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Pompey remain unbeaten in
the Championship after playing out a lively goalless draw with Luton at a
rocking Fratton Park. The visitors had to play more than half the game with just 10 men after keeper Thomas Kaminski collected a couple of quick bookings. But despite both teams creating chances in an entertaining lunchtime contest, neither was able to break the deadlock. John Mousinho made a single change from the side that collected a point from an entertaining contest at Leeds the previous week. It came in attack, where summer signing Elias Sørensen – who struck on his debut at Elland Road – made way for Christian Saydee. The first half was a frenetic affair, with the action quickly switching from one end of the pitch to the other. Will Norris was the home side’s hero, coming off his line to deny Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris in quick succession. Andre Dozzell sent in a dangerous free-kick at the other end, with Conor Shaughnessy’s header bouncing up off the turf and drawing a smart save from Kaminski. Then when Sammy Silvera played the ball across the box to Paddy Lane, he hooked a clean strike narrowly over. It was then Norris’ turn to be called into action once more on 24 minutes, doing brilliantly to prevent Adebayo’s header from crossing the line. Pompey were soon back on the attack themselves, with Silvera cutting inside from the left and hitting a curler that Kaminski did well to save. But the keeper was soon trudging off the turf to take an early bath after being booked twice in the space of three minutes. The first yellow for time-wasting was slightly unfortunate, seeing as it was a defender tasked with taking the goal-kick. But the second was a simple decision for referee John Busby after Kaminski came charging out of his box and took out Lane. The Fratton faithful were soon cursing the official, however, after he denied Shaughnessy a penalty when he appeared to be fouled in the area by Reuell Walters. Pompey came close to making the numerical advantage count in from a Dozzell corner in stoppage-time. But Callum Lang could not quite get a strong enough touch on Connor Ogilvie’s header to beat replacement stopper James Shea. Half Time: Pompey 0 Luton 0 It was not quite so eventful immediately after the restart, with the visitors perhaps showing a more conservative edge. Silvera tried an ambitious shot from out wide for the Blues, but the loanee could not get the effort on target. Jordan Clark’s neat pass sent Adebayo racing through at the other end, with the forward lacking the composure to call Norris into action. Pompey went close just past the hour mark after Marlon Pack played a corner short to Silvera and he found Lane. The forward almost had to bundle the referee out of the way before hitting a left-footed shot that fizzed just past the post. Owen Moxon and Matt Ritchie were brought on for Dozzell and Lane, as Mousinho searched for a spark. The former’s brilliant pass soon found Silvera and his low centre was left by Saydee for Lang to capitalise, only for the ball to be intercepted. That proved to be Saydee’s final contribution to the contest, with the forward replaced by Sørensen on 78 minutes. And Ben Stevenson was also brought on soon after, with skipper Pack appearing to take a knock to the head. It was another fine delivery from Moxon – this time from out wide – that provided the next opportunity, with the ball glanced wide by Sørensen. That proved to be the final opportunity of the afternoon, as the minutes ticked down and the spoils were shared. |
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