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RPompey conceded a late
Mihailo Ivanović goal to suffer a 2-1 Championship defeat to Millwall at
The Den. The striker’s opener had been cancelled out by Andre Dozzell’s finish and it looked like a scrappy contest would finish all square. But Ivanović’s firm header ensured that the gap between the Blues and the bottom three would shorten to just four points. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that beat Blackburn on home soil the previous week. Jordan Williams and Terry Devlin both came into the starting line-up, as Zak Swanson and Adil Aouchiche made way. There was no shortage of commitment on show from both sides during the opening stages in the capital. But those in the stands saw little in the way of clear-cut chances to keep them entertained in the warm spring sunshine. Millwall did have a few corners delivered by George Honeyman, although there was nothing really to trouble Nicolas Schmid throughout the first half. That was despite the hosts starting to control both possession and territory as the contest progressed. The closest they came to breaking the deadlock was when Japhet Tanganga met one of those Honeyman set-pieces and nodded over. In fact, it was the visitors who almost took the lead on 38 minutes after Dozzell swung in a teasing cross. The ball was only cleared as far as Colby Bishop, whose clean strike was well saved by Lukas Jensen, low to the keeper’s right. Pompey did have to survive some late pressure, but first Freddie Potts and then Dozzell were on hand to scramble the ball away from inside the box. Half Time: Millwall 0 Pompey 0 The action did not exactly explode into life following the interval, with neither side able to make the most of an early corner. That did little to quell the spirit of the Pompey fans packed into the North Stand, who continued to make a racket in support of their side. But despite having created little, the home side forged ahead on 57 minutes – and it was no surprise that the goal came from a corner. Honeyman swung the ball into the box from the right and Ivanović found space to glance home a header. Pompey suddenly needed to show a more adventurous side in attack and Matt Ritchie’s drilled effort was saved low down by Jensen. The skipper had a better opportunity soon after, with a Potts ball towards Bishop cleared into his path and the winger firing against the post. Mousinho freshened things up with a triple change on 69 minutes, as Williams, Ritchie and Cohen Bramall were replaced by Christian Saydee, Harvey Blair and Marlon Pack. Potts caused problems with a couple of corners in quick succession, but the Lions were looking solid at the back. But the pressure finally gave way to a goal on 80 minutes after Connor Ogilvie fired the ball across the face of goal. Blair sent it back into the mixer and although Josh Murphy’s initial attempt was blocked, DOZZELL kept his composure to slot a shot through the legs of a defender stationed on the line. The relief was short-lived, however, as Casper De Norre crossed from the right and Ivanović rose to firmly head home. Thomas Waddingham came on for Devlin to provide yet another attacking threat for the visitors, but they were unable to find a second equaliser. |
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