Portsmouth v Wigan live!

31 October 2009 14:13
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 84 Yebda is replaced by Mullins.[LNB]83 But the chance comes to nothing as Kaboul's effort hits the wall.[LNB]82 Kanu draws a foul in a dangerous area. Chance here for Portsmouth with a free-kick...[LNB]79 Very little is going Wigan's way. They simply can't find a way through. It is party time here at Fratton Park. The fans, after much heartache, are loving this.[LNB]76 Wigan are looking very deflated. Martinez has just issued a few instructions to his players, but the game is surely now lost.[LNB]73 Ben Haim makes a crucial block to deny Wigan a possible way back into the game. The defender threw himself at the ball as Scotland looked to smash home.[LNB]70 N'Zogbia leads a rare Wigan attack before slicing a shot just over.[LNB]68 Portsmouth are running riot here. Wigan look dejected while Pompey look on top of the world. A fourth could be in the offing...[LNB] Easy finish for Dindane, who nestle the ball home from only a yard or so out. Smart work on the right fashioned the chance before Kanu rolled across for Dindane. Surely game over now.[LNB]65 GOAL - Dindane scores for Pompey!!![LNB]64 Portsmouth again go close as Dindane looks to bundle home. Wigan then break and a swerving effort from Kapo zooms just wide of the post.[LNB]62 Kirkland makes a fine save to deny Portsmouth. O'Hara bends in a wicked free-kick and Kirkland parries clear. It may have got a touch on its way to goal.[LNB]59 Double change for Wigan: Scharner and Rodallega are replaced by Jordi Gomez and Kapo.[LNB]57 Dindane so nearly makes it 3-0. Mullins picks up the ball in space and feeds the striker, who shoots at goal only to see his effort deflect just wide. Kanu has just entered the field in place of Piquionne, who is injured and in need of a stretcher. It does not look good for the goalscorer.[LNB]55 Piquionne is down receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Kanu is warming up, much to the delight of the home support.[LNB]53 Both managers are out in their technical areas barking orders. Martinez will be demanding a goal early in this second half while Hart must urge his players not to go too gung-ho and get caught when pushing for a third.[LNB]51 N'Zogbia appears okay now. A goal from Wigan would certainly change the mood of this game entirely. But is Pompey who look the most likely to score next.[LNB]49 N'Zogbia is down receiving treatment after a knock.[LNB]47 Brilliant last-ditch challenge from Bramble prevents it from being 3-0. Piquionne burst through but Bramble slid in brilliantly to prevent the shot. Dindane then shoots but the strike is a tad weak and Kirkland saves.[LNB]46 Wigan get the second half under way.[LNB] The players are back out onto the pitch for the second half. Here we go, people.[LNB] My, my. An excellent 45 minutes for bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth. After the second nestled home, cries of 'We are staying up' rang around the stadium.[LNB]Piquionne bursts through and powers in on goal. The strike keeps his cool and fires under the legs of Kirkland. 2-0, and that's half-time.[LNB]45+3 GOAL - Piquionne scores for Pompey!!![LNB]45 Three minutes of added time will be played.[LNB]43 Wigan almost level. A surging run through the middle allows Scotland to power into the area. He looks set to pull the trigger but under pressure he flashes wide.[LNB]41 The injured Finnan is replaced by Belhadj, who will slot in at left-back and Ben Haim will switch to right-back.[LNB]40 Finnan is receiving treatment and looks set to be replaced by Belhadj.[LNB]38 Fratton Park is now rocking. It was Dindane's first league goal for the club. He will be mightily relieved have been wasteful to date.[LNB] Finally Portsmouth are rewarded. A Brown through ball cuts Wigan open and Dindane surges clear. He clips the ball coolly over Kirkland with the outside of his boot and the crowd go wild.[LNB]35 GOAL - Dindane scores for Pompey!!![LNB]34 Piquionne flicks on a deep ball and Dindane looks through, but the flag is rightly up for offside.[LNB]32 Rodallega has a chance to test James from a free-kick. But the in-form striker blazes well, well over. Poor.[LNB]30 More bright play from Pompey as a stinging drive is first spilled by Kirkland then claimed at the second attempt.[LNB]29 Boateng, who scored against Spurs this season, tries his luck with a left-footed strike. He hits it well enough but the effort was always rising.