Portsmouth FC 25/26

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Season 2025 / 2026

(H) Coventry City

Championship

21 October 2025

FOOTBALL DATABASE

LOST

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	PORTSMOUTH	1		2	COVENTRY CITY


Kirk	90+6	30	Asante-Thomas
		56	Asante-Thomas

	Pompey’s good form against the Championship big-hitters came to an end as they were beaten 2-1 by table-topping Coventry at Fratton Park. Brandon Thomas-Asante scored in each half to ensure the visitors maintained their flying – and unbeaten – start to the campaign. But it might have been different if a penalty had been awarded for a Jay Dasilva handball when the scores were goalless. Makenzie Kirk did come off the bench to open his Blues account right at the very end, but it was too late for the hosts to strike again. John Mousinho made one change from the side that drew at Leicester on Saturday night, with Zak Swanson replacing Jordan Williams at right-back. A minute’s applause was held before kick-off to remember the former Pompey chairman Milan Mandarić, while the home side wore black armbands. Both sides looked to get on the front foot once the action started and Josef Bursik had to be alert to prevent Victor Torp’s corner swinging straight into the net. There was then a huge moment of controversy at the other end when Minhyeok Yang’s cross hit the outstretched arm of Dasilva. The cries for a penalty echoed around the stadium, but much to the home faithful’s ire, referee Gavin Ward waved play on. Pompey still went close to breaking the deadlock soon after, though, as Regan Poole glanced a fine Swanson delivery narrowly past the post. The action quickly switched up the other end of the pitch and after Bursik parried away a ball in from the right, Ellis Simms’ effort was hacked from the line by Swanson. But Coventry did go ahead on 30 minutes after a Matt Grimes corner had been sent back into the mixer by Bobby Thomas. Simms got to the ball first and nodded it on for Thomas-Asante to fire over the line from a just a couple of yards out. The Blues looked to hit back and when Minhyeok laid a pass off for John Swift, his curler had to be tipped over the bar by Carl Rushworth. Swift then played a one-two with the Tottenham loanee from a corner, but was unable to beat Rushworth at the keeper’s near post. It was the visitors who had the final chance of the half, though, and Bursik pushed over an angled Simms attempt, while Conor Chaplin blocked Dasilva’s screamer from the resulting flag-kick. Half Time: Pompey 0 Coventry 1 The hosts were eager to attack once the contest resumed, although Bursik’s quick punt up the pitch just raced away from Minhyeok. Chaplin then cut the ball back along the edge of the box, where Andre Dozzell hit a fierce shot that flew straight into the arms of Rushworth. But the Blues were dealt a blow on 56 minutes when Simms won a challenge on the side of the pitch and sent Thomas-Asante racing through to double the visitors’ advantage. Pompey kept plugging away, although another long-range Dozzell attempt did not cause Rushworth too many problems. Mousinho made a double switch on 64 minutes, as Minhyeok and Swanson made way for Adrian Segečić and Terry Devlin. The hosts were being afforded plenty of the ball, but were struggling to breech a resolute defence and an opportunistic Chaplin effort was gathered by Rushworth. And there was further bad news to come when Segečić was hurt in a challenge and headed straight down the tunnel. On came Kirk to replace him in the forward, while Florian Bianchini also replaced Connor Ogilvie in an attacking switch. But it was Coventry who almost scored again on 76 minutes, with Thomas-Asante missing out on a hat-trick by sending one effort crashing against the crossbar, while a second was saved by a diving Bursik. Pompey then had another handball penalty appeal turned down after the ball struck the arm of Luke Woolfenden in the area. Josh Knight made way for Hayden Matthews for the closing stages, as the clock ticked down on hopes of a comeback. Chaplin might have set up a grandstand finale when his long-range effort kept low and struck the outside of the post. KIRK did grab a consolation with a neat lifted finish after being found in the box by Devlin, but the Blues could not find another.

Updated - 23/10/2025