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A point's a point - and Jackett's not complaining
Sunday, 9th Sep 2018 17:25 by pompey-fans.com staff

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett ended up happy with a point at home to Shewsbury after Brett Pitman's late penalty preserved their unbeaten run.

It looked like the Shrews would record their first win of the campaign and inflict the Blues' first defeat as they led 1-0 going into the final few minutes.

But Pitman kept his nerve from the spot after Nathan Thompson was fouled just inside the box and the 1-1 draw kept the Blues second in the League One table.

Jackett told www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: 'With the initiative and emphasis on us to create as the home side, we couldn’t find the right combinations. Shrewsbury have a big, strong back four and it was hard for us to get in the 1v1 situations that we’ve been very good at.

'We finally got going in the second period, when we were on top and attacking towards the home end. Gareth Evans forced their keeper to make a save with a good header in what was probably the best chance of the game.

'But clear-cut opportunities were few and far between for us during what was a dominant second half performance and that’s credit to Shrewsbury. Our opponents were hard to break down and really slowed the game, while a mistake from us got them one goal up.

'We showed some character after that and maybe the shackles came off a bit, with the crowd getting right behind us. I thought it was penalty on Thompson and Brett did well to put it away, but we maybe needed a bit more.

'We’re pleased to get the point overall because it looked like it was going to be one of those frustrating days.'

With Andre Green making his debut in place of Ronan Curtis - away on Irish duty - and Christian Burgess and Nathan Thompson coming into the league side in place of Jack Whatmough and Anton Walkes

It was a fairly unispiring performance from Pompey and there was a certain inevitability about the Shrews taking the lead with 17 minutes left. Shaun Whalley crossed from the left and Burgess mistimed his jump, heading the ball backwards into the path of Greg Docherty, who converted.

Pompey did raise their game in search of an equaliser but they looked unlikely to find it until, in the 87th minute, six minutes after one penalty appeal for holding on Pitman was turned down, the referee did award a penalty for Thompson being bundled over. Pitman did the rest and Pompey had got out of jail.

Next up is a visit to leaders Peterborough next Saturday. Pompey: MacGillivray; N.Thompson, Burgess, Clarke, Brown; B.Thompson (Close 46), Naylor; Lowe, Evans (c), Green (Wheeler 46); Hawkins (Pitman 67). Subs not used: McGee, Haunstrup, Rose, Mason

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 17,634 (281 away fans)

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