[LNB]27 Another chance for Portsmouth goes begging as Dindane heads over from just a few yards out. This after a corner caused Kirkland a problem.[LNB]25 Portsmouth continue to press but their attacks keep getting met by groans from the home support. That final ball or deft finish is lacking.[LNB]23 O'Hara swivels on the edge of the area and tries his luck with a left-footed shot at goal. But it is rather tame and Kirkland gathers with ease.[LNB]22 Rodallega is currently receiving treatment after he collided with the advertising boards. He is limping gingerly now.[LNB]18 Scotland demonstrates a smart turn before firing in a low cross from the left channel. But it is hacked away by the Pompey defence. Rodallega then gets in behind the Portsmouth backline but he over-runs the ball.[LNB]16 Controversy here as Dindane puts pressure on Boyce, who tumbles under the challenge. The linesman keeps his flag down but referee Wiley calls it a foul. Dindane was clean through.[LNB]13 Wilson is encouraged forward and the fans urge him to shoot from around 35 yards from goal. The effort, needless to say, flies well over.[LNB]11 The fans are right behind the home side, but their patience needs to be rewarded with a goal.[LNB]9 We have not had anything from Wigan in an attacking sense as yet. It is in fact Portsmouth who are playing the best football on the deck.[LNB]7 It's a 4-5-1/4-3-3 for Wigan, with Scotland the main frontman. As I type, Yebda flashes a shot wide. Pompey are looking decent. Still no finishing touch though...[LNB]5 Wigan steady themselves after a difficult opening and begin to string some passes together. O'Hara is lucky not to be cautioned for a sliding tackle in the middle of the park.[LNB]3 Plenty of early pressure from the home side as they win another corner. The delivery is an in-swinger but Pompey cannot direct the ball home. Goal kick.[LNB]1 A chance within the first minute. Piquionne battles for the ball and it squirms out onto the edge of the area. Boateng hammers at goal but his short swerves just over.[LNB]1 Kick-off: Portsmouth get the game under way, kicking from left to right as I see it.[LNB]14.55 The two teams march out onto the turf to a rapturous applause from both sets of fans. There appears to be a sense of anticipation that this could be the game that sees Pompey turn their campaign around.[LNB]14.53 Tougaard Sorensen has got in contact ahead of the game and he is confident Portsmouth can get their season on track today. He is backing their strikeforce to finally come good. We shall see, Tougaard.[LNB]14.45 The atmosphere is steadily building here at Fratton Park. As a neutral, I am hoping for a hatful of goals. However, something tells me this could be a cagey and tight affair as Pompey look to record their first win at home in the Premier League this season.[LNB]14.35 Just 25 minutes until kick-off here. This has of course been a game with a number of pre-match subplots, after Portsmouth were banned from signing players and Wigan dealt with Marlon King while Roberto Martinez dampened alleged comments he made about Sir Alex Ferguson. No doubt both bosses will be relieved that attention is now focused back on football on the pitch.[LNB]14.28 The players are out on the sun-bathed pitch being put through their paces ahead of this crunch encounter. Pompey will have been boosted by an impressive result during midweek in the Carling Cup, but Hart's men must transfer that form onto the league stage. For Wigan, consistency is the key as the club look to build on some excellent results.[LNB]14.20 It's a gorgeous day here on the South Coast. The pitch is soft after a damp night but the sun is now lighting up the turf. Having just read manager Paul Hart's comments in the match programme, it is clear he considers this a huge game for his bottom-of-the-table side. Opinions to jamesdall@hotmail.co.uk.[LNB]14.18 Portsmouth: James, Finnan, Kaboul, Wilson, Ben-Haim, O'Hara, Yebda, Brown, Boateng, Piquionne, Dindane. Subs: Ashdown, Mokoena, Mullins, Webber, Smith, Kanu, Belhadj.[LNB]14.17 Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Sinclair, Rodallega, Scharner, Scotland. Subs: Pollitt, Amaya, Cho, Gomez, De Ridder, Kapo, McCarthy.[LNB]14.14 Welcome to our live commentary from Fratton Park. As the team news filters through, drop me a line via jamesdall@hotmail.co.uk with your thoughts on the encounter ahead. [LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports