Pre-season optimism among Pompey fans will have been somewhat punctured by a 3-0 reverse at Conference South side Ebbsfleet United.

After three wins in three pre-season games, coupled with the unbeaten run at the end of last season, hopes that Pompey could make a decent fist of the forthcoming League 2 campaign had been high.

So such a comprehensive reverse will no doubt have many fans scratching their heads about what’s going wrong.

To be fair, Ebbsfleet are no mean Conference South side. Full time professionals, with several players with league experience, they had already seen off League 2 rivals Dagenham & Redbridge 4-0 and next Saturday’s Fratton Park Championship opponents Charlton 1-0 in the previous seven days.

Pompey were poor on the day, but the key concerns will be around the way in which the team’s back four was pulled around by former Bournemouth striker, and son of Teddy, Charlie Sheringham and his team-mates.

There had been little between the sides until Ebbsfleet broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. An innocuous-looking long ball over the top left Ben Chorley and Paul Jones leaving it to one another to deal with and Billy Bricknell was on hand to tee up Sheringham from the right to score from ten yards.

The goal failed to shake Pompey from their lethargy and Ebbsfleet continued to dominate the play and Jones had to be alert to deny Bricknell from close range. Anthony Cook let fly from long-range which Jones collected comfortably and then Joe Howe also made the keeper work. With Wallace moving into the middle Pompey finally got into the game, but without troubling the Ebbsfleet goal unduly.

Any hope Pompey might turn things around were shattered by two quick goals early in the second half. The first came after Pompey’s best chance, but Barcham couldn’t convert. Play bounced to the other end and Howe crossed from the left for the unmarked Bricknell to flick home a header at the near post.

That was after 54 minutes and four minutes later it was all over as Jones could only parry Bricknell’s cross into the path of Sheringham who steered the ball home.

Manager Andy Awford than made a host of pre-arranged substitutions. It is difficult to say whether this stabilised things, or Ebbsfleet simply too their foot off the gas, but at least Pompey were spared further embarrassment.

Late on sub Miles Storey finally forced the Ebbsfleet keeper into serious action, but Jack Whatmough’s wild shot over the bar was more in keeping with a disappointing display.

So what can be learned?

A check on unbridled optimism is never a bad thing. Pompey’ previous processions against Hawks, Bognor and Thurrock clearly had not quite prepared them for the intensity of Ebbsfleet’s challenge.

A defence lacking the likes of Alex Wynter and Jack Whatmough looks significantly less solid and Ryan Taylor playing as a lone striker can only work if the player is given the ball. Ebbsfleet cut off the supply channels and Pompey were struggling to come up with a Plan B. But, it’s a friendly. No more no less. While Awford will be no doubt looking for a reaction on Tuesday night against Bournemouth, it’s the game against Exeter that counts…

Pompey: Jones; Webster (Wynter 70), Devera (Whatmough), Chorley (Ertl 62), Shorey (Butler 62); Dunne (Awford 62), Hollands (Atangana 62); Wallace (Bird 70), Westcarr (Agyemang 62), Barcham (Maloney 70); Taylor (Storey 45)

Attendance: 879

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