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Pompey ended their
three-match losing run in the Championship by drawing with Sheffield
United at Fratton Park. There were chances for both sides to record a better outcome in an entertaining contest in the south coast sunshine. And the Blues will be grateful to Will Norris, who made a couple of fine saves to keep the Blades at bay. John Mousinho made three changes from the side that were unfortunate to lose at Burnley the previous week. Fit-again summer signing Jacob Farrell was handed his debut at left-back in place of the ill Connor Ogilvie, while there was a first start for loanee Mark O’Mahony. Sammy Silvera also came into the line-up, as Christian Saydee and the injured Callum Lang made way. Conor Shaughnessy was initially also included in defence, only to be replaced late on by Tom McIntyre after pulling up before kick-off. The first half was a tale of plenty of Pompey pressure and an abundance of corners, but unfortunately no goals. Backed by the noisy home faithful, the hosts looked to get on the front foot right from the first whistle. The first corner was delivered by Pack and led to Freddie Potts firing wildly over, with the skipper – and Paddy Lane on the opposite side – having plenty more chances to send the ball into the box. It was Lane who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 16 minutes, with a low drive that Michael Cooper did well to turn around the post. The keeper then made a more regulation save to keep out Josh Murphy’s effort from outside the box. Not that it was all one-way traffic and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in particular was causing plenty of problems on the right. He almost provided an assist on 26 minutes, crossing for Gustavo Hamer, whose close-range header was brilliantly kept out by Norris. That was the cue for a spell of Blades pressure that led to the hosts having to scramble the ball to safety. But it was the Blues who almost took the lead just before the break after winning a free-kick on the left. Pack swung the ball in and it somehow evaded everyone, having to be tipped over the bar by the alert Cooper. Half Time: Pompey 0 Sheffield United 0 The hosts looked to get back on the attack when the action restarted, although Farrell could not take advantage of a neat Murphy pass. McIntyre then made a timely interception in the box to avert some danger at the other end of the pitch. And after Norris got a good fist to a Sydie Peck corner, Hamer sent a fierce strike sailing into the Fratton End. Pompey began to get on top again, though, and Mousinho made his first switch just past the hour mark, with Silvera making way for Saydee. But it was the Blades who were next to go close, with Norris turning behind an awkward shot from substitute Femi Seriki. And when O’Mahony was then brought down up the other end, Pack could not keep the free-kick down. Tyrese Campbell was more accurate after bursting through for the Blades, although the leg of Norris came to the rescue. A second Blues switch followed from Mousinho on 84 minutes, with Lane brought off for Harvey Blair. It was Farrell who might have scored late on, though, as he headed ove from yet another Pack corner. Both sides sensed they could grab a winner as the seconds ticked down, but ultimately had to settle for a point each. |
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