A 0-0 draw with Yeovil ended a frustrating week for Pompey in front of their own fans and made it just one point from six since they went top with a win at Bristol Rovers last Saturday.
Pompey again had plenty of the play but didn't create as many chances as they'd have liked and couldn't find a way through Yeovil's often-packed defence.
The draw sees Pompey fall out of the top three - by just one place - and after their struggles at home, which are in contrast to the success they are enjoying on the road, Paul Cook's men will probably be relieved their next two tests are away, at Cambridge and Newport.
Cook restored Michael Doyle, Gary Roberts and Matt Tubbs to the starting line-up in place of Danny Hollands, Jayden Stockley and Conor Chaplin.
Pompey controlled the first half for long spells yet hardly tested Yeovil keeper Artur Krysiak, and Yeovil went close when Harry Cornick's run at goal was stopped by Christian Burgess's sliding challenge and then Aaron McCarey saved a Ryan Bird header from a corner.
Stockley replaced Gareth Evans after the break as Cook went 4-4-2 and a couple of Ben Davies crosses only just eluded the man on loan from Bournemouth.
As the Blues stepped up the intensity, Roberts, Kyle Bennett and Tubbs all had efforts at goal blocked while Doyle sent in a long-range shot that Krysiak did well to turn away.
Pompey gave it their all in the final 10 minutes and had plenty of pressure but Yeovil put bodies in the way and the naming of Burgess as MoM by the sponsors said it all.
Afterwards Cook told The News: ‘It’s very disappointing for our players and it must be for the supporters in general to see teams "park the bus”. That’s the way it’s going now. Our job is to come up with a formula to beat it - that’s what we are all employed for.'
Pompey: McCarey; Davies, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Barton (Hollands 70), Doyle (c); Evans (Stockley 46), Roberts, Bennett; Tubbs (Chaplin 89). Subs not used: Bass, Webster, Tollitt, Naismith.
Referee: Darren Deadman
| Advertisement |
|
|
Click here to sign up for an account and reserve your username! You can then post on the Forum and add your comments to articles