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‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Portsmouth Match Thread on 20:24 - Dec 1 with 171 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Portsmouth Match Thread on 20:57 - Dec 1 with 169 views
A second half strike from Keshi Anderson secured all three points against Portsmouth at Bloomfield Road.
Anderson's first league goal for Blackpool was the difference, as the Seasiders backed up the FA Cup victory at Harrogate with an important win.
With 15 minutes gone, James Husband had a header at goal following a corner kick, but his effort was tame and easily saved MacGillivray in the Portsmouth goal.
At the other end, the league’s top scorer John Marquis had a golden opportunity to take the lead. A mix-up at the back allowed Portsmouth’s number nine to shoot at goal, but his tame effort bounced wide of Chris Maxwell’’s far post.
Jerry Yates then had an athletic effort with a volley at goal from distance after controlling it well, but MacGillivray was able to hold on to the strike.
Aside from several half chances, a quiet first half ended goalless.
Half time: Blackpool 0 Portsmouth 0
Portsmouth were continuing to defend resolutely and weren’t giving Blackpool anything in the final third.
CJ Hamilton was really pressing on the right hand side to help the Seasiders make the breakthrough, causing problems with his pace on the flanks.
The wideman had an effort on 55 minutes, cutting inside, but his effort at goal was well blocked by the Pompey defenders.
Ten minutes later though, his trickery out wide supplied the opening goal. A pacey cross from Hamilton was drilled in after he did well to glide past his defender. The cross was met perfectly from Keshi Anderson who’s first time finish in the box was swept into the bottom corner to give Blackpool a vital lead.
Despite going a goal ahead, Blackpool continued to push for the second goal, and were refusing to sit back. CJ Hamilton, Ben Woodburn and Gary Madine all had good opportunities to find a second, as Portsmouth rarely threatened at the other end.
It was ultimately Blackpool who held on to secure an important win, to secure the sixth win in seven game.
Pompey’s unbeaten away record in the league finally came to an end as they were narrowly beaten in a lifeless clash with Blackpool.
It was a contest befitting the soulless atmosphere inside a mostly empty Bloomfield Road, with hardly any chances at either end of the pitch.
But it was the Tangerines able to celebrate all three points, courtesy of a second half strike from Keshi Anderson.
Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that drew with Oxford in the last league outing seven days earlier.
Ellis Harrison dropped to the bench to make way for Ryan Williams, who was positioned out on the right, with Marcus Harness joining John Marquis up front.
There was not much to trouble either keeper in an opening 45 minutes that was extremely short on anything that could truthfully be called exciting.
Blackpool dominated possession and territory in the early stages, but were unable to penetrate the Blues back-line.
A Sullay Kaikai effort was bravely blocked by Sean Raggett, while Tom Naylor slid in to prevent Anderson capitalising on the loose ball.
Craig MacGillivray then comfortably dealt with a James Husband header after Kaikai’s corner had been flicked on for the defender.
Pompey began passing the ball around nicely as they settled into the contest, without making any inroads in the final third.
The first decent chance came at the opposite end on 24 minutes, with MacGillivray turning CJ Hamilton’s angled drive into the side netting.
As the half continued, the visitors began posing a few more problems, although could not quite find that final killer ball.
Harness did brilliantly to control Andy Cannon’s pass, only to see his attempted threaded ball for John Marquis intercepted.
Their best opportunity arrived when Ethan Robson failed to clear inside his own box and Marquis dug out a shot that rolled narrowly past the post.
MacGillivray made a simple save to deny Jerry Yates as the seconds ticked away, then came quickly off his line to beat Hamilton to the ball.
Half Time: Blackpool 0 Pompey 0
Any hopes that there would be an improvement in the drama levels straight after the restart were quickly extinguished.
Instead, the game continued in niggly fashion, with plenty of appeals from both sides for free-kicks — most of which were ignored by referee Joshua Smith.
Jackett tried to inject some fresh energy into his side with a double substitution just past the hour mark.
Ben Close and Harrison were the men chosen to lift the visitors, with Cannon and Ronan Curtis making way.
Williams got himself into the path of Hamilton’s shot on 64 minutes, while Daniel Ballard was then booked for fouling Marquis as the Blues tried to launch a quick break.
But Blackpool then broke the deadlock moments later, with Yates wisely leaving Hamilton’s low centre for Anderson to drive into the net.
Cam Pring soon came on for Williams and took up residence just in front of Lee Brown on the left-hand side.
The Blues were trying to find a way back and Marquis hit two efforts off target, the second coming after Tom Naylor had found him with a fine lofted pass.
Pompey were huffing and puffing in search of an equaliser, but Chris Maxwell was still a virtual spectator between the sticks.
