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A remarkable display of
goalscoring from Callum Lang saw Pompey fight from behind to thrash
Coventry at a festive Fratton Park. It looked as though the final home fixture of 2024 would end on a sour note when Norman Bassette struck an early blow. But the Blues soon moved through the gears and two fine finishes from Lang ensured they led at the interval. He was not done yet, however, and scored twice more in the second half to become the first player to net four goals in a game for the club since Yakubu 20 years earlier. John Mousinho made two changes from the side that were beaten on the road at Derby eight days earlier. Ryley Towler and Zak Swanson both came into the defence, as Tom McIntyre and Terry Devlin dropped to the bench. Academy duo Harry Clout and Michael Ani were named among the substitutes after impressing against Leeds in the FA Youth Cup on Monday night. Pompey got off to the worst possible start and found themselves trailing with just three minutes on the clock. Lang thought he had been fouled, but play was allowed to continue and Ephron Mason-Clark slid the ball across for Bassett – who appeared to be stood offside – to tap home at the back post. The Belgian striker was then sent racing though on goal moments later, with Nicolas Schmid having to tear from his line to make the save. But the Blues soon started to cause problems of their own and Lang teed-up Bishop for a shot that was blocked by Bobby Thomas. And an equaliser did arrive on 14 minutes after Matt Ritchie’s corner had been punched away by Bradley Collins. Bishop raced to collect the loose ball and cut it back for LANG to drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It was quickly turning into an open affair and Mason-Clark gathered Jack Rudoni’s pass before hitting the base of the woodwork. Some superb set-piece deliveries from Ritchie were causing plenty of problems at the other end of the pitch. Schmid then had to tear from his line once more to deny Rudoni, while Bassette shot narrowly past the post. The chances kept coming as the first half progressed and a clean Connor Ogilvie strike from Ritchie’s free-kick flew into the arms of Collins. Pompey then survived a scare when Bassette broke away and although Swanson slid in to win the ball, it ricocheted back off the striker and had to be cleared from the line by Ogilvie. It was the hosts who took the lead just before the break, however, when a deep Freddie Potts free-kick was misjudged by Jay Dasilva. LANG immediately looked to capitalise and hit a rocket of a shot into the top corner from an angle, as Fratton Park erupted. Half Time: Pompey 2 Coventry 1 Pompey could have been forgiven to looking to protect their lead once the action restarted, but instead they went straight on the attack. And the approach was rewarded on 48 minutes, when LANG rose to meet a Potts corner with a glancing header that flew into the net to complete his treble. But he was not about to stop there and soon had his fourth goal of what was proving to be a remarkable afternoon for the forward. Ogilvie sent in an excellent cross and Bishop’s shot was turned against the bar by Collins, with the ball starting to spin towards the net. The keeper had to palm it behind him, but only as far as the alert LANG, who lashed it into the roof of the net. Coventry boss Frank Lampard made his feelings known by making a quadruple change just past the hour mark. The hosts were still looking the most likely to score again, though, and a 25-yard effort from Josh Murphy took a deflection and dipped narrowly over. That was his last piece of meaningful action, with the forward replaced by Paddy Lane on 71 minutes. And there was a thoroughly deserved standing ovation for Lang when he made way for Owen Moxon late on. Pompey then saw out the closing stages with relative ease to ensure there was plenty of Christmas cheer from most people leaving Fratton Park. |
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