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Josh Murphy was the key
figure once more, providing a goal and assist as Pompey beat Queens Park
Rangers 2-1 at Fratton Park. After a close first half, the hosts exploded into life straight after the restart, with Murphy opening the scoring before teeing-up Matt Ritchie to double the lead. Jimmy Dunne pulled one back for the Londoners, but the Blues saw out the closing stages to move further away from the Championship drop zone. John Mousinho made one enforced change from the side that won on the road at Oxford at the weekend. With Callum Lang tearing his hamstring in that contest, loanee Adil Aouchiche was handed his full debut. A fit-again Kusini Yengi was named among the substitutes, having been out since November with a knee problem. Pompey looked to make a fast start and an early Murphy delivery was flicked on by Connor Ogilvie, but nobody could capitalise. Michael Frey was able to meet a Kōki Saitō cross at the other end, but could not beat Nicolas Schmid. The hosts were soon back on the attack and another Murphy centre was just out of reach for both Colby Bishop and Aouchiche. In truth, however, there were not an abundance of opportunities before the break, with a bit more quality needed to add to the undoubted endeavour. When Rangers were able to get forward, they were stopped by fine challenges from first Isaac Hayden and then Zak Swanson. A Pompey corner from Ritchie did cause a few problems, but the ball eventually ended up safely in the arms of keeper Paul Nardi. However, the Blues were dealt a blow late in the half when Rob Atkinson went down and needed to go off, with Regan Poole on to replace him. They did threaten once more before the break and Ogilvie fired over after another Ritchie corner was nodded down by Bishop. Half Time: Pompey 0 Queens Park Rangers 0 If the first half had been slightly lacking on the entertainment front, it did not take long to liven things up following the restart. Pompey went ahead on 48 minutes after Andre Dozzell threaded a neat pass through for MURPHY to race onto. He cut inside from the left and hit a superb finish from just outside the box that bent past Nardi’s dive and flew into the net. And it soon got even better for the Blues, with Murphy turning provider by sending in a low cross that RITCHIE fired into the roof of the net from just a few yards out. The visitors tried to hit back, but Ronnie Edwards could only nod an Ilias Chair free-kick over at the near post. With Swanson and Hayden both appearing to pick up knocks, Mousinho opted to replace them with Terry Devlin and Marlon Pack just past the hour mark. Ritchie thought he had scored again when he bundled the ball over the line, only for Bishop’s challenge on Nardi resulting in a free-kick for the visitors. It was Rangers’ turn to go close on 70 minutes after being gifted possession, but just a few moments after entering the fray, Alfie Lloyd could only slide his shot narrowly wide. But it still came against the run of play when they reduced their deficit soon after, as Dunne rose highest to win the ball in the box, then lifted a fine effort over Schmid and into the net. The hosts thought that Ogilvie had been fouled by the defender, but referee Thomas Bramall ignored their appeals. QPR pushed on in search of an equaliser and a header from Chair flew safely into the arms of Schmid. And when Hayden Matthews picked up a knock, he could not come off, with all five changes already made. That led to the bizarre sight of the Australian going up front, with skipper Pack dropping back into defence. But the Blues were able to see out the seven minutes of stoppage-time to ensure their fine form continued. |
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