Blackpool were at least forcing MacGillivray to get his gloves dirty and the keeper got down low to his right to push clear Kaikai’s shot.
The game was threatening to end with a whimper, but Marquis finally forced Maxwell into action in stoppage-time.
And after the keeper pushed away his shot, the resulting corner saw a spot of pinball in the box before the hosts were finally able to clear the danger.
I'd go for Dougall as MotM, but there was about six others who you could name.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Portsmouth Match Thread on 21:09 - Dec 1 with 163 views
I'd expect we'll play 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 a couple of times again this month. If only for the fact you need to give Yates and Madine a rest. If one of them gets injured, there's no back up in the squad for them.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Portsmouth Match Thread on 21:48 - Dec 1 with 148 views
A word about the 4-4-2: We obviously need Madine to make this formation work. Therefore, if you're going to play a big target man, it stands to reason that you have to play to his strengths. That includes giving him crosses coming in from wide. Problems - Both our wingers are 'inverted' and so, don't get to the byeline and in any case, Kaikai isn't a winger and crosses are a weak part of Hamilton's game. Madine's effectiveness is reduced by 50%.
Similarly in the 4-2-3-1 (or whatever it is) - Kaikai gets a place in the team as he's our most skillful player and maybe our best finisher. He's wasted and wasting away isolated on the left. Play someone out wide who is adapted to the position and If you're not going to play Kaikai behind the central striker (his best position) then drop him.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
0
Portsmouth Match Thread on 22:14 - Dec 1 with 140 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
0
Portsmouth Match Thread on 22:18 - Dec 1 with 138 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
0
Portsmouth Match Thread on 23:03 - Dec 1 with 130 views
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
0
Portsmouth Match Thread on 08:50 - Dec 2 with 116 views
Neil Critchley lauds Blackpool's 'best performance of the season' in deserved victory against Portsmouth
Neil Critchley lauded his Blackpool players for producing their best performance of the season so far in their thoroughly deserved victory against Portsmouth.
Keshi Anderson struck in the second-half to hand the Seasiders a 1-0 win at Bloomfield Road, their seventh victory from their last eight games.
The margin of victory ought to have been greater given Blackpool’s dominance, but nevertheless Critchley was delighted with how his players performed from start to finish.
“I thought we were outstanding,” Pool’s head coach said.
“They were unbeaten away from home in the league and that was the challenge before the game.
“We went to Peterborough who were unbeaten at home and beat them and Portsmouth were unbeaten away from home and we’ve beaten them and deservedly so too.
“Every single player on the pitch made a huge contribution, both in and out of possession.
“We knew we had to be at our best but I thought we were at our best. With the standard of opposition, I’d have to say that was our best performance of the season.
“I didn’t think at any stage of the game we were in danger or trouble. Some of our football, our possession, our pressing, our organisation and winning the ball back - from the first minute to the last that’s as well as we’ve played.
“Being a bit greedier, I think we could have scored one or two more.”
Blackpool’s goal was a fitting way to win the game, as Anderson swept home to finish off a flowing counter-attacking move.
It saw CJ Hamilton being set free down the right, pulling the ball back into the centre where Jerry Yates dummied, allowing Anderson to fire home Blackpool’s winner.
“It was a magnificent goal to win the game,” Critchley said.
“You know when you’re playing against Portsmouth you’re going to have to produce a moment of quality.
“In the first-half we had lots of good opportunities in and around the box to either shoot or make that final pass and we failed.
“You have to give credit to them with the way they defend and put bodies on the line and block things. So you really have to work hard to score your goal.
“It was a fantastic break, a lovely ball from CJ and Jerry shows really good awareness and appreciation of people around him to let it go and Keshi has arrived from a deeper position and tucked it in really well.
“It was a fantastic goal.”
It was a big call from Critchley to drop Gary Madine, who had been in fine form, for Anderson, but it was a tactical change that paid off for the Seasiders.
“I’ve been asked previously about Jerry and Gary and we always say we pick the team that will cause the opposition the most problems,” Critchley said.
“We thought that tactical switch would give them an issue in the middle of the pitch to overload them so we could control the game and give their centre-halves something to worry about with pace, energy and movement.
“Keshi arriving to score the winning goal was fitting.”
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Portsmouth Match Thread on 09:07 - Dec 2 with 112 views
Last night and Doncaster second half both demonstrated that a 4-4-2 team can be dominated if the opponents are up for it.
It shouldn't be our starting point, our principle system. We won't ever go up if it is.
Of course all the good teams use 4-4-2 in certain matches or in certain phases of play. Don't chuck it away altogether as it is a horse that can run a particular course - useful and effective in some circumstances.
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
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