Fratton End factor helps Pompey make sure Shrews lose Sunday, 16th Feb 2020 15:13 by pompey-fans.com staff Joe Gallen praised Pompey's hard workers for plugging away at the task and ensuring there were no slip-ups against struggling Shrewsbury. They had to wait more than an hour for the breakthrough against a resolute Shrews side but eventually goals from Ellis Harrison and John Marquis secured three points to keep the Blues sixth and right on the tails of the sides above them. Gallen told www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: 'I think ‘job done’ is a good way of putting it because it was always going to be a tough game with the conditions. The rain doesn’t really affect things too much, but the wind does. It made it difficult against a Shrewsbury side with a defensive set-up and a big back five. 'We had to really work at it in order to break them down, but you got the feeling we’d move the ball a bit quicker when we were shooting towards the Fratton End in the second half. The tempo builds and the energy builds and it’s almost like the fans can suck the ball into the net for you, which is great. 'We’d asked for crosses to come into the box a bit earlier and we wanted more runners in there to be able to get the final touch. But we also had to maintain our concentration at the other end because of the size and power of the Shrewsbury team. 'Things aren’t always pretty when you’re involved in such a hectic schedule, so the ability to grind out wins is something you need if you want to be successful. 'The manager got things right with the substitutions and Ross (McCrorie) coming on gives us a little bit more offensive play down the right flank. He put in a fantastic cross to the back post for the opening goal and then John’s finish helped us get over the line. 'We’ve got a very good squad of players and, luckily for us, nearly every one of them is fit at the moment. Hopefully it can stay that way.' Pompey: Bass; Bolton (McCrorie 58), Burgess, Raggett, Seddon; McGeehan, Naylor; Harness, Evans (Marquis 58), Curtis (Williams 89); Harrison. Subs not used: MacGillivray, Whatmough, Brown, Close Referee: Lee Swabey Attendance: 18,214 (319 away fans)
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