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Season 2025 / 2026

(H) Wrexham

Championship

5 November 2025

FOOTBALL DATABASE

DRAWN

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	PORTSMOUTH	0		0	WREXHAM

	Pompey ended their three-match losing run, but will be disappointed to only draw 0-0 with Wrexham at Fratton Park. They created plenty of chances against the Welsh visitors, only to find keeper Arthur Okonkwo in inspired form. And Josh Murphy proved a particular menace for the Blues, having not previously started since the south coast derby in September. John Mousinho made seven changes from the side heavily beaten on the road at Birmingham on Saturday. Murphy’s start was his first in more than seven weeks, with Colby Bishop and Conor Chaplin also returning to the forward line. Connor Ogilvie recovered from illness, while Luke Le Roux, Terry Devlin and Josh Knight also came into the line-up. It meant that Josef Bursik, Regan Poole, Ibane Bowat and Andre Dozzell were the only players to retain their place in a new 3-4-3 system. Jordan Williams, Hayden Matthews, Marlon Pack, John Swift, Minhyeok Yang and Makenzie Kirk all dropped to the bench, with Márk Kosznovszky missing from the squad completely. There were Remembrance commemorations ahead of kick-off, with standard bearers leading a procession onto the pitch. Wreaths were then laid by both captains, club representatives and a serving member of the military, while a bugler played The Last Post before all present observed a minute’s silence. It was a much better start from Pompey than at the weekend and they showed plenty of aggression throughout the first half. Bishop flicked the ball on for Murphy to hit an early shot that was saved by Okonkwo, while the latter player also sent a free-kick over. But it was the visitors who had the game’s first clear-cut chances, with Bursik diving to his left to palm behind Lewis O’Brien’s shot. And when O’Brien sent a cross into the box from the resulting corner, Bursik brilliantly kept out Kieffer Moore’s close-range header. Pompey were then forced into an early change after Connor Ogilvie, who had been on the receiving end of an unpunished challenge a few minutes earlier, went down. He was unable to continue after some treatment on the pitch and was replaced in the left wing-back role by Williams. The hosts began to pick up the pace and Murphy collected a quick Devlin throw before advancing forward and firing narrowly past the post. Ben Sheaf did likewise at the other end, though, as both sides searched for the all-important breakthrough. But it was the Blues who finished the half on top and Bishop could not quite force the ball home after Murphy had charged down a clearance. And when Murphy’s corner was only cleared as far as Chaplin, the loanee’s clean strike was deflected over the bar. Half Time: Pompey 0 Wrexham 0 The hosts were first to threaten following the restart, as Dozzell collected a Williams pass, spun neatly and flashed a shot wide. And they kept pushing forward, applying plenty of pressure on their opponents in the early stages of the half. Devlin’s cross found Murphy in space inside the box, but Issa Kaboré got in the way of his first attempt and the second was scrambled behind by Okonkwo. A Bishop header from the resulting corner was also blocked before Okonkwo did well to stop Murphy sneaking a shot inside his near post. And the keeper made an even better stop moments later when Bowat rose to meet Murphy’s corner with a firm header. But the Blues were indebted to their own stopper on 61 minutes, as Bursik came off his line to deny O’Brien after a quick free-kick had sent him racing clear. It was still the home side doing most of the attacking, though, and Chaplin sent an opportunistic effort not too far over. He then saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Dan Scarr after Williams had done brilliantly to win the ball back high up the pitch. Mousinho made a switch on 77 minutes, with Devlin afforded warm applause as he made way for Zak Swanson. Wrexham appeared happy to slow the game down, while the Blues were still doing their best to push for a winner. Murphy had a shot blocked after skipping his way past a couple of challenges in the box, while a long-range Chaplin effort was gathered by Okonkwo. And although the hosts were urged forward by Mousinho as the seconds ticked down, they could not find a breakthrough.

Updated - 08/11/2025