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Andre Dozzell opened his
Pompey account as Oxford were beaten 2-0 to secure just a second away
victory of the season. The midfielder found the target from close range at the end of a scrappy period of play that was befitting of a match that took a while to properly get going. And Mark O’Mahony settled any late nerves, with the loanee coming off the bench to score in stoppage-time. John Mousinho made one enforced change from the side that beat Cardiff on home soil earlier in the week. The injured Conor Shaughnessy was replaced at the back by Hayden Matthews, while a fit-again Regan Poole appeared on the bench. Pompey made a bright start and had a chance to take the lead following a misplaced pass in the opening few seconds. The ball flew straight to Josh Murphy, but the former Oxford forward’s shot took a deflection and was claimed by Jamie Cumming. Murphy then swung in a dangerous cross that a leaping Colby Bishop could only nod wide of the post. But the action paused so a medical incident in the crowd could be attended to, with the sides eventually disappearing back down the tunnel. When the game resumed, the Blues initially got straight back on the front foot and got into some promising positions. The hosts slowly started to threaten, however, with good work from first Connor Ogilvie and then Nicolas Schmid to stop Przemysław Płacheta getting a shot away. He was eventually able to hit the ball towards the target and it took a big deflection to fly narrowly over the bar. Pompey then began to move through the gears again, but teasing crosses from Murphy and Ogilvie were dealt with by the United back-line. And when the ball did fall for Isaac Hayden on the edge of the box just before the break, his fierce attempt was blocked. Half Time: Oxford 0 Pompey 0 The first half had not exactly been the most exciting affair, but the deadlock was broken within two minutes of the restart. It started with a Matt Ritchie corner that was only partially dealt with and Callum Lang sent the ball back into the box. What followed was a scrappy few seconds as it bounced around before Rob Atkinson was eventually able to square for DOZZELL to tap home from just a yard out. Oxford thought they should have had a penalty soon after when Rúben Rodrigues hammered the ball against Atkinson’s arm from close range, but the appeals were ignored by referee Will Finnie. Pompey were not looking to sit back, though, and Lang tested the handling of Cumming after being played through by Ritchie. Mousinho made a double switch just past the hour mark, with Ritchie and Bishop replaced by Adil Aouchiche and O’Mahony. But he was forced into another change moments later, as Lang pulled up chasing a ball down the line and Cohen Bramall came on. An Oxford substitute almost provided an assist for an equaliser on 71 minutes, as Ole Romeny delivered a superb cross from deep on the right. It was met by Płacheta at the far post, but Schmid did brilliantly to raise a hand and deny the winger form point-blank range. The Blues were still finding that attack was the best form of defence, though, and continued to cause problems in the final third. But they received a big let off when substitute Stan Mills somehow nodded a cross wide from just a few yards out. Pompey’s final two changes saw Zak Swanson and Hayden make way for Terry Devlin and Marlon Pack on 84 minutes. Matt Phillips then headed over for the hosts and the display of seven additional minutes provided them with hope. But the Blues managed to remain resolute and wrapped up a precious three points deep into stoppage-time. Devlin sent a clearing header down the middle of the pitch, with O’MAHONY taking the ball in his stride before neatly slotting home. |
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