the last meaningful action of the game as Pompey were left to rue two dropped points late on, something that the fans have been accustomed to in the last couple of years at Fratton Park.It's frustrating, but we need some perspective. Our threadbare squad is still not fully fit after a disasterous pre-season, we still have to play players out of position and we now have injuries to two of our strikers, leaving Nugent as the only recognised fit striker in the squad.Ah yes, Dave Nugent, the man who currently can't hit a barn door with the proverbial at the moment. He squandered two glorious chances at Stevenage on Monday and two more today.He has become a shadow of the player who banged in goals aplenty for Preston before Harry Redknapp shelled out £6 million for the former England international.Perhaps he just needs a goal to boost his confidence, or maybe he's just never going to fulfil the potential he showed when he was a kid at Bury. That's for another article, the bottom line is that his misses have arguably cost Pompey two very precious points today.Having said that, we didn't lose which is a positive we can take but we'll see what next week brings. Some more players and an owner who wants to actually own the club would be a start!Pompey Player RatingsJamie Ashdown: 6 - Took most of Reading's crosses comfortably.Hayden Mullins: 6 - Did a job.Ibrahima Sonko: 6 - Better than last week's performance, but panicked towards the end.Marc Wilson: 6 - Defending was good but passing was wayward.Carl Dickinson: 6 - Solid, if unspectacular debut.John Utaka: N/A - Subbed off early with a supposed hamstring strain.Michael Brown: 6 - Did OK.Richard Hughes: 6 - Typical Hughes performance.Matt Ritchie: 7 - Swung in some good crosses.Nadir Ciftci: 7 - Bright showing, perhaps he won't go on loan.David Nugent: 5 - Ran a lot as always but needs to sharpen up.SubstitutesLiam O'BrienJoel Ward (Utaka 17): 6 - Did well in an unfamiliar position.Pete GregoryMarlon Pack
