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Pompey collected a point
against promotion-chasing Burnley in an absorbing Championship contest at
Fratton Park. The hosts caused plenty of problems throughout, but were not unable to beat their opponents' miserly defence. John Mousinho made three changes from the side narrowly beaten by Millwall on home soil earlier in the week. Conor Shaughnessy was fit enough to start in defence and partnered Rob Atkinson – who had recovered from an illness – in place of Marlon Pack and Hayden Matthews. The other alteration saw loanee Isaac Hayden make way for Andre Dozzell in the midfield engine room. Matt Ritchie wore the captain’s armband in Pack’s absence, while new signing Cohen Bramall was named among the substitutes. Pompey looked comfortable against their high-flying opponents in the opening stages and were showcasing some neat passing play. The visitors did have a threatening period midway through the half, however, and that led to a few chances. Lyle Foster got on the end of a Jaidon Anthony delivery and his downward header was repelled by the leg of Nicolas Schmid. Anthony then tried his luck moments later, cutting in from the right and hitting a fierce strike that was tipped over by the keeper. The winger soon had another go after being teed-up by Foster, but a scuffed shot flew wide of the post. Pompey then began to move through the gears themselves, with Zak Swanson meeting Josh Murphy’s cross and nodding against the post. Murphy intercepted a wayward pass on 33 minutes, drove forward and hit a low drive narrowly past the post. But their best chance was when Matt Ritchie collected a fine Callum Lang through ball and switched onto his left. His shot was brilliantly blocked by Maxime Estève, although the referee awarded a goal-kick, despite the defender celebrating his role with keeper James Trafford. There was more controversy just before the break when the already booked Connor Roberts cynically fouled Murphy. He went down injured, perhaps in an attempt to garner sympathy and it might have worked, with referee David Webb deciding against further punishment. Half Time: Pompey 0 Burnley 0 The hosts picked up where they left off once the action restarted and began to apply plenty of pressure. And when Ritchie swung a fine free-kick into the box, a leaping Shaughnessy could not quite guide it on target. Connor Ogilvie was then found by a precise Schmid throw and played the ball down the line for Murphy, whose low centre was just out of reach for Colby Bishop. Murphy soon delivered another great cross towards Bishop, but Estève did well to stop him getting a shot away. And the Clarets centre-back was at it again moments later after Murphy’s quality centre led to a spot of pinball in the box. Mousinho made a switch just past the hour mark, with Freddie Potts making way for Hayden in the centre of the park. The pressure continued and a firm Shaughnessy header was claimed by Trafford after Ritchie had done well to keep the ball in play and send it into the area. That was the defender’s last piece of action, as he was replaced by recent arrival Hayden Matthews on 71 minutes. But the visitors appeared to have weathered the storm and soon set about trying to find a winner of their own. It might have arrived when Pompey just could not get the ball clear and Lucas Pires’ fierce strike was blocked on the line by Dozzell. A Josh Laurent effort then took a big deflection off Swanson, but that reduced the pace and Schmid was able to hold. But just when it looked like Burnley were on top, Pompey hit back and Ogilvie won the ball with a superb tackle in midfield. The cross from Murphy was only partially dealt with and Ritchie came steaming in, only to see his shot superbly saved by Trafford. Bramall and Terry Devlin provided some fresh legs for the closing stages, as Murphy and Swanson were brought off. And despite being roared on by the Fratton faithful, Pompey were unable to find the late goal that would have secured all three points. They did have an opportunity in stoppage-time, but when the ball fell to Bishop inside the box, he could not keep his shot down. |
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